Small Business Focus: Barb Carmen Photography, Part 2

This post is part 2 of last week’s article, Small Business Focus: Barb Carmen Photography. -- Jay

Barb Carmen Photography opened in 2015. However, her original website and brand reflected only one aspect of Barb’s portfolio: her work with animals, especially dogs.

In Focus: Dog Photography

During the time she’d studied photography Barb also spent a year as a dog trainer for a major pet supply chain. The part-time work was a challenge. After all, training a dog is really all about teaching the owner to manage his or her pet. But she loved dogs and she took that love with her from the retail store and into the studio.

The insights she gained as a trainer guided her decisions about structuring the studio space. The skills she developed as a trainer were put to good use as she coaxed, called, and cajoled energetic animals into performing in front of the camera. And she created a signature look, bringing out details in eyes and fur against backgrounds of deep black and bright white.

Barb’s studio success with dogs lead to work with other animals. From her official opening in the spring of 2015 through the end of 2016, not only dogs and pups but cats, kittens, birds, rabbits, a pig, and even hedgehogs found their way through the front door.

During this time Barb shared her passion for her work with veterinarian Dr. Lori Kremer of Harrison Animal Hospital. The animal hospital was adding on and building new patient rooms. Barb approached Dr. Kremer about hanging her photos in the hospital. Dr. Kremer agreed and Barb encouraged the hospital staff to bring in family pets for sessions. Currently, ten portraits, animals owned by Dr. Kremer and her staff and by the hospital’s clients, hang in the hospital's exam rooms.

In Focus: Children

Barb’s work gathered a lot of local attention. It wasn’t long before friends suggested she apply her unique perspective to work with children and students. Barb officially added student, child, and infant photography to her portfolio in June of this year.

All told, it’s been 8 years since she started “re-learning” her childhood hobby of taking pictures and just over 2-½ years since she opened her studio.

“I’m no spring chicken anymore!” she laughs when she talks about getting down on her hands and knees, camera in one hand, to photograph puppies, kittens, and kids. But when you ask why she does it the answer is simple and unwavering.

“I absolutely love it!”

Barb wraps up her first promotion featuring package specials for children and pet photos at the end of this month. December will see the launch of a new website -- just in time for 2018.

Barb Carmen Photography is located at 10710 New Haven Drive in Harrison, Ohio 45030.

Call 513-560-3954 for information or to schedule a sitting.

For more information, read Part 1 of Small Business Focus: Barb Carmen Photography.

Links in the above article point to the Barb Carmen Photography Facebook page rather than her website. The old website is being revised and a new site will be launched later this month.