{"id":98,"date":"2025-03-06T16:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T16:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flytographer.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/"},"modified":"2025-03-06T16:00:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T16:00:55","slug":"8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"et-boc\" class=\"et-boc\">\n<div class=\"et-l et-l--post\">\n<div class=\"et_builder_inner_content et_pb_gutters3\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_section et_pb_section_0 et_section_regular\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_0\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_0  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_0  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h2><b>Reflections from Flytographer\u2019s Founder<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you have a side hustle idea or startup idea rolling around in your brain? \ud83d\udca1 Taunting and teasing you, daring you to crack it open and explore it further?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was sitting on a bridge in Paris in 2011 in the warm autumn sunshine when the idea for Flytographer first rolled around in my head.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we now celebrate our 12th year in business, I took some time to reflect on a few things I\u2019ve learned as I first went from the idea in 2011, to the decision to launch in 2013, to finally building and growing Flytographer. I hope that by sharing my story, it will help those of you about to embark on a similar path of launching something amazing. \ud83d\ude80<\/span><\/p>\n<p>With gratitude,<\/p>\n<p>Nicole Smith, Founder &amp; CEO<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_0\">\n<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/paris-2011-fly-dreaming.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-71979\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The day Flytographer took over my brain &#8211; Paris, October 2011<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_0 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_1  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3><b>1. There will probably never be a <\/b><strong><em>perfect <\/em><\/strong><b>time to start, so just go for it \u2014 but take small steps!<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the stories you tell yourself on why now is NOT the best time to start that side gig or business you\u2019ve been daydreaming about? Not enough money? Time? Experience? Too old\/young? Just the wrong time in your life?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I got the idea from Flytographer while on a business trip to Paris, but I felt like I checked all the wrong boxes (and it kept me from taking my idea seriously for a full 9 months).&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No experience: <\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I had never built my own startup before. I was not a professional photographer.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No time: <\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was a single mom with two young kids and a full-time corporate job. \ud83c\udfc3\u200d\u2640\ufe0f<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No money<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>:<\/em> \ud83d\udc40 Looks for coins in couch.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Too old<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>:<\/em> Stares down 40 in the mirror.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrong timing<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>:<\/em> My life was finally calm after a hard divorce a few years earlier. Why rock the boat again? \ud83d\ude2c<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But I remember sitting in my car one day in the summer of 2012, thinking, \u201cWhat is the worst that could happen if I just tested a few things?\u201d \ud83e\udd14<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_1\">\n<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PeterMichelle_Paris2012-31.jpeg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-71981\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Photo from the very first test shoot in Paris &#8211; September 2012<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_2  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So I found a trustworthy photographer on Craigslist in Paris and asked a friend travelling there to try out a test shoot. I\u2019d only be out 200 Euros if he flaked or if my friend hated the experience. It was a calculated risk, a small first step. \ud83d\udc63<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then I took another small step.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pretty soon, I was a bonafide sidepreneur, testing and learning how to develop Flytographer in my non-work, non-parenting spare hours, which were few. \ud83d\ude05 It grew slowly \u2014 but it was a start!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you have an idea you can\u2019t shake? Take small, low-risk, micro-steps towards your goal; the hardest part is sometimes just getting started.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_1 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_1\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_1  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_3  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3><b>2. Knowing when it\u2019s okay to transition from \u201cside hustle\u201d to \u201cgoing all-in.\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping your 9-5 and being a sidepreneur as you start out reduces your risk and allows you to test, learn, and iterate on your product. It can also eliminate the debilitating financial stress of not having a steady income. Couch surfing and living on ramen \ud83c\udf5c is just not an option for many of us, especially as a parent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But when do you make the big move from sidepreneur to going full force? It may be never \ud83e\udd37\u200d\u2640\ufe0f \u2014 maybe the side gig is the best path for you. However, if your dream is to work full-time on your business, a good barometer is <\/span>when you nail \u201cproduct market fit.\u201d<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It\u2019s when your customers truly love what you have built \ud83d\udc96, come back for more, and tell all their friends. The positive feedback of our early Flytographer customers and photographers is what gave me the confidence to \u201cgo all-in\u201d and quit my corporate job one year into starting Flytographer.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_2\">\n<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Nicole-Smith-Flytographer-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-97680\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Nicole standing in front of the &#8220;customer photo wall door&#8221; at Flytographer&#8217;s first-ever office in 2015.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_4  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other test I gave myself was to imagine <\/span><strong><em>how 80-year-old me would feel<\/em><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if I never took this risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Would wondering \u201cwhat if\u201d be worse than any potential failure or loss? What\u2019s the worst-case scenario? Embarrassment? Financial loss? I could always go back to work and get another job. But abandoning it and then wondering \u201cwhat if I had given that crazy idea I had at 39 a shot\u201d might have haunted me more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, <\/span>trust your gut.