Welcome to the latest episode of the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast! Hosts Mike, Ken, and CJ dive into a riveting conversation with Columbus-based photographer Ray LaVoie. Discover how Ray turned his passion for photography into a thriving business, tackled challenges, and the importance of surrounding yourself with a reliable network.
From discussing imposter syndrome to navigating the complexities of corporate America and maintaining authenticity in a world increasingly influenced by AI, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Don't miss out on Ray's practical advice for budding photographers and entrepreneurs alike.
00:00 Welcome to the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast
03:11 Corporate Frustrations and Upcoming Plans
04:49 Excitement for the Beyonce Concert
07:17 Introducing Special Guest: Ray LaVoie
08:37 Ray LaVoie's Journey into Photography
11:37 Transition from Corporate America to Photography
15:25 Networking and First Big Client
20:40 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
24:08 Navigating Business as a Minority
25:43 Choosing the Right Talent for the Job
27:56 Solo Entrepreneur vs. CEO
30:35 The Importance of a Reliable Network
32:49 Advice for Aspiring Photographers
36:49 Challenges in Photography
43:38 Quick Fire Questions
47:50 Final Thoughts and Farewell
Guest's Social Media
Website: https://www.raylavoie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RayLavoiePhoto
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raylavoie
Thank you for listening!
Follow our socials!
Contact us:
- Email: blackbridgemindset@gmail.com
Hosts:
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
CJ (00:01):
Hello and welcome to the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast
where culture, entrepreneurship,and business intersect to fuel
inspiration.
This podcast celebrates thepower of diverse voices shaping
the future of business.
So whether you're building abusiness, breaking barriers, or
just looking for some seriousinspiration, you're in the right
place.
(00:22):
The Black Bridge Mindset.
Podcast is hosted by your threefavorite best friends, Mike,
Ken, and CJ.
So now sit back, relax, andabsorb the gems being dropped on
you by today's special guest.
Mike (00:38):
the real acting starts taking place.
'cause I'm tired.
I woke up.
I had my coffee, but look, lookat me glowing.
The sun is coming in.
CJ (00:46):
got a little
Mike (00:46):
Good morning.
Good morning, good morning.
Ken (00:49):
Good morning.
The question is why?
Why are you tired?
Mike (00:54):
I, I, don't know, I think I'm just getting old.
CJ (00:57):
job.
Mike (00:57):
I, it, it is part, it is the, the, it is, the promotion
has kept me busy over the lasttwo weeks trying to get
everything in order.
We've been interviewing people,which has been fun.
yeah, it's, it's, it's a littledraining, but it's a good thing.
It's not a bad thing.
I'm not gonna complain about it.
(01:18):
Outside of the job and justtrying to do things on the side
as well, you know, you know, Ialways talk about real estate
trying to do that, so that'skeeping us busy.
This and keeping everything inorders, keeping me busy.
I have a episode to edit afterthis actually.
But yeah, that's my life andthat's how it's going.
I was even trying to think ofwhat to put in my Black Bridge
(01:39):
mindset, little Yeti Cup thismorning, and I ended up putting
in water.
I was, everything else justdidn't sound great this morning,
this early.
And for those listening, it iseight o'clock in Chicago
Ken (01:52):
Right.
Mike (01:53):
eight 20 in Chicago right now.
So it is early.
Ken (01:55):
Right.
Mike (01:55):
this for the people.
CJ (01:57):
Hm.
Ken (01:57):
So a quick question about the new job.
How, like, are you, are youtaking on a new team or you're
building your team?
Mike (02:06):
I am building a team,
Ken (02:08):
Wow.
Good for you.
Mike (02:09):
yeah.
Yeah, So slowly building a team.
So the COO has a.
A bunch of people that he haslined up, that he's interviewed
and that he likes, and then he'spassed them on to me to do a
second round of interviews,
Ken (02:19):
Okay.
Mike (02:20):
and then I'm just ranking them and then sending my
recommendations, back to him.
And then we'll see what happensnext week.
Ken (02:28):
Okay, good for you.
CJ (02:29):
out.
Ken (02:29):
Are you prepared for this?
Because managing people is acompletely different
Mike (02:33):
listen,
Ken (02:34):
world?
Mike (02:34):
I manage you two.
If I can make it through youtwo.
Ken (02:38):
No, no, no.
See, the, the, the differencehere is you don't have to you
know, document things, right?
Like there is, and, and you'reright, you do, you do manage us
and,
CJ (02:49):
already
Ken (02:50):
Right.
Mike (02:50):
Of course I'm joking, but yeah, I don't know.
I'm, you know, that imperfectaction thing that I always talk
about, so here we go.
We're
Ken (02:56):
Right,
Mike (02:57):
it out as we go.
Ken (02:58):
right, right.
So good for you.
And again, congratulations.
That's, that's fantastic.
Mike (03:03):
Yeah, Thank you.
Thank you.
How about you two?
How are things going?
Ken (03:08):
Things are good.
Not too bad.
Work's been crazy.
They got on my nerves this week.
CJ (03:12):
I can tell because generally you texting throughout the day.
We are even here from you thispast couple weeks.
Ken (03:19):
No, there's just, there's a lot that is going on.
And then on Wednesday I was.
Wednesday morning.
So we had a two day directorstraining, which honestly could
have been a day, actually itcould have been a half day, but
whatever.
And before I was going down onwas it Tuesday or Wednesday?
Anyway, some, somebody came overand said, Hey, like, you are
(03:41):
going to be managing the newperson.
And mind you, this persondoesn't even work in my
organization.
And I was like, excuse me, what?
And he was like, yeah, you'regonna be managing the new person
and you're gonna get a call fromsomebody later.
And I'm like, first of all, whyare you telling me this?
And secondly, why am I justfinding out about this right
now?
(04:02):
So then I sent a note to my bossand my boss's boss, and they're
like, what are you talkingabout?
And I said, see this?
This is the shit that pisses meoff.
Right, because like, how are youmaking this?
Who's making this decisionwithout involving me
specifically right?
In this decision.
(04:23):
But anyway, it's all good.
Like, it's, it's part of beingin corporate America.
So prepare yourself, Michael,because these are the things
that will, crop up and happen toyou, but otherwise it's been
good.
You know, I'm just trying tomake it until next Thursday
whenever I can be done andprepare yourselves.
(04:45):
'cause we're right.
We're going all in.
CJ (04:49):
and
Mike (04:49):
And for people who are like, what's happening next
Thursday?
They probably like, the peoplewant
Ken (04:54):
Oh, we're all headed to Chicago to see Beyonce for the
weekend.
The concert is Saturday.
And I am looking forward tothis.
I am, I'm looking forward to it.
So I have the, I think I, Ithink I found the right set
list.
So I have it on repeat, so I'llbe fully prepared.
CJ (05:13):
about that.
Why are you so?
Just up in air trying to getthis set list together.
One, as
Ken (05:21):
What
CJ (05:21):
managing the music on stage and two, should already know all
the songs.
Anyway,
Ken (05:27):
what kind of question is that?
CJ (05:29):
that was a sta Well, it was a question and a statement.
Ken (05:32):
So first of all, you are, listen.
CJ (05:35):
This is you
Ken (05:36):
You should always be prepared, okay?
Number one, you should always beprepared.
And so as you, as you have seenon Instagram, she has a
different set list dependingupon where she is on what night
it is, right?
And so there are certain songslike Boots on the Ground and
like other songs that like.
You know, you need to beprepared for it.
(05:57):
If you want to take advantage,full advantage of the show.
CJ (06:02):
so what
Ken (06:02):
And you're right, I probably do, I probably do know
most of the songs, but that'snot the point.
CJ (06:07):
What
Ken (06:07):
And plus I need to just,
CJ (06:09):
you're at home right now actively practicing the boots on
the ground steps so that at theconcert you can show us.
Ken (06:17):
are you not?
CJ (06:19):
No, you just wing it.
Ken (06:20):
Oh, okay.
Alright.
Mike (06:22):
I.
already know it.
I got it.
CJ (06:23):
alcohol, I'll get it.
Ken (06:25):
Well, I guess I, I guess Saturday morning we'll be
holding class.
CJ (06:35):
To say the least, more
Ken (06:36):
Class will be an effort.
Correct.
Listen, do not embarrass me outthere in front of all them
people.
That's all I'm saying.
CJ (06:43):
Listen
Mike (06:44):
funny.
CJ (06:44):
much as we've been together.
If I haven't embarrassed youyet, then I don't know what else
I can do.
Ken (06:51):
But I'm excited.
I'm looking forward to, I'mlooking forward mainly I'm
looking forward to the concert,but I'm really ma looking
forward to hanging out with allof you fools.
