This is where we meet one of our Self Employed community in a series of blog interviews. This edition features Gemma from Gemma Shoots People.
This is how Gemma works
- Business location: Henleaze, Bristol, working across Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas.
- Current venture: Gemma Shoots People.
- Business rule: show up, even when you don't want to.
- Current mobile: Samsung Galaxy S7 (three years in use, continuing until it fails, for conservation reasons).
- Current computer: Surface Pro 4.
How Gemma got into SEO
Gemma completed a Computer Science degree in London in 2002. During university, budget constraints led to hobbies including film photography and designing HTML and CSS blog layouts for online journal communities, before MySpace and during the MSN Messenger era. After graduating she worked in web design and development roles before going freelance in web, graphic and branding design in 2010 for eight years. In September 2018, a blog domain renewal sparked a social post offering family photo shoots. Within 24 hours she earned 100 pounds, marking the birth of Gemma Shoots People. From the start, proper image optimisation and descriptive alt text have been core practices. She later pivoted toward branding and business photography, and now works with entrepreneurs and small businesses.
What tools do you use to help get you through the day?
Gemma relies on Google Drive for documents and spreadsheets, Dropbox for cloud storage, Pixieset for client photo galleries, and Dubsado as her CRM for leads, invoices, contracts, appointments and feedback forms. She also credits her kettle as essential.
What's your working environment setup like?
She works with two monitors, her laptop screen and an LG 24 inch 4K widescreen display. A notepad sits nearby, and she uses a bullet journal for daily planning. When editing, she uses the Surface Pro 4's pen and tablet screen for retouching.
What's your best productivity shortcut or life hack?
The 5-second rule popularised by Mel Robbins: count down from 5 and then just get up and do the task. She adds that done is better than perfect.
How do you keep your to-do list in check?
A bullet journal manages weekly planning, with notepads capturing quick thoughts and shopping lists.
What do you listen to while you work?
Her tastes span Bjork to 90s pop, classic rock and metal, with Radio 1 in rotation and occasional silence. Daily dog walks include podcasts.
What are you currently reading?
Business titles include The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber, and How To Be A Free Range Human by Marianne Cantwell. For self-development, The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins and Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach. For fiction, she favours Mhairi McFarlane.
How do you wind down?
Turning off technology, sitting in sunshine, woodland dog walks, and continuous improvement.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
Never regret anything, it is the most reductive feeling, and everything is a learning opportunity. Also, move faster than the speed of doubt, and take action before you feel ready, because you are never truly ready.