<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It always knows. \ud83d\udcaa<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_2 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_2\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_2  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_5  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3><b>3. Most of us are just figuring it out as we go.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a lot of \u201cwinging it\u201d when you are an entrepreneur. They often say you are building the plane in the air as you fly. It really does feel like that a lot, even years later. You can plan and prepare like a Navy Seal, but you will still make mistakes, mess up, and bad things will happen that are out of your control.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I vividly remember when PayPal arbitrarily shut us down in 2017 with no notice and just froze our funds. \ud83d\ude31 We suddenly had no way to pay our global roster of Flytographers and had to scramble to figure out a better system. I remember writing to our community of photographers to tell them the bad news, terrified they would all abandon us (side note: they didn\u2019t, they are all rockstars \ud83c\udf1f).&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a couple of weeks with zero progress with PayPal, our whole team worked overtime to roll out a new payments platform globally. It ended up being over a month of stress, fear and \u201comg, my business is over\u201d panic attacks.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_3\">\n<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Image-from-iOS.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-71975\"><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_6  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But \u2026 the scar tissue that builds up makes you stronger and more confident that you can surf the wild waves still to come. Because guess what \u2014 they will keep coming! Perfect case in point: 2020. \ud83c\udf0a &nbsp;(Read more on how we surfed the pandemic tsunami <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/how-flytographer-navigated-the-pandemic-a-story-in-gifs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expect the hiccups \u2014 it\u2019s just the cost of doing business. And as you navigate through, remember the saying \u201cthis too shall pass.\u201d&nbsp; Simply focus on what you can vs. can\u2019t control, and keep on building based on the lessons you\u2019ve learned. \ud83d\ude0e And just figure it out as you go.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_3 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_3\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_3  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_7  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3><b>4. It\u2019s easy to put yourself last. Spoiler: this is a terrible idea.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The firehose of work never stops. It <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">never stops<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you love your business, it can be hard not to think about it 24\/7 \u2014 for me, it\u2019s like my third child. \ud83e\uddd2 If you are a parent (or a single parent like me) or caregiver to a family member, there are many of things competing for your time and it\u2019s very easy to dismiss your own needs while juggling the balls of taking care of others, your business and household chores.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that without a strong mental and physical foundation, the world of YOU can break down, and that has a lot of cascading effects. Repeat after me: it\u2019s <\/span><em><strong>not selfish<\/strong><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to invest in things that make you feel your best. It\u2019s imperative. \ud83d\udc93<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_4\">\n<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/I-Cant-Decide.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-71972\"><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_8  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Things that have been working for me lately (but it\u2019s still a constant struggle to manage, tbh):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time blocking my days in my calendar \ud83d\udcc6 (work, workouts, family\/friends things, and most importantly, ME TIME all go in there).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preserving Mondays and Fridays for thinking and deep work \u2014 no meetings!&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My hype crew.&nbsp; \ud83c\udf89 It\u2019s key to connect with friends who are building similar stage businesses and can relate to your journey, share insights, cheer you on in the highs and sit with you in the lows.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morning walks by the ocean with my favourite music or podcast. \ud83d\udeb6\u200d\u2640\ufe0f(I\u2019m very lucky to live on an island!)<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-stringify-indent=\"0\" data-stringify-border=\"0\">Strength training 3x a week with a friend, not only to build muscle, but because the mental benefits make me feel unstoppable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_4 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_4\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_4  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_9  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3><b>5. ABL: Always Be Learning!<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I cannot emphasize it enough:<\/span><strong><em> always<\/em><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be learning. When you start a business, you have to quickly figure out accounting, legal, software systems, marketing, customer service, human resources and so on. It\u2019s exhausting but so important. \ud83d\ude05 I basically have a PhD in Googling and (and a Masters in YouTubing) now. Twitter is also a great place to learn from experts in your space.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can learn soooo much online, there\u2019s never an excuse for not knowing.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_5\">\n<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/im-good-at-memes-false-im-good-at-google.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-71973\"><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_10  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>As a CEO, your job description changes every year as your business scales, so it\u2019s important you invest in learning new skills for every stage. I\u2019ve invested in formal programs, courses, books and startup accelerators over the years.&nbsp; One of my favourite resources for mindset growth is The Conscious Leadership Group, and I re-watch their&nbsp;<a class=\"c-link\" href=\"https:\/\/conscious.is\/resources\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/conscious.is\/resources\/videos\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">snackable videos<\/a>&nbsp;a few times a year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_5 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_5\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_5  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_11  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3><b>6. Surround yourself with good people.