I feel like it's been,
CJ (06:58):
It's been
Ken (06:59):
has it been since my birthday in January?
Since we've all been together?
CJ (07:04):
Yeah.
Mike (07:04):
Yeah, it's been a
Ken (07:05):
Yeah,
Mike (07:06):
been a minute.
Ken (07:06):
it has been.
So yeah.
I'm looking forward to spendinga, a good weekend with my
family.
CJ (07:14):
Good.
Mike (07:14):
right.
CJ (07:14):
here.
Ken (07:16):
Let's get started.
CJ (07:17):
So today on our show, we are hosting Mr.
Ray LaVoie.
Ray LaVoie is a Columbus, Ohiobased photographer who
translates the energy within anobject or person into high
quality imagery for consumers,businesses, and investors.
has a laundry list of corporateclients who revel at his work
and contact him.
As their go-to photographer on aconsistent basis.
(07:41):
Because of this, Ray holds aunique eye for capturing stellar
photos of all subjects, human orobject.
Ray LaVoie Photography is also aunique business as it is
registered as an L-G-B-T-B-E,which I'm assuming stands for
LGBT Business Enterprise andwe'll have Ray discuss that as
well.
So, bringing in today, we arevery honored to have Mr.
(08:03):
Ray LaVoie.
Ken (08:04):
Morning and.
Mike (08:05):
Good morning.
Ray Lavoie (08:08):
Good
Mike (08:09):
Thank you for joining us early on a Saturday morning.
Ray Lavoie (08:12):
Thank you for having me be one of your guests.
I'm very honored and privilegedto be here.
Mike (08:17):
Awesome.
Well, as, as CJ told us twiceyou are a photographer in
Columbus.
Yeah, we'd love to get a littlebit of background and if you can
sort of just tell us a littlebit about yourself and how you
got into this business, and thenwe'll, we'll ask you some
questions after that.
Ray Lavoie (08:37):
It started very long time ago and it wasn't actually
getting into the business.
It was taking my passion forphotography and making it into a
business.
I would've been a photographerif I did, had a business or not.
And so I started out reallyyoung and I went to art school
for college fashion Institute ofTechnology in Manhattan.
And left there in my earlytwenties be a photo assistant
(09:00):
for some major photographersaround America.
Names, which won't impressanybody that doesn't know
photography, but they're great.
Good people.
I went from there to having acrisis of conscience and took a
full-time job at a place that.
some VPs remember, AOL
CJ (09:18):
Hmm.
Ray Lavoie (09:19):
America online back in the day.
And they were very good to mefor about 10 years.
And, but then 10 years I gottired of corporate America,
Kenneth alluded to.
There's some things thatcorporate America that are not
just, are not all that much funand, I decided to a shingle in
2007 and become a photographybusiness and I've been photo
(09:42):
photographer in Columbus since2007 coming up on 18 years.
I think that's my
CJ (09:49):
Yeah,
Ray Lavoie (09:49):
alright doing really well.
Happy to be here and ask me morequestions.
Mike (09:56):
No, that's awesome.
CJ (09:57):
so you actually.
You went to school forphotography, it wasn't, I mean,
it was already a hobby, so tospeak, but you, you went to
school and, and, and got furthertraining.
Ray Lavoie (10:08):
Oh I started printing photographs in a G club
in middle school,
CJ (10:14):
Hmm.
Ray Lavoie (10:14):
so I'd already started photography in middle
school.
think I was about eight yearsold when I went on a trip to the
Poconos in Eastern Pennsylvania.
had a waterfall and I had alittle Hawkeye camera 1 26
cartridge camera, which isinside baseball conversation
right there.
but I took four or five fixturesof the waterfall and my mother
(10:36):
was like, you only need one.
I'm like, but I have to get theright angle.
So they knew it was a problemback then.
always eight years
CJ (10:43):
Nice.
Ray Lavoie (10:44):
they say that lawyers are people who like to
argue that become lawyers.
like, I like to take pictures ofbecome a photographer.
Ken (10:51):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So did you never have a desireto go back to New York?
Because most times wheneverpeople study in New York, they
want to kind of, you know, staythere and build their career.
Like, so there was never adesire to wanna go back to New
York.
Ray Lavoie (11:07):
I find that everything is fine until you're
30 York.
I.
And if you haven't made itenough to afford the apartment
you're living in by 30, you'relike, I'm out.
Great.
Great place to hang out for yourtwenties, as soon as you hit
your thirties and you stilldon't have enough for a down
payment, you're like, I'm goingfrom cheaper gas mileage.
Mike (11:29):
Yeah.
Nice.
you mentioned that, you know,this was always in your bones
and it was like a passion foryou.
and then at one point youdecided to leave corporate
America and go pursue yourpassion.
Was there trigger that causedyou to, in the mindset trigger
that said, you know what?
(11:50):
I don't care if I make money, ifI don't make money.
I'm gonna go and pursue mypassion because I think a lot of
people have a passion, but theyhave the golden handcuffs as
they call it.
You know, they're comfortable,they have this great job, they
have great income.
They may not love the job, butthey're terrified to take that
leap.
So what internally happened foryou that said, I don't care.
(12:10):
I'm gonna take this leap anyway.
Ray Lavoie (12:13):
I had a lot of experience photographing in New
York as a freelancer in New Yorkand I, the freedom that entails.
Some days you're working, somedays you're not.
Some days you're in, some daysyou're out.
You don't feel like taking ajob.
You don't take it and take twojobs on a day that you feel like
you can do anything in 12 hours.
But really, I, corporate Americawor wore me out.
(12:34):
They did 10 years of layoffs andevery, and I survived 10 layoffs
and every year you come aroundto October or something like
that, like for layoffs again.
I'm like, I am done beingpotentially laid off.
Put me on the list.
I'm out.
And I, of course, thought aboutit many times throughout the
years to go back into corporateAmerica, but I really wanted
(12:56):
ownership.
I wanted to make something thatI owned.
And if people do things likeEtsy and things like that and
crafts and things like that,that they make themselves,
America, you can spend six ornine months making something for
a client and then the clientgoes now we unfunded it.
So it's got, and it's gone.
It's an ether and it's you can'tget married to your children.
(13:18):
It's like you just have to letthem go.
And I was like, I want tonurture this.
I want to, I want grow mybusiness as a photographer I
want the respect and freedomthat comes with own my own
business.
CJ (13:31):
So you, you know, go back to decided that, you know you've
had enough for corporateAmerica.
You're ready to pursue yourpassion and start your business.
What were some of the the firststeps that you had to take or
first things that you put inplace to get your business off
the ground?
I mean you had to have, youknow, experience as a
(13:51):
photographer of course, butthere's, are there any licensing
issues that you had to, topursue?
Was there any certifications youhad to, to get, you know, what,
what processes did you take?
Ray Lavoie (14:04):
AOL was really generous with their package out
the door.
So there was a lot of financialpushing that I had, also they
gave me out outsourced careercourses to take and stuff like
that.
And I took one of the coursesthat said, are you an
entrepreneur?
Can you run your own business?
And I took these questionnaireand they said, yes, you're fine.
(14:27):
Just don't do your own books.
And I was like, okay, that'ssound advice.
So if somebody else thinks I cando this is great.
And so I went into the arearesources and there's something
called SCORE in Columbus I don'tknow what it stands for, but
it's executives that have beenretired and they go and do
(14:47):
classes on how to run yourbusiness.
And it was really wonderfulbecause I learned about LLC
becoming a limited liability.
and ensuring myself and allthis, all the business stuff
that's, that you have to do asan artist, even though you're an
artist.
People in business are justbusiness and, but as artists you
(15:08):
have to be the artist andcreative and also a business
person.
'cause without the business asa, something to fall back on,
you're gonna be a very poorartist for a really long time.
Ken (15:18):
Ray, tell us about how you began, like finding work, right?
Like how, how did you decidelike, this is what I wanna do,
like I wanna do photography, Iwanna do portraits, or was it
just the fact that you kind oflike were telling anybody who
would listen that this is whatyou wanted to do and waiting for
your first client to come about?
Ray Lavoie (15:40):
My first big client came about?
in a very traditional but uniqueway.
Yelling from the treetops isfine, but my first client was
somebody I worked with at AOlwho had moved on to another
company and I'm gonna use A badword.
here.
Networking.
(16:01):
Everybody hates
Mike (16:02):
That's a great word.
We do it all the time.
Ray Lavoie (16:06):
so well there.
Once at a time.
when networking was like, oh, Idon't wanna do that.
Do I have to?
I'm not I don't wanna talk tosee people I don't know and go
into a room full of people, Idon't know.
I did, I liked to do that, so itwas great for me.
I'm an extrovert.
I like to be in crowds of peopleand just and take in their
(16:27):
energy.
