After working in high street photography studios for five years Sarah Timms aged 29, decided she needed more flexibility. As Sarah puts it “Not only did I want more variety and freedom, I wanted my customers to have more choice and tailor their photo shoots to their requirements.” So, when Sarah started getting requests to do freelance work she decided to look into becoming self employed. In April 2010 Sarah got in touch with Business Development Services in Braintree and the team of advisers helped her to plan her business, she still visits BDS regularly with questions and for feedback and support. Sarah started her own business Photography By Sarah in July 2010 offering a flexible photography service with mobile studio equipment. While still a very young business, work has built up quickly for Sarah and she puts this down to working with other small businesses and organisations. “Networking is crucial, I work closely with two preschool classes, a hairdresser and the local majorettes and also run workshops with home schooled children, but the biggest projects I’m working on are with a boutique and dog groomers!” Photography By Sarah makes regular visits to 4PAWS dog grooming in Lindsell for Pet Photography Days. It works well for both businesses as an additional service to offer and generates lots of good word of mouth. Photography By Sarah does all the product photography for Strawberry Annie ‘the truly scrumptious boutique’. Thanks to Sarah’s insistence that the strawberries make a tutu for her dog, they created a range of pet products which are now on sale at 4PAWS. Every day is different for Sarah now; she could be photographing for a website, a family portrait or an event. Sarah says “I have been lucky enough to have worked with some lovely families and businesses that have been kind enough to recommend me! I hope 2011 brings lots more interesting projects and happy customers”. Photography By Sarah 07974948646 or www.photosbysarah.co.uk