Entrepreneurship is a significant part of modern society. According to the Finnish Business Register of Statistics Finland, there were 294,965 companies in Finland in 2020, not including agriculture, forestry, and fisheries enterprises. These companies collectively employed 1.4 million people and generated taxes to fund services for the people.
Over the years, with the advancement of technology, many new companies have been established in the media industry. The prevalence of cameras in everyday life provides people with the opportunity to capture ordinary moments, but for special occasions, we still rely on professional photographers.
I had the opportunity to interview Iida Lesell, a photographer from Ylivieska, and inquire about her experience as an entrepreneur. Lesell obtained her photography degree in Helsinki alongside high school in 2018-2019, and she is the third generation in her family to work in the media industry, following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather. Lesell primarily photographs families, couples, newborns, and wedding couples. She also offers corporate photography services. Lesell has been working as a light entrepreneur for five years, and in 2022, she opened her own photography studio in the heart of Ylivieska city center.
Facts about photography:
- Photography is a method of creating images by directing light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation onto a photosensitive surface.
- The first successful photograph was taken in 1826.
- Traditionally, photographs were produced chemically using film coated with a light-sensitive material.
- The first color photograph was taken in 1861.
- One of the biggest transformations in the history of photography occurred in the 1990s with the widespread adoption of digital cameras.
- In medicine, photography is utilized for imaging processes that are not visible to the human eye, such as using X-rays to ”see through” tissues.
Entrepreneurship in photography
According to Lesell, entrepreneurship offers a lot of freedom but also responsibility. She says, ”If you don’t work, you won’t get paid.” The most exciting and scary aspect is the uncertainty of having enough work. However, so far, Lesell has had enough work to sustain her business.
Starting a business can present challenges. ”There are a lot of paperwork and things to consider when becoming an entrepreneur,” Lesell explains. When you become an entrepreneur, there is initially a lot to figure out. As an entrepreneur, you need to take care of tasks such as bookkeeping and invoicing clients. You also need to know how much you earn from client invoices and how much of that money goes elsewhere.
Difference between full-time entrepreneurship and light entrepreneurship
What is the difference between being a full-time entrepreneur and a light entrepreneur? As a full-time entrepreneur, you work as an entrepreneur full-time and may handle more administrative tasks. As a light entrepreneur, you may have the assistance of other companies that take care of certain aspects of your business. Lesell mentioned, ”The idea of light entrepreneurship is that I send the invoice, and the light entrepreneurship service takes care of everything else.” She shared her experience transitioning from light entrepreneurship to being a full-time entrepreneur.
As a light entrepreneur, you also have more time to work in another company or pursue further studies. During the interview, Lesell mentioned that she studied and worked in another company simultaneously while running her light entrepreneurship business.
Pros and cons
”The good thing about entrepreneurship is that you have the freedom to express yourself. The downside is when you take, for example, family photos, and the client may not like them due to my personal photography style,” Lesell explains.
Being a photographer has its pros and cons. The work of a photographer is not just about taking pictures. It is easy to think, ”It’s easy, you just take a few photos, and that’s it.” However, that’s not the case. Image editing takes a significant amount of time in a photographer’s daily life, and capturing the best results requires attention to many details.
During photography, a photographer naturally develops their own style. Some may prefer darker photos, while others may prefer brighter ones.
Tips for aspiring photographers
At the end of the interview, I asked Lesell for tips for aspiring photographers:
”Trust and believe in yourself. If you want to become a photographer, remember that practice helps you learn. Never be afraid of failures because they can be learning experiences. Test different things and experiment, and you will find your own style.” Lesell advises.
– Maiju Herranen
Finnish version of the article here: https://www.medioso.info/media-ala/iida-lesell-media-alalla-kolmannessa-sukupolvessa/