Social Mum of the Week – Claire Reader

September 24, 2018

This week’s Social Mum of the week is the lovely Claire, who joined our Social Mums Tunbridge Wells group earlier this year. She shares her inspiration for starting her own business as well as a great social media tip we all need to remember.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

I am Claire and I live in Langton Green with my husband Andy, our two children, Grace who is nearly 5 and Bertie who is 2 and our two cats. In my other life I am a Speech and Language Therapist and Makaton Sign Language Tutor. I love to travel and spending time with friends and family.

What is your business?

Capture Me Happy. I specialise in family and event photography, but also work with local businesses to provide head shots and product photography tailored to an individual companies needs. I have a home studio, but tend to do most of my shoots out on location or lifestyle shoots in people’s homes.

What inspired you to start your business?

First and foremost, it’s simple, I love taking photographs! I have had a love of photography for as long as I can remember. As a hobby it fitted around my work perfectly and when I moved to term time working in my NHS role, I had time to develop my hobby into more of a business and Capture Me Happy evolved. Two kids later and I have been able to develop a business that I love and that fits in perfectly around my kids.

What social media platforms do you use and why?

Initially I set up a Facebook page as it was comfortable and familiar. However as a photographer, Instagram is a fab platform to be use and was becoming more expected so after a quick crash course, form some of the other social mums, I set up an account and am starting to use it more, although I feel yet to maximise its potential.

What do you find most challenging about marketing your business on social media?

The main is the cliché one of time and in turn that impacts on the consistency of my posts and ability to keep up with all the new social media developments. The other for me is setting personal boundaries about having protected time for work and family and managing expectations as it can be expected that you can be constantly available with social media being the way it is.

What is the best social media tip you have picked up for your business?

On a practical note tips for using Instagram and improving my SEO have been great but more generally just the importance of being myself and being honest to who I am and what I want my business to stand for and offer. Every time I write a post I always have everyone’s words of ‘just be authentic to what you want to convey’ going through my head. I find it makes social media much easier to manage.

What have you found most useful about being part of a Social Mums Facebook Group?

Definitely the communication with the other mums. The group is such a friendly and positive group. I have made wonderful business connections, but I have also been lucky enough meet likeminded people and have made some great friends. I have received wonderful advice and support from the other mums and I feel that I have been able to help others too which has been lovely.