Lakeshore Video Podcast Featuring Paige Kennedy Photography
- George Niksch
- Feb 13
- 4 min read
Building a Photography Business in Northwest Indiana
On a recent episode of the Lakeshore Video Podcast, I sat down with Paige Szymczak, the creative force behind Paige Kennedy Photography, to talk about what it really looks like to build a photography business from the ground up.
Paige is in a unique season of entrepreneurship. After nearly a decade of shooting as a hobbyist, she officially launched her brand and is now balancing a full-time corporate career in HR while steadily building her photography business toward full-time status.
This conversation wasn’t just about cameras and presets. It was about risk, pricing, personal branding, social media strategy, and what it takes to move from “side hustle” to sustainable creative business.
From Hobbyist to Professional Photographer
Paige’s photography journey started the way many do: with a Christmas camera and curiosity.
What began as landscape shots in Southwest Michigan and senior photos for friends evolved into paid sessions, engagement shoots, maternity sessions, and branding work. The biggest early hurdle?
Charging for her work.
Like many creatives, Paige struggled at first with assigning value to something she loved doing. Charging friends felt uncomfortable. Discounting work felt safer. But eventually, the shift happened—from hobbyist mindset to business mindset.
And that’s where things changed.
Running a Creative Business Is More Than Taking Photos
One of the strongest themes from our conversation was this:
Photography is art. But photography as a career is business.
Paige’s background in Human Resources and organizational leadership has actually given her an advantage. Client communication, contracts, invoicing, gallery delivery, and workflow management are all critical to long-term sustainability.
She invested in a CRM system to manage galleries, contracts, and payments—something many new photographers overlook. Organization isn’t glamorous, but it’s foundational.
We also discussed:
Managing leads from Facebook community groups
Using email instead of DMs for professional communication
Why website traffic matters more than vanity metrics
How SEO and social media now work together
As a videographer myself, I’ve seen firsthand how strategic content (like this podcast) can dramatically increase website visits and visibility. Social media isn’t just a portfolio anymore—it’s a search engine and trust builder.
Ideal Clients & What Paige Solves
Paige primarily serves:
Couples
Engaged clients
Maternity sessions
Families
Branding sessions for small businesses
Her goal isn’t just delivering images. It’s delivering moments that live on walls, in frames, and in memories.
She said something powerful during the episode:
“These photos aren’t mine—they’re for the client. They’ll be on their walls, not mine.”
That client-first mindset is what separates someone taking photos from someone building a brand.
Launch Pricing & Strategic Growth
For her launch phase, Paige intentionally priced her sessions accessibly—$150/hour or $75 for 30 minutes—to:
Rebuild her portfolio
Establish momentum
Create social proof
Build relationships
She plans to increase pricing into the $225–$300/hour range as demand grows.
That approach is strategic. It gives her space to evolve without undercutting herself long term. You can raise rates. You can’t easily lower them without repositioning your brand.
AI in Photography: Tool or Threat?
We also discussed AI’s growing presence in photography.
Paige’s stance is thoughtful:
She wants to master fundamentals first.
She values developing her own editing style.
She sees AI as a potential workflow tool—but not a replacement for skill.
From my perspective in video, AI can accelerate tasks like culling and cleanup—but understanding lighting, composition, and storytelling still matters.
Technology should support your craft—not define it.
Social Media: Portfolio vs. Personal Brand
One of the most insightful parts of the conversation was about social media.
Paige described it perfectly:
Social media is a tool. It can grow your business—or isolate you—depending on how you use it.
We agreed on something that’s become increasingly clear:
Personal branding now matters more than just posting polished work.
Your website is your portfolio.Your social media is your personality.
Clients hire people they trust. And trust is built through consistency, transparency, and value-driven content—not just perfect photos.
What’s Next for Paige Kennedy Photography?
In the next 12 months, Paige wants to:
Book nearly every weekend with sessions
Expand deeper into Northwest Indiana
Grow into Southwest Michigan
Strengthen her editing style
Eventually open a studio space
Build toward publication opportunities
It’s a focused, sustainable vision—growth without chaos.
Why Conversations Like This Matter
The Lakeshore Video Podcast exists to highlight local creatives and business owners who are building something real in Northwest Indiana.
Whether you’re a photographer, entrepreneur, or someone considering launching your own venture, Paige’s journey reflects something important:
You don’t need perfect timing; you need momentum.
Want to Be a Guest on the Lakeshore Video Podcast?
If you’re a business owner in Northwest Indiana or Southwest Michigan and want to share your story, this podcast is designed to:
Boost your SEO
Grow your personal brand
Create long-form content you can repurpose
Establish authority in your space
At Lakeshore Video, we don’t just film podcasts—we help you turn them into marketing assets.
👉 Visit LakeshoreVideo.com to learn more about booking a podcast session or video production for your business.
Let’s build your brand the right way.
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