About Julisssa Shrewsbury
Julissa Shrewsbury is founder and director of New Work Photography, a multi-award winning creative agency specialising in commercial photography and visual brand consulting. Julissa regularly writes and speaks on topics such as personal branding and how to use photos for a high-impact online brand. Her articles have been published in various print and online magazines, as well as in her popular newsletter, News in Visual Marketing, and her blog.
Connect
Web: www.newworkphotography.com
Email: info@newworkphotography.com.au
Ph: +61 409376337
About New Work Photography
New Work Photography provides portrait, fashion, commercial and event photography, personal branding advice and visual and written marketing support for Australian businesses and beyond. We specialise in commercial photography for websites, advertising, social media marketing and editorial. This includes creative and corporate profile photos, product and food photography, fashion and catalogue work, stock imagery and corporate event photography. We work with businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to large companies and organisations, as well as with individuals, designers and artists, to create photographs to match or build their brand. A big part of our work with businesses is as visual marketing consultants for business and personal brands. We do this through consultations, workshops and online informational tools. New Work = Creative work with your brand in focus.
Review Overview
Q & A Julissa Shrewsbury
What’s the story behind your business?
My background is in primary school and performing arts teaching, which I loved, but left after 7 years to pursue my first loves – writing and photography. After further study, I started New Work Photography. I started my business because I wanted to do things differently, and I believe that almost five years later, my business is really pushing the boundaries in what you can expect from a boutique photographic agency. I believe my business is doing things differently in commercial photography services because we have a focus on highly individual and creative profile photos for business or career, taking time to discover and develop the client’s business and personal brand through photographs, and educating our clients and readers on building their own business or personal brand visually.
What was your first job?
My very very first job was as a 12 year old, running a ‘fairy party’ business with my little sister. My mum made the fairy costumes and we advertised with a poster in the local supermarket. We got one job before we lost interest – it proved all too much work for a couple of kids!
When you decided to start your own business, what was your big “why”?
My big ‘why’ was that I wanted to create something for myself. I didn’t want to work for someone else after my career change from teaching, I wanted to take my new creative skills in photography and writing and do something on my own.
What have you had to give up?
I’ve had to give up the comfort of a steady income coming from someone else, I’ve had to give up a lot of leisure time, spending on extra things, and even some holidays, while I was building my business from scratch. At times this has been hard but I reminded myself that the bigger picture was a life less ordinary – being my own boss in a wonderfully creative field.
Your proudest achievement to date?
My greatest source of pride is seeing how my business has evolved, from a few basic services to a comprehensive visual marketing support agency. I love how we do things differently from most photographers – like providing support around our profile shoots and other commercial photography by way of workshops, consulting, articles and soon to be on offer, e-books. These products and services are all about modern visual marketing and building a business or personal brand online. We are offering these pre- and post-photo shoot support services in response to client needs that we’ve come across.
What are some of the most exciting projects you’ve worked on?
My photography work has taken me to all sorts of places, into a broad variety of businesses, and lead me to meet a whole lot of people from all walks of life, from celebrities to politicians to CEOs of large companies, to highly creative individuals in my own city.
What would you tell your younger self not to do?
I would definitely tell my younger self that I can’t do everything on my own, and to seek help from the start, to save time, money and tears! But the independent streak has been hard to shake!
What’s next for you and your business?
More speaking at business events, running workshops on visual branding for business and personal brands, and publishing my e-books.