Photographing Eight PNW Local Small Business Booths
I've been setting up a trade with another local PNW business Mia Nicole Design Co, she created a logo for my business and in trade I would take photos of her business, which she makes hand lettered maps and globes. We chatted about what I was looking for in a logo (which I really love) and we also discussed what she needed for photos. Mia wanted to get photos of her at her booth for the events that she goes to, as well as taking photos of her classes she will be offering soon and also photos of her with her family to help showcase her why. The class has been marked on my calendar, so keep an eye out for that post in a few months and also an adventure with her family will also be coming up in the spring time when weather is more dependable.
The first session I took photos for her was at her booth setup at Pinology Market at the Puyallup fair grounds. Since I was already going to be there I reach out to a few of her friends that she had in a Facebook group and asked if anyone else would like me to stop by their booth and take a few photos for them. In total I had 8 booths to visit and photograph from 5:30pm to 9pm. I made a list of each booth, their names and dotted their locations on a map to plan out how I was going to go to each one within the available time frame. It was a big undertaking, but I was up for the challenge of it all!
My friend Anna of Anna Kincaid Productions ended up joining me as well, it was fun to have a partner in crime to go to this. She took some videos of me since she has been wanting to for a while get a video of me doing my photography thing. I started at Mia's booth since that was the main booth for the evening, we bee-lined it there and chatted with Mia while I got my camera set up and looked at what I needed to photograph.
Mia had made a list for me of things she wanted to have captured. Her list consisted of her handlettering at her booth, interacting with customers, photos of her booth, photos of the class clipboard and a few others. She also had wanted to get some headshots, but her booth was so busy so fast we didn't have time for that one, so we will have to wait to accomplish that. It was a fun challenging working around her booth, trying not to get in the way of any customers, trying not to have customers ducking around me so I tried to be as inconspicuous as possible.
I was at Mia's booth for around an hour and after I felt I had managed to capture most of her list I moved on to the next booth on my list ELM Crafts which she makes handmade earrings and bows. My favorite photo was of a transaction and conversation of a first time pregnant mom deciding to buy this adorable newborn large bow. The pregnant mom was just so thrilled with this find since the owner actually didn't have them on display at the booth and brought them out after the customer said she was pregnant with her first child. It was just a lovely and sweet capture of that moment.
The third booth was Something to Chalk About, cute play on words I might add! She makes signs and pictures on chalk board type material. This was another fun booth to just sit and watch since she would also custom create on site. The owner had a lovely barn themed set up with fencing and brick to display her pre-made items. Sometimes it is really hard not to focus on only photographing the cute displays of for sale items, but I also needed to get photos of her doing her art and making on location custom orders.
The next booth was run by a husband and wife team, he makes ceramic items on a pottery wheel called D Pottery. I definitely want to get one of his spoon rests and I was eyeing the jewelry dish too since I do need something to put my bracelets from Verity & Co. When I was chatting with him before the event, he mentioned he isn't the biggest fan of having photos taken, so I just told him to ignore me and I'll just be a sniper. They both did really well and I got some great shots of them just interacting with customers and of their booth. Also do note the first photo and hand coming in from the right picking up a ceramic piece, I loved that little detail.
The fifth booth for the evening was the most entertaining to look at and people watch! Karter Designs! Just check out her stuff and read all the fun stuff she makes. I was watching the two woman in the third photo having a blast just reading the signs. When I chatted with the owner she said it is her favorite to just watch customers come through and laugh at them, however she was hoping I would be able to capture someone being totally offended by one of the signs, alas it didn't happen.
The next booth was of two different handmade art works, candles and cut wood for wall art made by Evergreen Roots NW. Her wall art pieces are just stunning! I listened to her explain for someone how they can custom order one of the wall pieces and how it can be requested to be different. When you're around candles with friends you can help but smell them and then have the person you're with also smell that scent as well. When I saw that happening I knew it was a photo that I had to capture, so I just waited until I got the right photo and the look I was wanting. Another fun interaction was seeing many of the booth owners visiting their fellow friends booth owners. Many of them already knew each other and you could see the camaraderie with their friends and how they all want their friend's booths to do well.
Pickles and Pie Oh My! First off I love the name, Wizard of Oz is my all time favorite movie and the play on words is very fun. The booth is complete nostalgia, everything reminds me of my grandma from the tasty pie fillings, to the dollies, old photos and of course the canned pickles. I did try many of the samples and they were all so good and the owner Kimberlee even sent me home with a jar of classic pickles. More things are going to be coming in the future with my photography and her tasty food! Be on the look out for that!
My last booth for the night was Mabel McKinley Boutique the night flew by so fast that I only managed to take a few photos of her setup since by the time I managed to get over there it was after 9pm and the event had ended and shoppers were all heading out. It was such a cute booth, I wanted to go shop the racks, but I'll have to do that at one her of other events that she will be having.
Pinology Market was a wonderful event and wonderful experience to photograph. I enjoyed getting to meet all the business owners for the first time. Watching the customers shop, enjoying themselves and just being awed by the talent of these owners was a pleasure to capture and see. I do follow them all on Instagram and/or Facebook and you should too. It has been so fun to see them post their photos on social media and read what they have to say and talk about in their business and even personal life. It is very humbling as I've been chatting with all these entrepreneurs since the event to know how much hard work and passion goes into these events, probably even blood, sweat and tear!
If you are a business owner and would also like to get any of your events (classes, booths, etc.) photographed please send me a message and lets chat about what you need and I can provide for you! Go look at my Pricing page and we can figure out what package would best fit your needs.