And so I networked at my oldjob.
And so Jacob, who moved on to abig online realty retailer
called me up and said, can youdo socks?
And I was like, yes, I can dosocks.
And he is great,
Ken (16:46):
Perfect.
Ray Lavoie (16:46):
this meeting and we're meeting with Joseph and
we're gonna talk about you doingphotography for the company.
I was like, great.
Brought my portfolio verynominal at that point in
history.
And they were like, great, whencan you do it?
was like, Monday.
And they were like, great, howmuch are you gonna charge?
And I was like, I don't know.
I'll get back to you.
(17:07):
And, I sent a quick email toJacob who got me the job and
said, how much am I charginghim?
He was like, charge him thismuch.
great, thanks, bye.
So it all happened through Jacoband I'm very blessed that he got
me that gig'cause it lasted, giglasted four years and I was this
close to going back to acorporate job'cause this was in
(17:30):
May of 2008 and I tongue wasshingle in 2007 I had little s
smattering of jobs throughoutthat 16 month time period.
Ken (17:42):
So did that.
Did that experience, so talkabout how that experience helped
you to decide and define yourrate going forward.
Ray Lavoie (17:53):
It really worked out because the,
Ken (17:55):
I.
Ray Lavoie (17:55):
else was charging about the same amount I.
Found out I joined a corporate aa trade association called A
SMP, American Society of MediaPhotographers.
And they were somebody I'd knownin New York as an assistant, and
they had a chapter here inColumbus.
So I went to the meetings andgot to know them, and then they
(18:19):
ran workshops and stuff likethat on how to bid for a job,
how to, make sure that you werecharging the right rate for
travel versus set buildingversus, there's an entire, a
plethora of things that you haveto go through to get a job in
corporate America.
Are you building a set?
Are you going on location?
(18:40):
you need a set dresser?
Do you need a hair and makeupperson?
Do you need talent?
Who's paying for the talent?
Who's paying this service fee?
Who's doing this and who's doingthat?
There's a whole huge list ofthings you go through, and I had
no idea about any much of any ofit.
I had done some.
Bookkeeping for photographersback in New York, but not to
(19:01):
this scale.
And so I put together a bidbased on what the A SMP had told
me.
They have a business practicesbook that you can look, that you
can look up.
so there was a, it was, therewas a path that I was on and I
was very happy that I had themin my corner.
CJ (19:17):
So you mentioned that I guess from net through
networking and from yourrelationship that you had
through AOL that's how you or,you know, originally got your
first client.
How has your evolved since then?
And what, what, what things doyou do to market yourself to
bring in new clients?
Ray Lavoie (19:36):
Right now I do two networking meetings a week if I
can.
One is with a company inColumbus called Am Spirit and
another one.
Is the Buckeye Referral Club.
every week I'm practicing my32nd elevator pitch.
Um, I'm getting to know peoplewho need people that do what I
do.
There once was a time where Iwas very pretentious and was
(19:59):
like, oh, I can't I, thesepeople won't help me.
I need to get big job.
And it's not been the case.
I've got great jobs small jobs,big jobs, little jobs all over
the place, and that's beenreally wonderful is to have that
variety.
I do lots of portraits oflawyers.
I do, I.
(20:21):
pound engines that run onelectric for outboard motors.
I do houses that are in thethree to$4 million range.
I do all kinds of things andsome of the clients that I have
today have been clients?
that I've had since 2008, 2009.
Mike (20:39):
Nice.
I think one of the things youwere sort of hinting at after CJ
asked that question is impostersyndrome.
But before we get to that youmentioned that you've been
practicing your 32nd elevatorspeech.
I, I want to hear what it iswalk up to you say, Hey Ray, how
you doing?
What is it that you do?
Ray Lavoie (20:56):
A photographer that specializes in portraiture and
still alive.
Give me 50 seconds, gimme 30seconds and I'll give you a
portrait for a lifetime.
if you see someone with a badheadshot, say something to me.
Mike (21:10):
Right,
Ray Lavoie (21:10):
em if you're not willing to.
Mike (21:12):
right.
Ray Lavoie (21:13):
should suffer with a picture of a half their ex and
half of them in their headshot.
CJ (21:21):
That
Mike (21:22):
Done.
CJ (21:23):
will get you plenty of people.
Ken (21:25):
Right.
Mike (21:26):
Right, exactly.
Going back to the,
Ray Lavoie (21:29):
this picture.
Mike (21:33):
so going back to the it sounds like you were hinting at
imposter.
Syndrome a little bit where yousaid that, you know, no one, no
one's gonna hire me because I'm,whatever.
How did you, how did you sort ofpush through that?
Because I know a lot of peoplewill have that, right?
They're starting in an industryand they're like, oh, you know,
I'm, like I'm faking it.
(21:53):
I'm not good enough.
Ray Lavoie (21:56):
I don't think I've pushed through it.
I think I've just made itquieter.
'cause it's always there.
every time you go through a job,get nervous the day before.
You're checking the equipment,you're going through the set,
you're making sure you've gotall the equipment you need and
people are showing up on timeand doing everything that of a
photo shoot and in the back,it's just back there.
(22:19):
It's not like in 2007 it wasscreaming now it's just you
don't deserve this.
You don't deserve.
Mike (22:32):
Nice.
I'm happy that you're able tolike quiet it and, and become as
successful as you are.
And I was just thinking when Iwas at Farmer's Insurance, did
you do my photos?
I think I came in, I did.
Man, I'm getting old.
I can't, things aren't stickinglike they used to, but I just
remembered like, coming to your,to your thing.
I'm gonna have to go find those.
(22:52):
Yeah, you did my pictures when Iwas, when I owned an insurance
agency.
Ray Lavoie (22:57):
CJ's had done twice.
Mike (22:58):
Nice.
CJ (23:00):
And
Mike (23:00):
Yeah.
I'm gonna have to go find those.
CJ (23:01):
my LinkedIn photo.
Ray Lavoie (23:04):
See, that may need to be updated at some
CJ (23:07):
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (23:08):
Not that you've changed or anything, but.
CJ (23:11):
So I'm curious you know, in the intro I mentioned that you
are.
Registered as an L-G-B-T-B-Ebusiness, which is unique and I
have never heard of that.
I know that, there are, youknow, minority businesses that
are registered as you know,black owned or veteran owned or
(23:33):
what have you.
But this one is new to me.
Can you explain to me you know,what drove you to be, you know,
get registered, your business,registered under them?
two, how has it helped you yourbusiness?
Ray Lavoie (23:46):
It's help.
I'll, let's take this questionone at first.
It's I think you're referring tothe National Gay of Commerce.
give certification to me as agay owned business.
They literally send you aninterview that you have to
certify that you are gay.
It's crazy.
Mike (24:07):
I have questions.
CJ (24:08):
believe
Ray Lavoie (24:09):
I know,
CJ (24:09):
me.
Ray Lavoie (24:12):
but they do.
They have lots of people thatare like wanting to get into the
pockets of people who have.
Mike (24:20):
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (24:20):
to say that they're a minority business and they're
not.
They're.
Just straight people trying towork the system.
And I answered the questions andI was honest with them about
what my status was and where Iwas in my evolution.
And they I live with my betterhalf.
We're not married, but we'vebeen together since for 21 years
(24:42):
now.
And so how that has helped isthat.
A lot of businesses, as youmight know, like to refer
businesses to by gay people.
I pick them businesses that Iwork with based on a lot of
times on who I knew in the, whoI know in the community.
(25:03):
I wanna support gay ownedbusinesses'cause they've
supported me.
And that has worked out verywell over the years.
We don't have a good Chamber ofcommerce LGBT, jam Chamber of
Commerce here in Columbus, butthere is one in Cleveland that's
really good and there's onesaround the country that are
exceptional and they haveconferences every year in
(25:24):
wonderful places and other gayowned businesses that I know
which you guys know aboutingenious and, call center, call
management, or I forget what thename of the company is that
Malcolm owned or owns, but theyboth benefited huge from being
Nash chamber of Commercemembers.
Ken (25:43):
So I want to go back to what you had mentioned earlier
about being able to understandlike how to choose talent for
the set.
You know, if you are working ona set, if you have to build a
set, so do.
Over the years, have you honedyour craft in being able to
(26:05):
choose talent and, and you know,and pick the right talent for
the job, or do you leave that tosomebody else?
Ray Lavoie (26:13):
I will take this from a differentt.
Ken (26:15):
I.
Ray Lavoie (26:16):
There's a conversation that happens every
time.
Somebody that I pick up thephone or they get an email and
it's a dance because the firstquestion out of my mouth is,
what's your budget?
And they say what's your cost?
And I'm like you haven't told mehow big a house you wanna buy.
