Tricia Shay-Puetzer
Owner
Tricia Shay Photography
W331 N8540 Klink Ct., Oconomowoc
Industry: Architectural photography
Family: “My wonderful husband, Steve, also a photographer, and two awesome kids, Matthew, 5, and Liliana, 3.”
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
“I’ve ramped up my marketing – it now revolves around social media/social networking and maximizes my website. I upgraded my website to make it more user-friendly and to showcase my photography portfolio. I am active on sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. I also attend more social events to take advantage of traditional face-to-face marketing opportunities. It gives me the chance to speak with clients in a relaxed atmosphere, as well as connect with potential new clients.”
What’s new at your company?
“Keeping up with the changes in the digital world is a challenge due to the fast paced speed of technological changes and upgrades. I am committed to ongoing training in order to master the latest imaging technologies. These skills allow me to offer more diverse products and services, which better serve my clients.”
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
“Extra staff comes on a per-job basis: I work with freelance photographers and assistants as well as interns as needed. The biggest investment in the upcoming year will be in new equipment. In the past months I’ve invested in a new camera, lenses, and a computer. By the end of the year I’ll be purchasing more location lighting and camera equipment.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
“Reaching a broader market. Right now I work with mostly architects and interior designers. In the future I’d love to expand into the advertising market. I want to utilize my focused expertise in the architecture and design industries to develop relationships and project opportunities with companies who specialize in building products, hospitality, health care, etc.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
“Going back to how fast technology is changing, many still cameras now have high-end video capabilities. There have been prime-time television shows filmed with the same camera I have. That capability plays into multi-media – I want to be able to offer my clients a full package of imagery, and that’s going to include short video clips for web usage.”
Do you have a business mantra?
“My mantra has always been to make my customers happy. Not only do I want to create imagery they love and that adds value to my portfolio, I want them to enjoy working with me and know that I respect them as well as their clients. Trust and integrity are key characteristics that I believe are important for customer satisfaction.”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“Photographers who shoot for magazines like Architectural Digest and Veranda inspire me. The average reader does not always appreciate the intricacies and techniques required to create a magazine-worthy image. I spend time examining each picture and learning from other photographers’ techniques.”
What was the best advice you ever received?
“Years ago my photography teacher, Mark Saxon, advised – always double check your image before taking down the set, it’s much easier to re-shoot at that moment than to go back another time and set it all up again. And my husband taught me to always triple-check my work before sending it out to a client. A bit of repetition there, but it boils down to double- and triple-checking your work.”
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in your career?
“It wasn’t funny at the time, but I was on the rooftop of a soon-to-be-demolished building on Prospect Avenue, photographing the view for a high-rise condo about to be built in its place. My contact let me in, got me up to the roof, and then went to take care of other business in the building. I was on the roof shooting for about an hour, went downstairs to leave and found the doors padlocked…from the outside. It took over an hour to get in touch with the contact that let me in. A little unnerving at the time, but funny when I look back at it. It’s a good testament to always have your phone with you.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“All of my hobbies unintentionally reinforce my profession; they take things full circle for me. I love woodworking, interior design, and gardening. Through the years I’ve made cabinetry and furniture, curtains, pillows and artwork all for our house. I also enjoy working on landscaping with my husband.”
