My Back To Business Strategy

By Barbara Leatham, Commercial Photographer of Barbara Leatham Photography. Based in Tilshead, near Devizes, Barbara has almost 20 years' experience as a professional photographer having started her career in the RAF. She's known for her commercial people and product photography and specialises in a narrative, authentic style.

Summarise how Covid-19 has affected your business? 

It’s been a full on learning curve with areas of the business taking a hit while others have taken off. For example, during lockdown savvy business owners have taken to blogging and being more visible and many want bespoke and powerful imagery to go with their content. It attracts more interest. 

What has been your plan to continue?  

I’ve had to pivot the work so I can create images for clients at home - this has worked really well for photographing products and also for creating images for blog series or for social media posts. 

I don’t have a studio, but I've know I can now build one when needed. If I have to continue in this manner I will be looking at a more permanent solution so it’s less disruptive to the rest of the household! 

I've always been passionate about having props to aid my photography and this means having a lot of 'stuff' around the house!  

How has business changed for you over the last few months?  

It’s been quieter in that some of the companies I usually do work for are quiet and I'm at home more. On the plus side, I’m offering a service that has got me some new clients that I might never have had before. I’ve been very lucky.

As lockdown eases what measures have you put in place to get back to business? 

Now that there’s some movement I’m actually physically able to offer photographic services outdoors with my clients and several have therefore got back to booking sessions with me. 

I use a long lens which needs to be more than two meters away to take a shot, so I know that I won’t get any closer because the camera actually can’t take a shot if I’m too close. 

It’s actually a nice security blanket really. It feels good to think that things might actually start to move again, I’m feeling quietly positive. 

What has been the most challenging aspect of all of this? 

Balancing work life and home life. The house is never truly quiet so it’s harder to keep your mind on what you are doing because there’s always a distraction. I can only hope that come September the kids will be back at school and I can put work at the forefront of my mind instead of joint second.

What has been the most positive aspect? 

In business you sometimes get known for doing one or two things. The lockdown has allowed me to showcase the other areas of my skills that don’t get seen as often. 

It’s been great helping businesses who are struggling with their own need to pivot by giving them some creative support and showing them how they can stand out and still be visible.

I love helping other businesses, I get a real buzz out of seeing them realise that there’s hope and possibilities. I’ve always been able to brain storm, collaborate and be creative, gifting ideas to someone else to get them over a tough patch is really rewarding.

Has it made you consider how you feel about other businesses/suppliers/customers/clients for good or otherwise? 

Recently I’ve been talking to other businesses and we have all spoken about how we think that people's attitude to others in business has helped us clear out the negativity and surround ourselves with more positive and supportive businesses. 

I have always been aware of the pain pinch points others are possibly going through and like to give everyone a chance, but because time is precious, and money is tighter than ever, I’ve had to be more sensitive to others that might be abusing a kindness and not allow myself to get drawn in to anything, or to anyone who doesn’t value what I am giving them. 

I’ve become more business savvy I think.

How important is the phrase 'buy local, supply local' to you? 

This is important. the local community around you needs help more than ever; the little businesses that are hanging on by the tips of their fingers need support. 

The local community needs money to be spent in it so it can survive. For every purchase that is made to a local company, it means they can survive another day longer and can see the chance of still being here next year and the year after. It’s a big domino effect. 

I had a client book me, I said that if I had another booking I could hire her services for something my business needed. She helped me get another client, I can now hire her skills to help my business. 

We are all local businesses. I can now also buy some gifts to send to family and friends so that helps another business. It’s tiny little things that all add up together to make s bigger picture. If we don’t support things that are local then these businesses won’t be there in the future when we want/need them.

What are your top tips for other business owners at this time? 

1. Be kind to yourself and don’t waste your energy on things you have no control over. Manage what you can and remind yourself that you’re doing an amazing job in very surreal circumstances.

2. Support other businesses, especially sole traders who are trying to manage everything at home and might not have people to bounce ideas off. If you are able to FaceTime them and talk shop over a cup of tea/coffee then do it, it’s amazing how some human contact with another business owner will boost them on, help them solve problems, let them know they aren’t the only ones out there and keep them motivated.

3. If you are buying a gift for a family member or friend try and buy from a small local business. It doesn’t have to be a huge amount but each little purchase will help them survive one day longer.

How can we buy from you? 

I am offering businesses the opportunity to order 10 bespoke branded photos for £100.00 The images ideally for social media and web use and are designed specifically for them with their branding and their needs. 

It’s called Lockdown 10 and this offer will be available while lockdown is on.

Your parting thoughts? 

This won’t last forever, but ultimately things will never return to what it was like before lockdown started. There will be a new “normal” we will all have to get use to. Be kind to others and yourself, be honest with those around you, be supportive as much as possible.

For more information visit www.BarbaraLeatham.co.uk