Bodhi Babes Wonder Women - Lucy Bartholomew
- louisehewison
- Nov 10, 2014
- 11 min read
Meet #BBWW Lucy Bartholomew
“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.”
― Marc Riboud
"If there’s one thing I have had to learn to overcome it’s that you cannot compare yourself to strangers on the internet."
When you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was young, all I wanted to do was work for an airline. I’d been on some wonderful family holidays and I just loved the buzz and excitement of the airport when we travelled. I wrote to Sir Richard Branson when I was 12 years old to ask him how I could get a job working for Virgin Atlantic!
I remained committed to this dream and studied Leisure & Tourism at college. At the age of 19 I got a job with Virgin, which I absolutely loved and that’s where I stayed for a few years before heading off on my own travelling adventure with my new Husband.
What do you do now? For work? For fun?
How did you get into your area of expertise?
I spent 11 years working in the travel industry, both here in the UK and overseas. It was my love of imagery that eventually saw me end up in a role at British Airways looking after the picture desk and this is where my interest in Photography began to grow.
I’d always taken photos for fun, there’s always one friend in the group that has a camera to hand – that’s me! And working on the picture desk I found myself getting really inspired by the work I was looking at.
I always had a creative streak and entrepreneurial tendencies, years ago I started making handmade greetings cards which I sold to my colleagues and I ramped this up in 2009 when I started my first business which specialized in balloon delivery and decoration. This was successful in a very short space of time and I soon found myself working 120 hours per week, balancing my full time job, my business and my friends / family / life!
In 2010, I felt very unwell and eventually went to see my GP. I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder and was told I was suffering a colossal burnout. I was forced to take some timeout and the following 3 months saw me completely regress inside myself. I lost all my confidence, my creativity and my ablity to do anything really. I started suffering with panic attacks and at times found it difficult to leave the house. I realized I needed to reassess my work / life balance and the day job won out with its security and stability. I wound down my business and spent the next year working on my health and overcoming numerous challenges to get myself back to a place where I could start to lead a ‘normal’ life again.
Whilst I was committed to going back to BA (they were extremely supportive in my recovery) I wasn’t quite back to my full time hours and the tough decision to take a 12 month sabbatical was made. The idea was that I would use this time to focus on my health so I could return to the office full time.
My ‘year off’ started at the beginning of 2012. After a few weeks of rest, I Knew I needed a project to keep my brain engaged. My Dad was a professional photographer (after having a career change later in life) and I felt I wanted to get involved in his business. Whilst he was a fantastic photographer, he lacked in certain areas, namely social media and growing business with new clients, and I felt this was an area I could look to help him with.
I started brainstorming and came up with some ideas re rebranding / naming the business and put a business development strategy together. We met for lunch one sunny Monday in April 2012 and Dad was really impressed with the ideas and agreed to let me take the reigns. I didn’t know at the time that would be the last time I would see my Dad as he sadly passed away 2 weeks later at home after having a heart attack. He was 54 years old.
What followed was a strange few weeks but I kept having niggling thoughts about Dad’s business. He had clients outstanding and I spoke to my stepmum / brother. We agreed I would contact his clients and explain the situation and see if I could cover the job for them. I had previously helped Dad out at events and had ‘second shot’ for him in the past but stepping up to the helm had a whole new feeling of responsibility.
I took on some of his work, plus some of my own throughout the rest of 2012, still with every intention to go back to BA. At the very last minute, feeling that something wasn’t quite right about my decision, and with the incredible support of my Husband, his family and my dear friends, I made the decision to hand in my notice to try and pursue my photography dream further.
In 2013 I continued to build my business, now branded as ‘Candy Floss and Bow Ties Photography’ and took on a couple of part time jobs that I could fit in around my photoshoots. For numerous reasons this wasn’t working for me and in February 2014 I took the plunge and went full time. This was, and still is, exciting and terrifying but 10 months in I am not looking back.
I felt I needed to take the safety net away in order to make this a profitable business, all the time I was being paid by someone else I could continue photography as a hobby and that wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to take what Dad had started, add my own touch and take it bigger and better, finishing what he didn’t quite get to do.