&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you begin to hire your first employees, make sure you hire based on shared values \u2014 not the resume. One TedTalk I recommend is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/adam_grant_are_you_a_giver_or_a_taker?language=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this one<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Adam Grant. I love how he frames the importance of hiring givers and matchers.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your startup is small and trying to get lift-off, you need people who are brilliant at wearing multiple hats and comfortable navigating a lot of ambiguity, have a bias towards action, are curious and take initiative. Things are moving so fast \u2014 remember, you are ALL building the plane together in the air at this stage. \ud83d\udeeb<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As your business scales, inevitably some employees will move on to other jobs and opportunities. I have a favourite story with Caitlin. Caitlin joined our customer experience team in 2016, left in 2018 to try something new, travelled a bit and went back to school to become a developer \u2014 and then happily rejoined Flytographer in January 2020. It\u2019s a real highlight to see team members develop and thrive over the years, and especially gratifying when they return to the family. \ud83d\udc23<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is just one story, but we have an amazing team at Flytographer who not only kick ass at their jobs but are caring, kind, inclusive and so much fun to work with every day. \ud83d\udc6f\u200d\u2640\ufe0f<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_6\">\n<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/flytographer_Office-75.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-71971\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Caitlin holds one of her favourite Flytographer photos in the office &#8211; January 2016<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_12  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We extend this philosophy of hiring for shared values to our photographer community as well. \ud83d\udcf7 Mentally answering the question \u201cWould you want to spend one precious hour of your vacation with this photographer\u201d is one of our vetting criteria when we interview \u2014 they have to really love people and their city in order to join our roster. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our photographers are like family; many have been with us since the very early days, and over the years we\u2019ve seen them get married, have babies and buy their first homes. Having true friends around the world is truly one of the biggest blessings of my job. \ud83c\udf0d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_6 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_6\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_6  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_13  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3><b>7. It\u2019s important to define your <\/b><em><b>own version<\/b><\/em><b> of success.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may not know exactly what success looks like to you in your first years, but don\u2019t worry, you will in time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was often told that growing a huge business should be the North Star \u2014 the definition of success. You hear VCs talk about targeting $100M in sales all the time. \ud83d\udcb0 Growth at all costs.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lot of us have reexamined what makes us happy in the last year and what success means.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For me, it\u2019s simple and mostly comes down to this: <\/span><strong>having control over how I spend my time<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few other things that define success for me:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mainly working from home (hello fellow introverts!) \ud83d\udc4b<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A small team of really good humans where I can really know everyone&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bringing a product to life that customers really, really love \ud83d\udc96<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Running a profitable business that may grow a bit more slowly, but has a happy, thriving team and community of photographers who feel valued<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not compromising my values and having control over our vision for the future \ud83d\udd79\ufe0f<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_7\">\n<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_3341.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-97707\"><\/span><a style=\"line-height:1.7em\" href=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/vacation-photographers\/your-vacation-photographer-in-palm-springs-meet-wyatt\/\">Photo: Wyatt in Palm Springs for Flytographer. Our Flytographer HQ team on our annual retreat in 2025<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_14  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Success is picking my kids up from school as often as I want \u2014 and being able to bake them fresh muffins between calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Success is starting my mornings with either a walk along the ocean or a having workout (and laugh) with my girlfriends. \ud83c\udfcb\ufe0f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Success is different for everyone, and it will look different for you at different stages in your life. But what\u2019s important is for <strong>YOU<\/strong> to define your terms \u2014 no one else.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_7 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_7\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_7  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_15  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h3><b>8. Life is unpredictable, so spend as much time as you can with the people you care about.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If 2020 taught us anything, it\u2019s that life can change in a blink of an eye. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not being able to hug my parents for months on end or to visit my best friend in another city or to explore new places with my kids was hard. It was a huge wake-up call to stop taking life so seriously and to make sure you are having more fun with the people you love as often as you possibly can. \ud83c\udf8a<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding snippets of micro-joy every day and spending time making memories with the people you love is more important than ever. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tell the people that matter how you feel about them \u2764\ufe0f and tell them frequently. When you look back on the times of your life, those are the moments you\u2019ll cherish the most.