Shannon Garbaccio
Goodness.
That’s the word I use to describe Shannon Garbaccio, who produced some of The Garrigan Lyman Group's biggest film/video productions in the early 2000s; a two-week photo shoot for AT&T, filming goats in the streets of L.A. for Teradata. Shannon was the ringmaster who brought an amazing level of detail, production savvy, and can-do spirit to every production. She also has a heart of gold, which endears her to crew, clients, and agency folks alike.
Shannon and I caught up at Van Goh Coffee in Wedgewood, where I was curious to learn about her mid-career pivot to professional photography. When she started to think about photography as a career, Shannon mapped out a plan and studied up. She took online business courses. She dug deep into every function of the camera. And she found that she just kept thinking about different ways to create cool shots. She had never felt that kind of creative energy before. She was doing what she loved.
Shannon Garbaccio Photography (https://lnkd.in/gXsSu9bZ) has grown every year and it’s no surprise why. Shannon combines an artist’s eye and strong technical skills with her secret ingredient - great empathy for her subjects. Hardly anyone likes to be in front of the camera, but Shannon makes the experience enjoyable with the way she listens, connects, and puts people at ease. “A relaxed person photographs so much better than a stressed out person,” she says. I encourage anyone who needs great family, portrait, or event images to check out Shannon Garbaccio Photography. You won’t be disappointed.
A few other nuggets from our conversation:
1) Focus on what you love. When thinking about a career transition, zero in on what energizes you. It could be a hobby, a side skill, or a way of doing things. Start there and see if you can build something around that. It could be a small amount of your time or revenue at first, but if you love doing it, it will grow.
2) Identify your ideal client. Shannon knows exactly who her ideal client is—what she wears, where she lives, the challenges she faces. Identifying your target audience is nothing new, but I was struck by how specific Shannon is about understanding her ideal client. She really knows that person, so she can speak directly to her in marketing.
3) Don’t overthink it. When considering big decisions, it’s easy to get in a mental loop; analysis paralysis. Shannon’s background as a video producer honed her skills at good planning, but it also forced her to make decisions quickly. Stuff needed to get done. Your career needs to get done too, so don’t waste too much time in a mental loop about where to go next. Just start going and learning and growing from there.
So much goodness. Thank you Shannon for taking time out to be part of the reconnect roadshow. You are the best!
#photography #smallbusinessmarketing#womenentrepreneurs #goodness #thankyou