(26:37):
Do you wanna buy a three bedroomhouse or a one bedroom shack?
What do you want?
want it in Beverly Hills or doyou want it in like Tulsa,
Oklahoma?
It's gonna cost differentthings, which kind of house you
buy you buy a set with 17 peopleof talent that are in the
(27:00):
background and the foregroundand stuff like that, like for
Chase Bank or something likethat, where you've got a cafe or
something like that in, in theshot.
Do you hire six people for thatshoot or do you hire 20 people
for that shoot?
And so those are conversationsthat happen back and forth
between media buyers at CorpCorporations and and me.
(27:23):
Usually sometimes if I have anagent, they'll be talking to my
agent as opposed to me.
'cause I should be out takingpictures.
But sometimes I'm on the phonetalking about.
How big is the cafe?
How many people are in it?
Is there, many sets are wedoing?
Are we doing two outside scenes?
The three outside scenes?
Are we in a set, a stagedownstage that I can rent?
(27:46):
There's a lot of variables onthat.
Did I answer the question?
Ken (27:52):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (27:54):
Good.
Mike (27:56):
I always ask this question to entrepreneurs.
Do you consider yourself a soloentrepreneur or a CEO, excuse
me, a solo CEO, or do you have ateam of people who help you run
the business?
Ray Lavoie (28:10):
I don't consider myself a CEO.
the one of the things that Italked about earlier about how
they said that you should findsomebody to do your books, I
have been with the samebookkeeper since 2008.
And she has kept me and out ofjail ever since.
Mike (28:31):
Nice.
Ray Lavoie (28:33):
between her, my CPA and the people that I trust, do
hair and makeup, set design todo construction, to do the
different aspects of the job areother freelancers.
So we're all, I am the leader ofthe PAC because they came to me
(28:56):
for the photograph, butassistants, the techs, the
whatever on the payroll of thatjob are all working under me.
But I don't consider itC-E-O-I-I
Mike (29:10):
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (29:10):
definitely don't.
Mike (29:11):
That's
Ray Lavoie (29:11):
enabler
Mike (29:13):
interesting because I, I would see that, I would be like,
Hey, Ray's the CEO, like, he's,he's running things like just, I
mean, the people are notnecessarily on your, they're not
your employees, but they'restill your team and you're
managing this team of people.
You're, you know, you're, you'remaking sure the, the, the system
is running well, right?
(29:34):
So if you don't consideryourself a CEO, what would you
call yourself?
Ray Lavoie (29:40):
Master of ceremonies.
Mike (29:42):
of ceremonies.
Okay.
All right.
I'm,
Ray Lavoie (29:45):
I make sure everything happens.
Mike (29:48):
yeah.
Ray Lavoie (29:48):
fed, people get done by a certain period, certain
time in the day.
Mike (29:54):
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (29:55):
You manage the client and say, coming up on 10
hours.
Do you want to go into overtime?
No.
Mike (30:03):
Right.
Ray Lavoie (30:04):
Then wrap it up.
Mike (30:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, and, and a lot of theseconversations, you know, we
always talk to people and theimportance of having a team,
because you can't do everythingyourself, right?
It's not like you're sittingthere doing someone's makeup,
you're not sitting there makingsure the set is perfect.
Ray Lavoie (30:21):
It is the last thing on the planet you want is me
doing your makeup.
Not a pretty picture,
Mike (30:30):
I love it.
Ray Lavoie (30:31):
no pun intended.
Ken (30:35):
Talk to us about how important it is to have a
network of people that you canrely on.
Right.
Especially because like you hadmentioned that like, you know,
you're not a CEO and you don'tnecessarily have quote unquote a
team, but you do have peoplethat you rely on, right?
(30:56):
Because, you know, for you to besuccessful, you have to also
have the right set of peoplearound you to make that happen.
So talk about how you make adetermination on the teams that
you choose whenever you're doinga photo shoot.
Ray Lavoie (31:12):
It comes down to attitude mostly.
If I have an assistant that thecall time is 8:00 AM and they
show up at eight 15, they'reoutta my book.
They don't get the, they don'tget the importance of being on
time or early.
They don't get the enthusiasm oflearning.
They don't they're there for thepaycheck and that's just not
(31:36):
great.
When it comes to stylists, Ilike that come to me and say,
you thought about doing it thisway?
Have you thought about taking itfrom this angle?
This method will take two hoursif we do it this way.
It's one hour often giving meoptions.
I'm the, decision maker inchief, I'm not the chief, I'm
(31:58):
the decision maker.
They come to me like a directoron a movie set.
They say blue drapes or greendrapes, and I say green drapes.
And then they go on the nextthing.
It's 85 millimeter lens or 35millimeter lens, and I say 35
millimeter lens, and we go fromthere.
And it's just a collaborative I,I really feel like it's really
(32:20):
important that they know that Icare about them their safety,
their their salary, the just totake, let them feel like they're
taking care of in theenvironment of the photo shoot.
I can't take care of them day today.
That's their business.
But when they're on my set, myresponsibility.
CJ (32:43):
So can you talk about,
Ray Lavoie (32:45):
of me.
CJ (32:45):
You know, you, you got into photography as a passion.
Can you talk about, you know,if, if I'm you know, a young
adult and I'm thinking about,you know, stepping out and, and
starting a business for myselfand I'm interested in
photography, with yourexperiences, what are some of
the, the strategies you thinkthat they should focus on to, to
getting their business off theground?
(33:06):
Some of the lessons that you'velearned.
Ray Lavoie (33:10):
So first I want to take a offense to the word
passion.
It's more about having acuriosity.
Because passion can get you introuble.
It can get,
CJ (33:22):
Some passions can
Ray Lavoie (33:23):
passionate.
See, but if you're in a, ifyou're in a conversation with
the accounting department, itmay not be good that you're
passionate, more logistical.
CJ (33:36):
right?
Ray Lavoie (33:37):
But I really, I, I've heard many people talk
about following their passion.
I say, follow your curiosity.
I've always wondered how to takepictures and stuff like that.
I think I've been passionate,but I also, I've been in it so
long that it's not necessarilypassion that's fueling me
anymore.
It's more curiosity and see howthings can turn out.
(34:00):
Now I do get, I get stagefright, which is hilarious'cause
I'm a photographer, but I getstage fright before a client
shows up.
Did I get everything in order?
Is everything in set?
Is everything where it needs tobe?
And so I'm gonna ask you torepeat the question because I
lost track of it.
CJ (34:18):
no.
I was just curious, you know,if, if I'm you know, early
twenties, late teens, earlythirties, someone that's looking
to, to get into the industry ofbecoming a, a quality
photographer, are some some keystrategies that you've learned?
With your, through yourexperiences that you could share
with you know, a youngentrepreneur.
Ray Lavoie (34:38):
I looked to the masters.
I looked to Irving Penn.
I looked to Avedon.
I looked to Gordon Parks.
I look to.
Norman Parkinson j lots offamous photographers throughout
the years.
And I sit there and I wonder howthey did that.
And having a curiosity about howthe photograph is created is
(34:59):
really part of, I got a clientthe other day, they wanted to do
a set of their their, of directboard of governors.
they gave, sent me a photographthat they liked, that they
wanted to imitate.
And I was like what did they doto do that?
Did they use a hard light?
Did they use a soft light?
Did they use high ISO?
(35:19):
Did they use a big depth offield?
All the different things thatmake up the secret sauce, that
is a photograph.
And so I feel like that's.
Having a curiosity and passionfor finding out how things are
done photographically.
Did they use ai?
Did they use how much wasretouched?
How much is real?
(35:42):
These are all questions that weask now that are very difficult
to answer at times because I'mfinding out that a lot of people
are needing technology to,replaced traditional photography
to the point where I was in astudio for a networking event
that was a film productionservice and they had a booth
(36:05):
that was, that they were alldoing that.
This one associate was doing allthe different kinds of bottles
of perfume and liquor and he wasvery proud to say that none of
them ever existed.
It fabricated all of'em.
And I was like, oh, great.
(36:25):
Now I have to compete with
CJ (36:27):
Right.
Ray Lavoie (36:27):
I, that, it's like you, you're kidding, right?
There's nothing that's.
Nothing existed.
They didn't start from aphotograph, they didn't start
from any kind of place.
have to be really creativenowadays to make something of
(36:48):
worthy.
Mike (36:49):
Well on that subject, does that, how, how does that make
you feel?
Does that terrify you?
Does that worry you?
You feel as though, you know,there is still a place for an
actual photographer to come inand, and, do the work?
Ray Lavoie (37:06):
If they ever get over the hump of it being
looking ridiculous, I thinkwe're worried.
right now it still looks reallyridiculous.
It, if you can tell an ai, it'slike you're like, this is just
not
Mike (37:20):
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (37:21):
Right.