"I now specialise in Weddings & Portraits and I have never been happier."
My health is much, much better these days (something else I was determind to conquer!) I am in charge of my own time now so I make it work for me. There are many days when I am putting in far more hours than I would ideally like, but I think that’s the same for all start-ups. The good thing is that I am now much better at understanding the importance of balance, so know when I need a break.
I love that I’ve been able to take the little bits that I learned from running my balloon business (good and bad) and put my knowledge into Candy Floss and Bow Ties. This year I also started an open degree in Photography to enable to me to enhance my knowledge and skill set. I am also constantly attending webinars, watching tutorial videos online and attending courses when I can.
I am currently learning about SEO and Social Media Marketing so I can start securing bookings for next year.
What obstacles have you faced in following your dreams and how have you overcome them?
I constantly face obstacles and if I’m honest, I struggle to visualize a time when I won’t! All the time the business is growing and progressing there will be hurdles to jump.
To date, I think one of the hardest things has been losing the security of a regular pay check. Photoshoots, whilst coming in are irregular and I’ve already learnt that after a busy summer with weddings, things have quietened down in the past couple of weeks, which will be reflected in my earnings. I am extremely lucky that my Husband is a strong believer in what I can do (more so than myself sometimes!) and his wage is supporting us both until a time I am earning ‘properly’. This has not been at all easy and some months are extremely tight, but I have to remain focused on the end goal and have every faith that this is a short term sacrifice.
My other biggest obstacle is my self-confidence. When you work on your own, at home, the internet becomes a bit of a lifeline. If there’s one thing I have had to learn to overcome it’s that you cannot compare yourself to strangers on the internet. Being an artist, I am constantly questioning if my work is good enough or looking at people who are ‘better’ than me, sometimes it seems like I am doing it to punish myself into working harder and getting better! Whilst it is good to have drive, it can verge on self destruction so I have had to tell myself that art is subjective, different styles appeal to different people and there ARE people who love what I do!
What’s the best part of what you do?
There are many parts of what I do that I love. From securing a booking and the rush that brings, to meeting my clients for the first time and introducing them to what I do, to viewing and editing their images and of course showing them the final photographs.
I love my portraiture work and all the elements that come with that (as mentioned above), but for me, weddings are just a whole different ball game. There is something so incredibly special about nurturing a relationship with a Bride & Groom (or 2 Brides or 2 Grooms) and being chosen to document the most important day of their lives. I throw myself into each wedding whole heartedly as I sell myself on being able to document their whole day, creating their own unique fairytale. I feel that by getting to know my clients ahead of their day, I get so much more from my couples and this is reflected throughout their photographs. It is nothing but a sheer honour to be involved in someone’s wedding like this and I don’t want it to end!
What advice do you have for other women who might want to follow suit?
Whilst I would never advocate throwing in a secure, well paid job in order to chase your dreams, for me it was a case of needing to rip off the band aid so that I was pushed into taking my love from a hobby into an earner. It’s amazing the effect of knowing you NEED to make money from something when it comes to driving you.
"Have confidence in yourself, your product or your art. You ARE good enough."
What’s your morning routine?
I am a bit of a social media addict so after a visit to the bathroom (!) I will usually sit in bed and catch up on my Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & Instagram feeds. Once my Husband (Ash) has left for work, I’ll make the short 5 second commute to my office, with a mug of tea and check my emails before setting myself a task list for the day.
I always try and integrate a gym session or dog walk, just to get me out and about as well as benefitting my health.
3 things that are on your ‘to do’ list today?
My to do list is always varied, 3 current tasks I have on the go are:
Finish editing photos from last weekend’s 1st Birthday ‘cake smash’ shoot
Attend live Webinar on doing business through Instagram at 5pm
Send out invoices for Christmas ‘mini sessions’ (taking place 15th Nov).
What are you working on at the moment? Next project?
I have a few key areas that I’m working on at the moment…
SEO - I am trying to get my head around this minefield of information in a bid to improve my Google search rankings, I am currently reading a book that is like a foreign language, I am looking forward to turning over enough revenue to be able to outsource this!
