Today we’d like to introduce you to Lia Biscardi.
Hi Lia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a native of Rochester, NY which is known for garbage plates and Kodak. I grew up in Spencerport with my large Italian family. I was immersed in traditional Italian family valuables which include finding ways to celebrate every little win with food. I have a younger brother and many cousins.
I am currently living in Kinston, NC, where I am enjoying the revitalized town. I am getting the most out of the North Carolina beauty by constantly traveling to the beach and the mountains to find hidden gems. I focus mostly on landscape and animals with the use of a Canon DSLR. When I am not taking pictures, I enjoy many other hobbies which include baking, reading, traveling, and arts and crafts. My photography specialties include portrait, landscape, and product photography.
My goals in life are to constantly help build others up and one way I started to do that in life was my career in education. I focused on teaching students how to be adults and the skills needed to be successful as an adult. As I transitioned out of the adolescent education field, I found my skills to be useful when helping local entrepreneurs by giving them tips and tricks to their marketing plan.
My photography and educational background allowed me to tackle any challenge handed to me, my business services include: Portrait sessions (1-hour and 2 hours), family sessions, pet sessions
and leveling up business packages.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth path, I originally started my business as a landscape photography business just selling my art prints as wall decor and trying to spread my joyful images while teaching full-time. The toughest part was teaching 7 am-4 pm and then working on my business in the evenings so the burnout was real.
The first struggle was spending 6+ hours at a craft fair trying to sell $5-15 products to first earn your spot money back (craft fairs can cost $30-$100 a day) and make a profit. The mental health toll was terrible and I discovered that the only craft fairs I was successful at were at least an hour away.
The second struggle was trying to reach EVERYONE instead of just a niche, so that’s when in 2020 I turned my business to solely focus on product photography. The first reason was that a lot of small businesses were struggling in 2020 (we all know why) so my photography could help small business convert their storefront success into ecommerce success.
The last struggle was running my business as a “side hustle” instead of my full-time business so I was able to find more success when I quit teaching to commit to my business 100%.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a creative photographer, I find myself successful in the art of perspective. Since my niche was focusing on small businesses, so I found my groove with helping businesses show their customers the benefits of their products.
So, I am in a field of my own because walking around telling people that you are a photographer, they assume that your focus is people. I do photograph people but most of my clients are business owners so instead of telling people that I am a photographer, I tell them I am a product photographer.
The reason I like to make that specific to people I talk to is that it can make a huge difference when I am making connections. This past year, I researched the amount of portrait photographers in Kinston and there are at least 12. However, when you search for product photographers, I am the only one.
However, just being the only one doesn’t draw people into me because you can also ship your products to a product photographer. The sole purpose that sets me apart is that I involve the business owner in the process. I don’t just say, “Hey send me your products and your photos will be ready in two weeks.” I send them a questionnaire before starting, then I sent them proofs two days later, and then keep sending proofs until we find the path we want to go on.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The Covid-19 crisis as heartbreaking as it is (or was) it actually turned my life around for the better. In the span of six months (March 2020 -August 2020), I moved to Kinston, quit my teaching career, and revamped my photography business.
Without the covid crisis, I would probably be teaching still and would have never made that leap to go full-time in my business for a couple of years. The biggest lesson I learned, which is probably a clique but you never know what you have until it’s gone. I didn’t want to live a life that wasn’t the best life I could live.
Since leaving the adolescent education field and moving 100% into the photography field, my happiness increased and my anxiety and stress decreased.
Pricing:
- Product Packages starting at $125
- Brand Photography starting at $250
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://kodachromephotoco.zenfolio.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/kodachromephotoco
- Facebook: facebook.com/kodachromephotoco
- Other: campsite.bio/koda