There's no proportion to thebody to hips, to legs, to
everything's out of whack.
And so I don't feel too, I feelcautious.
But I don't feel scared yet.
I've seen things online where onLinkedIn, they advertise, a
picture of you in a nice settingor something like that, and
(37:44):
we'll just snap it into aheadshot for you.
It's just something innate thatpeople can see that it's fake.
They don't know why it's fake.
They don't, they can't verbalizewhat's wrong with the picture.
But they look at it and go,there's something not right with
this.
There's, I can't tell what itis, but I know there's something
(38:05):
that's not real, and I thinkthat I really I specialize in
getting really great expressionsand compositions for of people
Mike (38:16):
Right.
Ray Lavoie (38:17):
in let of, instead of living it up to ai.
Mike (38:19):
Yeah.
And that, I think that'simportant and, and I think
people will realize that,especially if you wanna do
something that's professional,right.
People aren't just gonna hoponto AI and have some pictures
done.
I mean, maybe a novice who'sstarting their business, they
can't afford a photographer.
Maybe that's where AI help them.
But as they, you know, build abusiness and you want to be
taken more seriously, youprobably need to go hire a
(38:42):
photographer.
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (38:44):
I believe in two, two jobs.
If you're going to dophotography, a good bookkeeper
and.
A good retouch if a good retouchwill make you look good without
making you look fake.
Mike (38:56):
Perfect.
CJ (38:57):
So that's the, and is that someone that I guess you hire
separately or is that stuff thatyou do yourself?
Ray Lavoie (39:04):
I do myself on many of the smaller jobs, but I, on
the big important things, I mostcertainly use a retouch.
Mike (39:13):
Perfect.
Well, a little, little bit ofthe, other side of things.
So have you had someone comeinto your studio that I.
After the fact, you were like,this was the most bizarre,
uncomfortable photo shoot thatI've ever had to do.
(39:35):
And without using names orexposing anyone, can you, can
you describe one of thoseexperiences?
Because I, I'm, I'm pretty surethat y'all can't be formal and,
and, you know, professional.
Ray Lavoie (39:48):
I'll give you two examples.
Mike (39:50):
I can't wait.
Ray Lavoie (39:51):
A gentleman who was in real estate came into the
studio and said, you're takingmy fixture today, but I want you
to make me look like I've lost40 pounds.
40 pounds.
And I said,
Mike (40:07):
aI.
Ray Lavoie (40:07):
I can do that.
you're not gonna look real.
'cause you're not.
not, you're not gonna.
It's not gonna look real.
I couldn't even explain it, hewas like, do it.
Anyway, he decided to opt out ofthe retouching of 40 pounds,
(40:28):
lost.
Another person came into thestudio and I took their pictures
and I said, how much retouchingwould you like to have done?
One to 10 kind of thing.
He's oh, go to 10.
Go completely to 10.
I'm like, all right.
I will make everything.
Flawless.
He got the fiction back andsaid, oh no, no way.
Go back.
You went too far.
(40:50):
And I was like, I told you Iwas.
He was like, go all the way.
And I was like, all Right.
then it's not gonna look real.
And he is don't care.
Just make me look perfect.
And he hated it.
Mike (41:03):
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (41:04):
So he went back to a more normal.
I find that people don't knowwhat retouching can do,
Mike (41:11):
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (41:11):
to go and ask for more retouching than less.
I
Mike (41:15):
It could probably make you look like a completely different
person.
Ray Lavoie (41:18):
right.
It's actually in the eyes.
It's actually not the eyes, butit's the face underneath the
eyes that a lot of women wannahave removed.
And when I remove it, they lookmuch younger.
So much so that they don't looklike they have the experience in
brevity to who they are.
(41:41):
They look all of a sudden 17,and it's like something's not
right and it's their, they'veremoved every detail of I
removed the wrinkle
Mike (41:53):
They removed their wisdom.
Ray Lavoie (41:55):
They remove the wisdom.
And I caution against that allthe time, but I'm always, women
are the hardest and the bestbecause they pick up on all the
details.
Guys come in to get theirpicture taken.
stand there, they sit, they'relike, are you done?
Are you done?
I'm gonna, I'm outta here.
Use whatever one you want.
(42:17):
Women are like I didn't get thechin right.
I, there's hair in my face.
Can we do some more?
I'm like, absolutely.
I will make this stuff.
I go by the philosophy that theycome to me for a portrait.
They need to leave withsomething they love, and if they
don't, if we haven't takensomething they love, we'll take
more pictures since until youfind something that you love.
I asked them, please stay havingto re reset up and reshoot is
(42:41):
much more expensive than justtaking a couple more pictures
today.
Mike (42:45):
Right.
Perfect.
Well, we are coming close totime.
So I really appreciate you goingthrough all of this, telling us
a little bit about your world.
But before we go into the nextthe next thing with which is our
lightning round, where we'regonna ask you some questions.
What is the name of yourphotography studio?
Ray Lavoie (43:10):
You can find me atRay@rayLaVoie.com Ray
LaVoie.com is the website aswell,
Mike (43:17):
Perfect.
CJ (43:18):
How about
Mike (43:19):
All right.
And I will de Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (43:23):
Ray LaVoie, and it's LAV as in Victor, OIE.
It's more vowels than you thinkis necessary.
Mike (43:31):
We, we'll, we'll tag everything in, in the, in the
post of things.
Ray Lavoie (43:37):
you very much.
Mike (43:38):
but CJ, if you could, while I pull up a timer here, if
you could explain what our next,CJ or can, it doesn't matter
what we're doing next.
CJ (43:45):
Yeah, this part of the
Ray Lavoie (43:46):
I'm
CJ (43:47):
of thing.
No, it's nothing to be afraidof.
What we'd like to do is ask youfive quick fire questions.
Just, you know, here we end,come back to that, that piece
about passion.
What, whatever comes to mind,whatever you feel.
The I idea is to get throughthese five questions within the
minute, and Lovett has a timeron the screen.
Mike (44:08):
All right, Ray.
So, CJ said, just five questionsI'm gonna ask you.
Don't think too much about it.
Some may be serious, some maynot be serious.
And just let us know whateverpops into mind.
All right.
Ray Lavoie (44:19):
All right.
Mike (44:20):
So the first question what's your favorite camera
system?
Ray Lavoie (44:25):
Canon
Mike (44:26):
Nice.
What's one piece of advice you'dgive to a beginner photographer?
Ray Lavoie (44:32):
Don't give up.
Mike (44:34):
give up.
What's the most challenging typeof photography that you've
tackled?
I.
Ray Lavoie (44:41):
Architectural
Mike (44:43):
I'll come back to that.
Okay.
If you could photograph anysubject, what would it be and
why?
Ray Lavoie (44:54):
Stephanie gr, player and just'cause he, he's a great
person.
Mike (45:00):
Oh, okay.
last question.
In 2005, I.
time would you start gettingready to party at Axis?
Ray Lavoie (45:11):
Nine would
Mike (45:15):
Sounds accurate.
Sounds very accurate.
And that's it.
All right, well, you got throughthe five questions.
Easy enough.
Ray Lavoie (45:25):
Thank God.
CJ (45:27):
I do have one thing
Ray Lavoie (45:28):
Worried about that.
Mike (45:30):
yeah, go ahead.
CJ (45:30):
this is for the audience mainly.
What is something you wish youknew before starting your, your,
you know, journey intophotography to your business?
Mike (45:41):
Good question.
Ray Lavoie (45:42):
I think the really important thing that I didn't
know and I didn't realize isthat it's like show business.
It's a business.
You really have to run it like abusiness.
And I'm very much a person thatruns on feelings and emotions
and my love language is emotionshow it makes me feel when I do
things.
(46:03):
And business is not aboutemotions.
It's about selling high andbuying low and doing all kinds
of things that are notinstinctual, instinctive.
And so you have to fight yourinstincts.
To make good business decisions.
CJ (46:24):
Can you tell us a little bit about, well, I know that the
show is ending, but you broughtup in the lightning round
architecture being a difficultsubject.
Why is that?
Ray Lavoie (46:33):
Because you're without control.
When was the last time you saidyou could control the weather?
You have to pick the right day.
You have to pick the rightangle, you have to pick the
right lighting.
It's just really fraught withdifficult questions.
Is the sun setting the right wayon the building?
(46:54):
Is it going the right?
How much do you wanna change tothe building to look correct and
such?
Mike (47:02):
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (47:03):
lucky recently and I took a, and I'll send it to you
guys.
I took a picture of the fifththird building downtown and I
got lucky on the lighting.
I got lucky on the location Iwas in.
I got lucky on the camera that Iwas holding at the time.
