NOVEMBER 22:
Today, and everyday, I am thankful for the super amazing crew that we have at ARP!!!!
Jeff and I could not make it without these guys. Running a business is difficult no matter how you slice it. But trying to run a business successfully, creating a culture among the team of people that work there, where we all get along, we're productive and we like our jobs is HUGE!
When Jeff and I mentor other photographers we constantly remind them that the actual taking of pictures is a very small part of running a studio. One of the wonderful things about our staff is that they take care of so many things for me so I CAN concentrate on shooting. It's important that I get to spend time with our ARPfamily of clients, get to know all my little ones that walk through the door, develop strong relationships with our new mommies, big families, graduates and brides. I can't do that if I'm answering the phone, returning every email, placing orders, packaging orders, processing files, backing up files, designing Christmas cards, working on new product design, over seeing quality control of incoming orders, doing payroll, paying the bills, oh my - I could list 1 million things!!!!!!!!!
Don't get me wrong - I'm involved in ALL of those things, but there are moments when I'm shooting during our busy season when they know the only thing I can and need to concentrate on is doing a great job creating Sessions of images that our family of clients love.
I can't possibly mention EVERYTHING they do in this blog post, that would be a book not a blog, but let me give a quick description of how they make ARP possible.
Margie : Studio Coordinator (the sweet voice you hear when you give ARP a ring)
She keeps my schedule sane. She explains the ARPexperiece, makes sure you get a spot on our calendar, keeps you on track with your appointments and answers all of your questions.
Molly : Creative Manager (she bosses me around:)
Molly is incharge of all things creative - that means everything from images to orders and all of the details that get these orders produced after your Ordering Appointment.
Hollie : Sales Assoicate (Just call her Vanna :)
Hollie runs the Ordering Appointments and helps you make final decisions about what you want to do with your favorite images
Calvin : Designer (a true worker bee)
Calvin is in charge of all design related products, albums, cards, websites, blogs, www.lbobi.com etc
Poor thing not only has to read my mind sometimes, he also has to deal with my obsession with type design, but hey - it's totally fine if part of his job is to put up with my artistic oddness :) right?
Emily : Bookkeeper (Lord help her... Jeff and I are artists)
I LOVE numbers, I like to understand all of the financial info about our business - I have to - I teach it! BUT getting it into a pretty format and understanding it the way Emily does... well I'm just so happy we have her.
Sometimes I joke and say "I just take pictures here..." but it's true, they can run this place without me :) I can't tell you how great it makes me feel to know if something happens and I need to be somewhere else - they can handle it. Unlike a lot of photography studios, we work normal hours. We get to spend time with Fable & Ever and we don't feel like we've been beat up at work all day. That is because we have an amazing group of people with us everyday - people that we consider family - and they help us make ARP what it is today - and most importantly they help us take care of YOU.
{ There's a big possibility ARP will be looking to hire in 2012 - so if you have mad skills - let us know:) }
So thankful,
Allison
We need a new headshots... that WILL be happening once this studio move takes place. BUT for now I thought I'd leave you with a silly picture of the pretend us (minus Emily... so sorry Emily - you must be in back office having fun with a calculator!!)
MARGIE : JEFF : ME : MOLLY : CALVIN : HOLLIE
(Margie is breaking out some sass with her hand on her hip, Jeff's hair is shorter and I would NEVER let him wear a shirt like that to work..., Calvin is the token vampire with pale reddish hair, don't talk to me about cute Molly :) and Hollie is super tan...