Social Media Marketing - I attended a couple of wedding fairs last year and didn’t find them too fruitful, so am putting my efforts into growing my business online. I am working to increase my wedding bookings for 2015 and am in the midst of attending a number of webinars through Creative Live to hopefully learn a little more about how to do this!
Degree – As mentioned above, I am studying for my BA (hons) in Photography so I am using this quieter period to focus on my Uni work.
One woman you admire and why?
There are lots of strong & powerful women in the public eye that I could choose but for me I have to mention my Nan. Olive Wills is 95 years young and has to be the strongest, most resilient lady I know. Widowed 30 years ago and losing 3 of her 4 children (with the 4th living in Australia), she has had to face more difficulties than anyone I know, yet she is still hanging in there and despite now being poorly and living in a residential care home (only in the past couple of months) she remains the most strong-willed, determined woman I know! I can only hope I have inherited some of those genes!
Three wishes?
To own my own studio, preferably with a beautiful outside space too!
To maintain a healthy work / life balance with time for travels
To be able to provide for my family through my own hard work and success
Who do you turn to for advice?
I have 4 solid rocks in my life. My Husband and 3 of my best friends, Trilby, Mandy and Kevin. They are always at the end of the phone with their wise words and pick-me-ups. Spending time with these people is always the best time spent, they make me laugh, cry (in a good way) and have my back 100%.
I have also formed a beautiful friendship in my ‘Photography Husband’, Nick Wade. We had known each other through mutual friends for a few years but after Nick acted as a second shooter for me at a wedding 18 months ago, we hit it off and Nick is a fully integrated member of the team. He is a brilliant photographer and constantly makes me challenge myself. We share a similar vision of success and I value his advice on a near daily basis.
Ash (my Husband) is an unwavering pillar of strength and support. He was by my side throughout my illness and is nothing but hugely encouraging since, it makes things easier for sure.
Who do you turn to for a shoulder to cry on?
Without a doubt, it is those wonderful friends again, although Ash does get to see me at my worst! My girlfriends, Trilby & Mandy are ALWAYS there, completely unconditionally for me to cry on. Trilby now lives in the US and it has been known for me to have a good sob on Facetime or Skype, thank goodness for technology!
Favourite book?
I am a self confessed bookworm, and love thrillers and romantic fiction, anything that provides a bit of escapism. Whilst not very profound, I have two current favourites; Thirteen Weddings by Paige Toon and The Unpredictable Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell. Both happen to be centred around characters that are photographers which makes them extra interesting for me and both made super holiday reads for me this summer.
Favourite movie?
This is a tough one! Depending on my mood, I’ll either be sitting down to a musical like Hairspray or Grease, a Disney animation such as The Little Mermaid or Toy Story, or a gritty thriller like the Lincoln Lawyer. If I had to pin-point one, I think I’d have to say Titanic! Cheesy I know, but I just think it’s brilliant and it makes me cry every time!
Favourite childhood game?
Mall Madness was my absolute favourite game as a young girl. I bought it on a family holiday in Florida and played it constantly, if no one would play it with me I would play it on my own!
Fantasy career? Why?
Given my love of Disney and all things Walt Disney World, I would have to say a job at the Magic Kingdom. I’d love to either be one of the characters (!) I would like to have an intelligent reason as to why, but I think I just like the idea of working in such a happy place and seeing people’s dreams come true.
Words for Monday motivation?
Every week, you are one Monday closer to success.
You ARE good enough, you CAN do this, BELIEVE in yourself.
#FeelGoodFriday song?
Together in Electric Dreams – Philip Oakey
Favourite quote?
“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.”
― Marc Riboud
Contact Lucy
www.candyflossandbowties.com
lucy@candyflossandbowties.com
07843 092735
www.facebook.com/candyflossandbowties
www.twitter.com/lucybartholomew
www.pinterest.com/lucybarthlomew
www.instagram.com/lucybartholomew
Thank you so much Lucy!
x Louise
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