I got Lucky to Sunday and it's agreat picture and I'll share it
(47:23):
with you after
Mike (47:24):
Nice.
don't think it's all luck.
I think some of it's skill too.
You know, you've been doing itlong enough, you're a
professional.
Ray Lavoie (47:30):
process.
Mike (47:31):
Yeah.
I.
Ray Lavoie (47:31):
I.
say luck, but it's decisionmaking like is this the right
time to do this?
Is this the right time to dothat?
And I made all the Right.
decisions that day.
Mike (47:41):
Perfect.
Awesome.
Even more reason for people tolook you up and have them come
take your headshot because youknow what you're doing.
You're a professional.
Ray LaVoie, everybody.
Ray Lavoie (47:49):
I.
Mike (47:50):
before we get going, there's one little thing that we
do at the end of each show.
I call it the Wakanda piece.
Pause, and it's just gonna be ustaking a.
I'm taking a moment to do athing, and then I'm just, at
some point I keep saying this,at the end of every episode, I'm
gonna take all of these picturesthat from all of our guests that
we've had, and I'm gonna postthem online, but it's just going
(48:11):
to be us doing a post like thisand smiling into the camera,
holding it for a few seconds sothat later I could take a
screenshot and then Yeah, we'll,we'll use it.
And then from there, we'll,we'll end the show.
All right.
So I now hold now hold it.
I'll make it uncomfortable.
That's what I do.
And then we'll go from there.
All right.
So on the count of three we'lljust do it.
(48:33):
So 1, 2, 3, and good.
Perfect.
Well, that's the end of ourshow.
I really appreciate you comingon, Ray.
I haven't seen you in likeforever.
I mean, I've been out of.
Columbus for seven or eightyears now, but the next time I'm
in town, I'm gonna have to comeby and say hello.
Ray Lavoie (48:56):
Have to come to Chicago and you have to take us
out to sidetrack.
Mike (49:00):
Yeah, anytime.
Always welcome.
You're always welcome.
We'll, we'll make sure to getready by nine, 9:00 PM
Ray Lavoie (49:07):
The, slushing machines are dangerous,
Mike (49:10):
The, man, the slushies are dangerous, but they're so good.
I could have like one or two
CJ (49:15):
Yeah,
Mike (49:16):
that.
I, I can't have anymore.
Oh, they're very sweet.
They're very sweet, but they'reperfect During the summer.
the summertime.
Ray Lavoie (49:23):
my day to diabetes.
CJ (49:27):
Ray, thank you so very much for, for me, you know including
us in your day and getting upthis early in the morning.
Ray Lavoie (49:36):
For the interview, I really found myself much more
prepared than I thought I was.
CJ (49:40):
I don't know
Mike (49:40):
Yeah.
Yeah.
CJ (49:41):
of.
It's just us.
Ken (49:43):
Yeah, conversation.
Mike (49:45):
laid back, relaxed conversation.
CJ (49:48):
Thanks for tuning in to the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast.
If today's conversationresonated with you, don't forget
to subscribe, share, drop acomment, and leave a review.
We're building bridges, onestory, one mindset, one move at
a time.
Show our guest some love bychecking out their socials too.
Until next time, keep pushing,keep growing and keep walking in
(50:11):
your purpose.
Hello and welcome to the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast
where culture, entrepreneurship,and business intersect to fuel
inspiration.
This podcast celebrates thepower of diverse voices shaping
the future of business.
So whether you're building abusiness, breaking barriers, or
just looking for some seriousinspiration, you're in the right
place.
(00:22):
The Black Bridge Mindset.
Podcast is hosted by your threefavorite best friends, Mike,
Ken, and CJ.
So now sit back, relax, andabsorb the gems being dropped on
you by today's special guest.
Mike (00:38):
the real acting starts taking place.
'cause I'm tired.
I woke up.
I had my coffee, but look, lookat me glowing.
The sun is coming in.
CJ (00:46):
got a little
Mike (00:46):
Good morning.
Good morning, good morning.
Ken (00:49):
Good morning.
The question is why?
Why are you tired?
Mike (00:54):
I, I, don't know, I think I'm just getting old.
CJ (00:57):
job.
Mike (00:57):
I, it, it is part, it is the, the, it is, the promotion
has kept me busy over the lasttwo weeks trying to get
everything in order.
We've been interviewing people,which has been fun.
yeah, it's, it's, it's a littledraining, but it's a good thing.
It's not a bad thing.
I'm not gonna complain about it.
(01:18):
Outside of the job and justtrying to do things on the side
as well, you know, you know, Ialways talk about real estate
trying to do that, so that'skeeping us busy.
This and keeping everything inorders, keeping me busy.
I have a episode to edit afterthis actually.
But yeah, that's my life andthat's how it's going.
I was even trying to think ofwhat to put in my Black Bridge
(01:39):
mindset, little Yeti Cup thismorning, and I ended up putting
in water.
I was, everything else justdidn't sound great this morning,
this early.
And for those listening, it iseight o'clock in Chicago
Ken (01:52):
Right.
Mike (01:53):
eight 20 in Chicago right now.
So it is early.
Ken (01:55):
Right.
Mike (01:55):
this for the people.
CJ (01:57):
Hm.
Ken (01:57):
So a quick question about the new job.
How, like, are you, are youtaking on a new team or you're
building your team?
Mike (02:06):
I am building a team,
Ken (02:08):
Wow.
Good for you.
Mike (02:09):
yeah.
Yeah, So slowly building a team.
So the COO has a.
A bunch of people that he haslined up, that he's interviewed
and that he likes, and then he'spassed them on to me to do a
second round of interviews,
Ken (02:19):
Okay.
Mike (02:20):
and then I'm just ranking them and then sending my
recommendations, back to him.
And then we'll see what happensnext week.
Ken (02:28):
Okay, good for you.
CJ (02:29):
out.
Ken (02:29):
Are you prepared for this?
Because managing people is acompletely different
Mike (02:33):
listen,
Ken (02:34):
world?
Mike (02:34):
I manage you two.
If I can make it through youtwo.
Ken (02:38):
No, no, no.
See, the, the, the differencehere is you don't have to you
know, document things, right?
Like there is, and, and you'reright, you do, you do manage us
and,
CJ (02:49):
already
Ken (02:50):
Right.
Mike (02:50):
Of course I'm joking, but yeah, I don't know.
I'm, you know, that imperfectaction thing that I always talk
about, so here we go.
We're
Ken (02:56):
Right,
Mike (02:57):
it out as we go.
Ken (02:58):
right, right.
So good for you.
And again, congratulations.
That's, that's fantastic.
Mike (03:03):
Yeah, Thank you.
Thank you.
How about you two?
How are things going?
Ken (03:08):
Things are good.
Not too bad.
Work's been crazy.
They got on my nerves this week.
CJ (03:12):
I can tell because generally you texting throughout the day.
We are even here from you thispast couple weeks.
Ken (03:19):
No, there's just, there's a lot that is going on.
And then on Wednesday I was.
Wednesday morning.
So we had a two day directorstraining, which honestly could
have been a day, actually itcould have been a half day, but
whatever.
And before I was going down onwas it Tuesday or Wednesday?
Anyway, some, somebody came overand said, Hey, like, you are
(03:41):
going to be managing the newperson.
And mind you, this persondoesn't even work in my
organization.
And I was like, excuse me, what?
And he was like, yeah, you'regonna be managing the new person
and you're gonna get a call fromsomebody later.
And I'm like, first of all, whyare you telling me this?
And secondly, why am I justfinding out about this right
now?
(04:02):
So then I sent a note to my bossand my boss's boss, and they're
like, what are you talkingabout?
And I said, see this?
This is the shit that pisses meoff.
Right, because like, how are youmaking this?
Who's making this decisionwithout involving me
specifically right?
In this decision.
(04:23):
But anyway, it's all good.
Like, it's, it's part of beingin corporate America.
So prepare yourself, Michael,because these are the things
that will, crop up and happen toyou, but otherwise it's been
good.
You know, I'm just trying tomake it until next Thursday
whenever I can be done andprepare yourselves.
(04:45):
'cause we're right.
We're going all in.
CJ (04:49):
and
Mike (04:49):
And for people who are like, what's happening next
Thursday?
They probably like, the peoplewant
Ken (04:54):
Oh, we're all headed to Chicago to see Beyonce for the
weekend.
The concert is Saturday.
And I am looking forward tothis.
I am, I'm looking forward to it.
So I have the, I think I, Ithink I found the right set
list.
So I have it on repeat, so I'llbe fully prepared.
CJ (05:13):
about that.
Why are you so?
Just up in air trying to getthis set list together.
One, as
Ken (05:21):
What
CJ (05:21):
managing the music on stage and two, should already know all
the songs.