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_8\">\n<span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/victoria-08-13-2020-family-trip-235_original.jpeg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-71995\"><\/span><a style=\"line-height:1.7em\" href=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/vacation-photographers\/your-vacation-photographer-in-victoria-meet-aly\/\">My family. (Photo by Flytographer Aly in Victoria)<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_divider et_pb_divider_8 et_pb_divider_position_ et_pb_space\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_8\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_8  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_16  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>I hope these 8 lessons are helpful. And if you are debating starting a business, check-in with your future 80-year-old self\u2026 I know mine is glad I took the leap 12 years ago.<\/p>\n<p>With 4 million photos and counting, we are driven by our mission of helping people&nbsp;<em>remember their favourite stories, forever.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_text -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_section --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_section et_pb_section_1 et_section_regular\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_9\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et_pb_column_9  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et-last-child\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_9\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/destinations\/\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Minimal-Blog-CTA-DESKTOP-teal.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-96665\"><\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_10\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/destinations\/\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Minimal-Blog-CTA-MOBILE-teal.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-96666\"><\/span><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_column -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_row -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_section --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_section et_pb_section_2 featured-testimonials-section featured-testimonials-section--oddit featured-testimonials-section--giftcard-page et_pb_fullwidth_section et_section_regular\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_fullwidth_code et_pb_fullwidth_code_0\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_code_inner\">\n<div class=\"featured-testimonials-header featured-testimonials-header--giftcard-page\">\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\">\n<\/div>\n<h2><center>50,000+ 5 Star reviews from across the globe!<\/center><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_fullwidth_code --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_fullwidth_slider_0 featured-testimonial-slider featured-testimonial-slider--oddit et_pb_slider et_pb_slider_no_arrows et_slider_auto et_slider_speed_7000\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slides\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_0 et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_media_alignment_center et-pb-active-slide\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_0\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\">\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial--photo\" src=\"https:\/\/images.flytographer.com\/382acc4b-ad67-4f9f-a5b2-247f5dd753e5\/paris-05-10-2024-anniversary-7_500.jpeg\" scale=\"0\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--details\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem;\"> \u201cRachael not only exceeded our expectations with our photos but she made the whole experience one to remember. It was a little chilly at sunrise and we were a little sleepy but she made it such a fun and memorable experience. She was lovely to work with and we will cherish these photos of our two year anniversary trip to Paris from Canada. We can\u2019t wait to bring our kids one day and have her capture us all!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem;\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<strong>Hannah<\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon--large\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/camera-blue.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/vacation-photographers\/your-vacation-photographer-in-paris-meet-rachael\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Rachael in Paris<span class=\"material-symbols-outlined\">chevron_right<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon--large\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/testimonial-pin-1.png\" scale=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Sacr\u00e9 Coeur &amp; Montmartre<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_slide_description -->\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_container -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_slide --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_1 et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_1\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\">\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial--photo\" src=\"https:\/\/images.flytographer.com\/f67608c1-74f3-46cd-ab27-b1734f89c4af\/positano-04-25-2023-proposal-13_500.jpeg\" scale=\"0\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--details\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem;\"> \u201cCLAUDIO AND BARBARA WERE AMAZING!! Could not speak more highly of them, Barbara was great at communicating throughout my whole booking process and Claudio was the one who took our pictures he was so calm even though my plans got changed last minute due to weather. He made me feel so calm despite of that and made our proposal perfect! He took us to the best places in Positano and I am so excited to see these pictures.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem;\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<strong>Oriana<\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon--large\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/camera-blue.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/vacation-photographers\/your-vacation-photographer-in-positano-meet-barbara-claudio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Barbara and Claudia in Positano<span class=\"material-symbols-outlined\">chevron_right<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon--large\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/testimonial-pin-1.png\" scale=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Positano Village<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_slide_description -->\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_container -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_slide --><\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_slide et_pb_slide_2 et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_media_alignment_center\" data-slide-id=\"et_pb_slide_2\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_container clearfix\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slider_container_inner\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slide_description\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_slide_content\">\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial--photo\" src=\"https:\/\/images.flytographer.com\/b3320c21-8f47-4dc0-8846-1ae753a70f52\/tokyo-11-29-2024-family-trip-3_500.jpeg\" scale=\"0\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--details\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem;\"> \u201cWe had an enjoyable time doing the shoot with Daniel. Daniel was friendly, and great to work with.  The shots were spontaneous, and not too posey. Daniel was very patient with my cheeky eight year old, and I think my son had a lot of fun too. We love the end results!