Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in photography but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Zapatka, Owner and Photographer of USA Stars & Lights, located in North Kingstown, RI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
USA Stars & Lights is the continuation of a lighthouse night photography project born in 2013 to capture our nation's historic beacons in a way rarely done before: at night. Think of the irony--lighthouses were created to guide ships at night, but rarely have they been photographed during darkness. This project hopes to rectify this oversight.
Tell us about yourself
From my teenage years, gravitating to visual arts seemed completely natural. The first camera I owned was self-funded at age 13, and in high school, the yearbook advisor offered a permanent hall pass, and free film and processing, all a ticket to my future career. In college, movie film and the fledging medium of video production became the focus. While still in school, a job opened up at a local network affiliate station in Providence, and a 40+ year television news and sports career began. After a decade in local news, the networks called and I've since been freelancing at the highest levels in the business. In 2003, I joined a group that had saved a Rhode Island lighthouse, and the following year became its president. This led to an association with many Coast Guard personnel. After photographing a few local lighthouses at night with a high-end still camera, I was surprised that they were amazed at the images the camera was capturing. I later learned about the lack of nighttime images of lighthouses, not only locally, but nationally as well. In 2018, the original project was adopted by the United States Lighthouse Society and renamed USA Stars & Lights to reflect its national significance. We're now pursuing night images of lighthouses all around the country to capture them before they are either destroyed by climate change through sea levels rising or are turned off by the Coast Guard before they've ever been photographed at night.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Running a small business takes a lot of effort and perseverance. But also, running it at a national level brings it to a higher plane. It's very competitive, and you always have to be at your best, no matter who the client may be. In a way, I've always been my best client, and demanding the most out of myself brings the paying client back every time. Be it shooting videos for the networks or still pictures of lighthouses at night, I always strive to get the best images of the subject before me.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The changing technologies are the biggest challenge in both video and stills. Last year, I had to make a decision regarding the video side of my profession. The camera gear I'd been using was aging out as newer models and platforms were demanded by clients. Not reinvesting would mean stepping away from my livelihood and into possible retirement. I decided to stick with it but had to take business loans to continue.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Always know your client base; always be aware of technology changes; always accept things will be forever changing. It's the way business works.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.starsandlighthouses.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dazappy/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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