I am a food and beverage photographer based in Vancouver, BC Canada ~ a great city to live and certainly a great place to grow my niche business. I often work with food stylists, I often have to shop for fun props like napkins, plates and tablecloths, and my studio is my home; all of which I love. I'm a total perfectionist so spending an hour on positioning a fork or a bowl of blueberries just right is my idea of a good time.

EDUCATION | Diploma of Graphic Design; BFA from University of British Columbia; the self-employment program at British Columbia Institute of Technology

HOW TO GET STARTED | Develop your photography skills. Some people go to university, others attend workshops and some are self-taught. Either way can work; customers are more interested in your portfolio than your degree. Talk to photographers who work in the area you want to get into, people at all different levels- those who are new to the field and those who've been doing it for 20 years. Get some business training! If you don't have adequate business skills to sell yourself to potential clients, you will be at a disadvantage.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | You have to be a little bit of a control freak. Down the road, you may be able to hire other people to help, but in the beginning, you need to learn how to handle all aspects of the business. You have to be well-spoken and able to sell yourself.

how I got started | Previously I had a job as a photographer for a company based in Vancouver. The company sent the photographers all across the United States to shoot hotel photos: guest rooms, pools, the exteriors, all the pictures that appear on a hotel's website. There was too much travel involved; we would spend 30 days at a time away from home. I did that for a year, then decided I wanted to be closer to my family. I wanted to open my own photography business. I knew my best chance for success would be if I developed an area of expertise, a niche market. Vancouver is very food conscious, with many people involved in growing and supplying food in a sustainable way. There's a ton of foodies here, so that was a natural focus for my business.

why this job?| I just knew after going to university that I wasn't cut out for working for somebody else. I love being self-employed. I wouldn't have it any other way- I'm a bit of a control freak.

why I love this job!| I get to eat a lot of really good food, and I get to work with people who are equally passionate about food, people from all across the industry. Plus, I love photography: I love being able to earn my living this way.

my typical day| If it's a shooting day, usually I've done some prep beforehand. The client comes over, we chat about the project, then we do the shoot. It might take five shots before I get it the way I-and the client- want it, so you have to enjoy the process. Usually there is a lot of collaboration involved; the client often has their own ideas which is great, and we do our best to incorporate all ideas until everyone is happy. Later, I work on production, touching up the photos, and submitting a digital contact sheet to the client first, followed by their chosen final shots. And of course there's also the need to do administrative work, like sending out an invoice to the client after the shoot has completed, and other admin duties like bookkeeping, answering emails, etc.

what they are | I am responsible for everything in my business. Although I have hired other people, such as a food stylist and an accountant, I still need to stay on top of it all.

all about growth | Truly, Vancouver is saturated with photographers. As a photographer, you need to be creative and set yourself apart from the crowd. In terms of the food industry, there is a growing awareness of sustainable food in society, so there is the potential for growth there as well.

my website| www.jackieconnelly.com