\u201d\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1rem;\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"featured-testimonial-star\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/star-full-icon.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<strong>Kin Hoi<\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon--large\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/camera-blue.png\" scale=\"0\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/vacation-photographers\/your-vacation-photographer-in-tokyo-meet-daniel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Daniel in Tokyo<span class=\"material-symbols-outlined\">chevron_right<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"featured-testimonial--row\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon--large\" src=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/testimonial-pin-1.png\" scale=\"0\"><\/p>\n<p>Shibuya<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_slide_description -->\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_container -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_slide -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_slides -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_slider -->\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .et_pb_section -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- .et_builder_inner_content -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- .et-l -->\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- #et-boc --><br \/>\n<span class=\"et_social_bottom_trigger\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join our founder, Nicole Smith, as she recounts 8 lessons learned since launching Flytographer in 2013 from starting to scaling!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":83975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[163,278,279,5,280,281],"class_list":["post-98","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-flytographer","tag-birthday","tag-business","tag-female-founders","tag-flytographer","tag-startup","tag-story"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013 | Flytographer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Join our founder, Nicole Smith, as she recounts 8 lessons learned since launching Flytographer in 2013 from starting to scaling!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013 | Flytographer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Join our founder, Nicole Smith, as she recounts 8 lessons learned since launching Flytographer in 2013 from starting to scaling!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-06T16:00:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1067\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Michelle Ardiel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Michelle Ardiel\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Michelle Ardiel\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/14f1d80d5575d914524a23f225744ce5\"},\"headline\":\"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-06T16:00:55+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/\"},\"wordCount\":2512,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"birthday\",\"business\",\"Female Founders\",\"Flytographer\",\"Startup\",\"story\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Flytographer\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/\",\"name\":\"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013 | Flytographer\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-06T16:00:55+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/14f1d80d5575d914524a23f225744ce5\"},\"description\":\"Join our founder, Nicole Smith, as she recounts 8 lessons learned since launching Flytographer in 2013 from starting to scaling!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":1067},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Blog\",\"description\":\"Flytographer\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/14f1d80d5575d914524a23f225744ce5\",\"name\":\"Michelle Ardiel\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5af08a4c494d56d17074c4d35361cdc115450937f12076a175e2a121b0a037e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5af08a4c494d56d17074c4d35361cdc115450937f12076a175e2a121b0a037e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5af08a4c494d56d17074c4d35361cdc115450937f12076a175e2a121b0a037e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Michelle Ardiel\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/author\/michelle\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013 | Flytographer","description":"Join our founder, Nicole Smith, as she recounts 8 lessons learned since launching Flytographer in 2013 from starting to scaling!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013 | Flytographer","og_description":"Join our founder, Nicole Smith, as she recounts 8 lessons learned since launching Flytographer in 2013 from starting to scaling!","og_url":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/","og_site_name":"Blog","article_published_time":"2025-03-06T16:00:55+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":1067,"url":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Michelle Ardiel","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Michelle Ardiel","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/"},"author":{"name":"Michelle Ardiel","@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/14f1d80d5575d914524a23f225744ce5"},"headline":"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013","datePublished":"2025-03-06T16:00:55+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/"},"wordCount":2512,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg","keywords":["birthday","business","Female Founders","Flytographer","Startup","story"],"articleSection":["Flytographer"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/","url":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/","name":"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013 | Flytographer","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg","datePublished":"2025-03-06T16:00:55+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/14f1d80d5575d914524a23f225744ce5"},"description":"Join our founder, Nicole Smith, as she recounts 8 lessons learned since launching Flytographer in 2013 from starting to scaling!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/98.jpg","width":1600,"height":1067},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/8-things-i-learned-since-launching-flytographer-in-2013\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"8 Things I\u2019ve Learned Since Launching Flytographer in 2013"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/","name":"Blog","description":"Flytographer","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/14f1d80d5575d914524a23f225744ce5","name":"Michelle Ardiel","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5af08a4c494d56d17074c4d35361cdc115450937f12076a175e2a121b0a037e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5af08a4c494d56d17074c4d35361cdc115450937f12076a175e2a121b0a037e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5af08a4c494d56d17074c4d35361cdc115450937f12076a175e2a121b0a037e5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Michelle Ardiel"},"url":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/author\/michelle\/"}]}},"modified_by":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flyphotoprod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}