Anyway,
Ken (05:27):
what kind of question is that?
CJ (05:29):
that was a sta Well, it was a question and a statement.
Ken (05:32):
So first of all, you are, listen.
CJ (05:35):
This is you
Ken (05:36):
You should always be prepared, okay?
Number one, you should always beprepared.
And so as you, as you have seenon Instagram, she has a
different set list dependingupon where she is on what night
it is, right?
And so there are certain songslike Boots on the Ground and
like other songs that like.
You know, you need to beprepared for it.
(05:57):
If you want to take advantage,full advantage of the show.
CJ (06:02):
so what
Ken (06:02):
And you're right, I probably do, I probably do know
most of the songs, but that'snot the point.
CJ (06:07):
What
Ken (06:07):
And plus I need to just,
CJ (06:09):
you're at home right now actively practicing the boots on
the ground steps so that at theconcert you can show us.
Ken (06:17):
are you not?
CJ (06:19):
No, you just wing it.
Ken (06:20):
Oh, okay.
Alright.
Mike (06:22):
I.
already know it.
I got it.
CJ (06:23):
alcohol, I'll get it.
Ken (06:25):
Well, I guess I, I guess Saturday morning we'll be
holding class.
CJ (06:35):
To say the least, more
Ken (06:36):
Class will be an effort.
Correct.
Listen, do not embarrass me outthere in front of all them
people.
That's all I'm saying.
CJ (06:43):
Listen
Mike (06:44):
funny.
CJ (06:44):
much as we've been together.
If I haven't embarrassed youyet, then I don't know what else
I can do.
Ken (06:51):
But I'm excited.
I'm looking forward to, I'mlooking forward mainly I'm
looking forward to the concert,but I'm really ma looking
forward to hanging out with allof you fools.
I feel like it's been,
CJ (06:58):
It's been
Ken (06:59):
has it been since my birthday in January?
Since we've all been together?
CJ (07:04):
Yeah.
Mike (07:04):
Yeah, it's been a
Ken (07:05):
Yeah,
Mike (07:06):
been a minute.
Ken (07:06):
it has been.
So yeah.
I'm looking forward to spendinga, a good weekend with my
family.
CJ (07:14):
Good.
Mike (07:14):
right.
CJ (07:14):
here.
Ken (07:16):
Let's get started.
CJ (07:17):
So today on our show, we are hosting Mr.
Ray LaVoie.
Ray LaVoie is a Columbus, Ohiobased photographer who
translates the energy within anobject or person into high
quality imagery for consumers,businesses, and investors.
has a laundry list of corporateclients who revel at his work
and contact him.
As their go-to photographer on aconsistent basis.
(07:41):
Because of this, Ray holds aunique eye for capturing stellar
photos of all subjects, human orobject.
Ray LaVoie Photography is also aunique business as it is
registered as an L-G-B-T-B-E,which I'm assuming stands for
LGBT Business Enterprise andwe'll have Ray discuss that as
well.
So, bringing in today, we arevery honored to have Mr.
(08:03):
Ray LaVoie.
Ken (08:04):
Morning and.
Mike (08:05):
Good morning.
Ray Lavoie (08:08):
Good
Mike (08:09):
Thank you for joining us early on a Saturday morning.
Ray Lavoie (08:12):
Thank you for having me be one of your guests.
I'm very honored and privilegedto be here.
Mike (08:17):
Awesome.
Well, as, as CJ told us twiceyou are a photographer in
Columbus.
Yeah, we'd love to get a littlebit of background and if you can
sort of just tell us a littlebit about yourself and how you
got into this business, and thenwe'll, we'll ask you some
questions after that.
Ray Lavoie (08:37):
It started very long time ago and it wasn't actually
getting into the business.
It was taking my passion forphotography and making it into a
business.
I would've been a photographerif I did, had a business or not.
And so I started out reallyyoung and I went to art school
for college fashion Institute ofTechnology in Manhattan.
And left there in my earlytwenties be a photo assistant
(09:00):
for some major photographersaround America.
Names, which won't impressanybody that doesn't know
photography, but they're great.
Good people.
I went from there to having acrisis of conscience and took a
full-time job at a place that.
some VPs remember, AOL
CJ (09:18):
Hmm.
Ray Lavoie (09:19):
America online back in the day.
And they were very good to mefor about 10 years.
And, but then 10 years I gottired of corporate America,
Kenneth alluded to.
There's some things thatcorporate America that are not
just, are not all that much funand, I decided to a shingle in
2007 and become a photographybusiness and I've been photo
(09:42):
photographer in Columbus since2007 coming up on 18 years.
I think that's my
CJ (09:49):
Yeah,
Ray Lavoie (09:49):
alright doing really well.
Happy to be here and ask me morequestions.
Mike (09:56):
No, that's awesome.
CJ (09:57):
so you actually.
You went to school forphotography, it wasn't, I mean,
it was already a hobby, so tospeak, but you, you went to
school and, and, and got furthertraining.
Ray Lavoie (10:08):
Oh I started printing photographs in a G club
in middle school,
CJ (10:14):
Hmm.
Ray Lavoie (10:14):
so I'd already started photography in middle
school.
think I was about eight yearsold when I went on a trip to the
Poconos in Eastern Pennsylvania.
had a waterfall and I had alittle Hawkeye camera 1 26
cartridge camera, which isinside baseball conversation
right there.
but I took four or five fixturesof the waterfall and my mother
(10:36):
was like, you only need one.
I'm like, but I have to get theright angle.
So they knew it was a problemback then.
always eight years
CJ (10:43):
Nice.
Ray Lavoie (10:44):
they say that lawyers are people who like to
argue that become lawyers.
like, I like to take pictures ofbecome a photographer.
Ken (10:51):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So did you never have a desireto go back to New York?
Because most times wheneverpeople study in New York, they
want to kind of, you know, staythere and build their career.
Like, so there was never adesire to wanna go back to New
York.
Ray Lavoie (11:07):
I find that everything is fine until you're
30 York.
I.
And if you haven't made itenough to afford the apartment
you're living in by 30, you'relike, I'm out.
Great.
Great place to hang out for yourtwenties, as soon as you hit
your thirties and you stilldon't have enough for a down
payment, you're like, I'm goingfrom cheaper gas mileage.
Mike (11:29):
Yeah.
Nice.
you mentioned that, you know,this was always in your bones
and it was like a passion foryou.
and then at one point youdecided to leave corporate
America and go pursue yourpassion.
Was there trigger that causedyou to, in the mindset trigger
that said, you know what?
(11:50):
I don't care if I make money, ifI don't make money.
I'm gonna go and pursue mypassion because I think a lot of
people have a passion, but theyhave the golden handcuffs as
they call it.
You know, they're comfortable,they have this great job, they
have great income.
They may not love the job, butthey're terrified to take that
leap.
So what internally happened foryou that said, I don't care.
(12:10):
I'm gonna take this leap anyway.
Ray Lavoie (12:13):
I had a lot of experience photographing in New
York as a freelancer in New Yorkand I, the freedom that entails.
Some days you're working, somedays you're not.
Some days you're in, some daysyou're out.
You don't feel like taking ajob.
You don't take it and take twojobs on a day that you feel like
you can do anything in 12 hours.
But really, I, corporate Americawor wore me out.
(12:34):
They did 10 years of layoffs andevery, and I survived 10 layoffs
and every year you come aroundto October or something like
that, like for layoffs again.
I'm like, I am done beingpotentially laid off.
Put me on the list.
I'm out.
And I, of course, thought aboutit many times throughout the
years to go back into corporateAmerica, but I really wanted
(12:56):
ownership.
I wanted to make something thatI owned.
And if people do things likeEtsy and things like that and
crafts and things like that,that they make themselves,
America, you can spend six ornine months making something for
a client and then the clientgoes now we unfunded it.
So it's got, and it's gone.
It's an ether and it's you can'tget married to your children.
(13:18):
It's like you just have to letthem go.
And I was like, I want tonurture this.
I want to, I want grow mybusiness as a photographer I
want the respect and freedomthat comes with own my own
business.
CJ (13:31):
So you, you know, go back to decided that, you know you've
had enough for corporateAmerica.
You're ready to pursue yourpassion and start your business.
What were some of the the firststeps that you had to take or
first things that you put inplace to get your business off
the ground?
I mean you had to have, youknow, experience as a
(13:51):
photographer of course, butthere's, are there any licensing
issues that you had to, topursue?
Was there any certifications youhad to, to get, you know, what,
what processes did you take?
Ray Lavoie (14:04):
AOL was really generous with their package out
the door.
So there was a lot of financialpushing that I had, also they
gave me out outsourced careercourses to take and stuff like
that.
And I took one of the coursesthat said, are you an
entrepreneur?
