10 Years in Business!!

Recently I was talking to a group of other solo business owners and the underlying theme was that most won't go this venture because of fear. Fear of inexperience in this realm, fear of failing, fear of taking a risk, fear of the unknown...

Being a business owner is hard, but equally rewarding!

I can remember many days "quitting" and my husband was right there to cheer me on. He's the real MVP here!! There is a saying with growing perennials is that the first year they sleep, the next year they creep, and then they leap. The same could be said for business. It's a sloooooow build.

Looking back I'm so dang proud of this business I've created for my family, and how I get to bless others through all these moments. It started with meeting one key person, Tricia Muehlbauer, early on in motherhood that would change the course for me. I fell in love with the art of photography from taking her class, studied her work and carried it over into my business philosophy with the hopes of one day starting my own business.

From photographing my boys and one family for free to get started, to my very first paid session, attending 8 photography conferences, countless online courses, capturing couples first kiss, first baby's all the way someone's last photo! I moved my business 4 years ago and worried it would take years to rebuild...turns out I never saw a regression (that's a testimony to God's provision and putting what I learned at the The Reset Conference into action!) In 2022 I stepped away from weddings and fully embraced business brand and headshot photography. It has been pure joy to connect with other businesses and help them launch themselves into future success too!

I few years back I made a bucket list of things I wanted to do in business and have made progress toward some of them:

-tour my photo lab and watch my art come to life
-open a studio
-see one of my pictures on a billboard (there's one on Veteran's Pkwy right now)
-see one of my pictures in newspaper (made the cover story)
-see one of my photos in a magazine (monthly cover photo for Neighbors of Southern Bloomington - Best Version Media)
-Professional Pro Photographer for Artsy Couture Photo Lab since 2018
-Voted Top 19 Best Photographers in St Louis (2018-2021)
-Voted Top 13 Best Newborn Photographers in Peoria (2020-current)
-Nominated Top 5 Photographers in Bloomington

It's been an amazing ride and I can't see what's next. Future goals include:

-speaking at a conference
-coaching other photographers (and small business owners)
-creating and selling a content creation guide for social media
-build a studio

I have photographed clients in 5 different states and Mexico.
Teresa Klokkenga Photography started in 2013 as Love the Light Photography
TKP started in Glen Carbon, IL and moved to Bloomington, IL in 2019.
I have owned 5 different models of camera, all Nikon: D3000, D90, D600, (2) D750, (2) Z6ii
I currently have 8 different camera lenses and 5 different lights.
I have photographed 937 families, newborns, seniors, weddings, businesses, sports teams and events.
TKP was voted Top 19 Family Photographers in St. Louis in 2019 and Top 12 Newborn and Wedding Photographer in Peoria in 2021-2023
TKP has been one of the Featured Pro Photographers for Artsy Couture Print Lab since 2018.
In 2021 I opened my first studio in Downs, Illinois
In 2023 TKP Nominated Top 5 Best Photographers in Bloomington (now on to the voting round for that #1 spot!)