Why did we start our own business together?

#blog #smallbusiness #photography #graphicdesign

Let's go back to our romantic beginning. It all started with a graphic designer that met her photographer in the cold winter of 2015. No kidding, it was not all sunshine and rainbows of course. I wanted to be a photographer, writer or movie director. Because I'm an introvert. My strengths come to life behind the scenes. Where did I end up? Yes, that's right I ended up studying Marketing Communications. Completely different, but I quickly found my way and I knew I was in the right place. I graduated 4,5 years later. That's where the reality of adult life started to kick in. I couldn't find a job after graduating, because most of you must have heard this sentence once in your life time (at least I hope I'm not the only one): "I'm sorry, but you don't have enough experience". I was devastated and thought: you know what, I'm not going to sit and wait until I get that experience by binge watching Gossip Girl or La casa de papel. I started my own graphic and design business, because I always loved being creative and I learned the basics during my study. I taught everything myself and became better through the years.

"I'm not going to sit and wait until I get that experience by binge watching Gossip Girl."

So that was my story in short. Joey is quite the opposite of me. He is more of an extravert. What makes us a good team. I met Joey when he studied to become a Geography Teacher. He was not very interested in photography back then. Until he went to Indonesia for his study. During that period his love for photography grew, so did his skills and knowledge. At that time I had a Canon 600 something. I can't even remember to be honest. Joey said: "I want to learn to take better photos", and off he went. Because of his driven personality, soon after he became a better photographer than I am.

So that is how it all started. We have been thinking about starting our own business together since we started traveling in 2018. I already started my own graphic design business in 2017. A year later we wanted to expand the business by offering photography as a service as well. It turned out it was pretty difficult to get clients while we were constantly on the road.

"We love to create something that is of great value to our clients."

Last August we got the opportunity to shoot content for an Australian brand. Our first paid brand deal! We were surprised and super excited, because who doesn't want to get more credits for work they have created?

We got contacted by a platform who linked us to that small business. More about this in a different blog soon, so stay tuned! The brand deals kept on coming from then on and we thought we do not need a middleman to get brand deals. So when we moved to a tiny outback town in the middle of nowhere, somewhere down under in Australia, we thought now is the time to start our own business.

Helping others is in our nature. We love to create something that is of great value to our clients. That is the foundation of our business. The people who know us, know we can't sit still and like to go after our goals. You will never have a dull moment when you spend time with us. We are always in for a good laugh and once Joey starts talking about our adventures he won't stop.

That is our story. We are Avy & Joey, a graphic designer and photographer. Two ambitious, driven and adventurous Dutchies. And together we are Backus Branding.