Can you run your own business?
And I took these questionnaireand they said, yes, you're fine.
(14:27):
Just don't do your own books.
And I was like, okay, that'ssound advice.
So if somebody else thinks I cando this is great.
And so I went into the arearesources and there's something
called SCORE in Columbus I don'tknow what it stands for, but
it's executives that have beenretired and they go and do
(14:47):
classes on how to run yourbusiness.
And it was really wonderfulbecause I learned about LLC
becoming a limited liability.
and ensuring myself and allthis, all the business stuff
that's, that you have to do asan artist, even though you're an
artist.
People in business are justbusiness and, but as artists you
(15:08):
have to be the artist andcreative and also a business
person.
'cause without the business asa, something to fall back on,
you're gonna be a very poorartist for a really long time.
Ken (15:18):
Ray, tell us about how you began, like finding work, right?
Like how, how did you decidelike, this is what I wanna do,
like I wanna do photography, Iwanna do portraits, or was it
just the fact that you kind oflike were telling anybody who
would listen that this is whatyou wanted to do and waiting for
your first client to come about?
Ray Lavoie (15:40):
My first big client came about?
in a very traditional but uniqueway.
Yelling from the treetops isfine, but my first client was
somebody I worked with at AOlwho had moved on to another
company and I'm gonna use A badword.
here.
Networking.
(16:01):
Everybody hates
Mike (16:02):
That's a great word.
We do it all the time.
Ray Lavoie (16:06):
so well there.
Once at a time.
when networking was like, oh, Idon't wanna do that.
Do I have to?
I'm not I don't wanna talk tosee people I don't know and go
into a room full of people, Idon't know.
I did, I liked to do that, so itwas great for me.
I'm an extrovert.
I like to be in crowds of peopleand just and take in their
(16:27):
energy.
And so I networked at my oldjob.
And so Jacob, who moved on to abig online realty retailer
called me up and said, can youdo socks?
And I was like, yes, I can dosocks.
And he is great,
Ken (16:46):
Perfect.
Ray Lavoie (16:46):
this meeting and we're meeting with Joseph and
we're gonna talk about you doingphotography for the company.
I was like, great.
Brought my portfolio verynominal at that point in
history.
And they were like, great, whencan you do it?
was like, Monday.
And they were like, great, howmuch are you gonna charge?
And I was like, I don't know.
I'll get back to you.
(17:07):
And, I sent a quick email toJacob who got me the job and
said, how much am I charginghim?
He was like, charge him thismuch.
great, thanks, bye.
So it all happened through Jacoband I'm very blessed that he got
me that gig'cause it lasted, giglasted four years and I was this
close to going back to acorporate job'cause this was in
(17:30):
May of 2008 and I tongue wasshingle in 2007 I had little s
smattering of jobs throughoutthat 16 month time period.
Ken (17:42):
So did that.
Did that experience, so talkabout how that experience helped
you to decide and define yourrate going forward.
Ray Lavoie (17:53):
It really worked out because the,
Ken (17:55):
I.
Ray Lavoie (17:55):
else was charging about the same amount I.
Found out I joined a corporate aa trade association called A
SMP, American Society of MediaPhotographers.
And they were somebody I'd knownin New York as an assistant, and
they had a chapter here inColumbus.
So I went to the meetings andgot to know them, and then they
(18:19):
ran workshops and stuff likethat on how to bid for a job,
how to, make sure that you werecharging the right rate for
travel versus set buildingversus, there's an entire, a
plethora of things that you haveto go through to get a job in
corporate America.
Are you building a set?
Are you going on location?
(18:40):
you need a set dresser?
Do you need a hair and makeupperson?
Do you need talent?
Who's paying for the talent?
Who's paying this service fee?
Who's doing this and who's doingthat?
There's a whole huge list ofthings you go through, and I had
no idea about any much of any ofit.
I had done some.
Bookkeeping for photographersback in New York, but not to
(19:01):
this scale.
And so I put together a bidbased on what the A SMP had told
me.
They have a business practicesbook that you can look, that you
can look up.
so there was a, it was, therewas a path that I was on and I
was very happy that I had themin my corner.
CJ (19:17):
So you mentioned that I guess from net through
networking and from yourrelationship that you had
through AOL that's how you or,you know, originally got your
first client.
How has your evolved since then?
And what, what, what things doyou do to market yourself to
bring in new clients?
Ray Lavoie (19:36):
Right now I do two networking meetings a week if I
can.
One is with a company inColumbus called Am Spirit and
another one.
Is the Buckeye Referral Club.
every week I'm practicing my32nd elevator pitch.
Um, I'm getting to know peoplewho need people that do what I
do.
There once was a time where Iwas very pretentious and was
(19:59):
like, oh, I can't I, thesepeople won't help me.
I need to get big job.
And it's not been the case.
I've got great jobs small jobs,big jobs, little jobs all over
the place, and that's beenreally wonderful is to have that
variety.
I do lots of portraits oflawyers.
I do, I.
(20:21):
pound engines that run onelectric for outboard motors.
I do houses that are in thethree to$4 million range.
I do all kinds of things andsome of the clients that I have
today have been clients?
that I've had since 2008, 2009.
Mike (20:39):
Nice.
I think one of the things youwere sort of hinting at after CJ
asked that question is impostersyndrome.
But before we get to that youmentioned that you've been
practicing your 32nd elevatorspeech.
I, I want to hear what it iswalk up to you say, Hey Ray, how
you doing?
What is it that you do?
Ray Lavoie (20:56):
A photographer that specializes in portraiture and
still alive.
Give me 50 seconds, gimme 30seconds and I'll give you a
portrait for a lifetime.
if you see someone with a badheadshot, say something to me.
Mike (21:10):
Right,
Ray Lavoie (21:10):
em if you're not willing to.
Mike (21:12):
right.
Ray Lavoie (21:13):
should suffer with a picture of a half their ex and
half of them in their headshot.
CJ (21:21):
That
Mike (21:22):
Done.
CJ (21:23):
will get you plenty of people.
Ken (21:25):
Right.
Mike (21:26):
Right, exactly.
Going back to the,
Ray Lavoie (21:29):
this picture.
Mike (21:33):
so going back to the it sounds like you were hinting at
imposter.
Syndrome a little bit where yousaid that, you know, no one, no
one's gonna hire me because I'm,whatever.
How did you, how did you sort ofpush through that?
Because I know a lot of peoplewill have that, right?
They're starting in an industryand they're like, oh, you know,
I'm, like I'm faking it.
(21:53):
I'm not good enough.
Ray Lavoie (21:56):
I don't think I've pushed through it.
I think I've just made itquieter.
'cause it's always there.
every time you go through a job,get nervous the day before.
You're checking the equipment,you're going through the set,
you're making sure you've gotall the equipment you need and
people are showing up on timeand doing everything that of a
photo shoot and in the back,it's just back there.
(22:19):
It's not like in 2007 it wasscreaming now it's just you
don't deserve this.
You don't deserve.
Mike (22:32):
Nice.
I'm happy that you're able tolike quiet it and, and become as
successful as you are.
And I was just thinking when Iwas at Farmer's Insurance, did
you do my photos?
I think I came in, I did.
Man, I'm getting old.
I can't, things aren't stickinglike they used to, but I just
remembered like, coming to your,to your thing.
I'm gonna have to go find those.
(22:52):
Yeah, you did my pictures when Iwas, when I owned an insurance
agency.
Ray Lavoie (22:57):
CJ's had done twice.
Mike (22:58):
Nice.
CJ (23:00):
And
Mike (23:00):
Yeah.
I'm gonna have to go find those.
CJ (23:01):
my LinkedIn photo.
Ray Lavoie (23:04):
See, that may need to be updated at some
CJ (23:07):
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (23:08):
Not that you've changed or anything, but.
CJ (23:11):
So I'm curious you know, in the intro I mentioned that you
are.
Registered as an L-G-B-T-B-Ebusiness, which is unique and I
have never heard of that.
I know that, there are, youknow, minority businesses that
are registered as you know,black owned or veteran owned or
(23:33):
what have you.
But this one is new to me.
Can you explain to me you know,what drove you to be, you know,
get registered, your business,registered under them?
two, how has it helped you yourbusiness?
Ray Lavoie (23:46):
It's help.
I'll, let's take this questionone at first.
It's I think you're referring tothe National Gay of Commerce.
give certification to me as agay owned business.
They literally send you aninterview that you have to
certify that you are gay.
It's crazy.
Mike (24:07):
I have questions.
CJ (24:08):
believe
Ray Lavoie (24:09):
I know,
CJ (24:09):
me.
Ray Lavoie (24:12):
but they do.
They have lots of people thatare like wanting to get into the
pockets of people who have.
Mike (24:20):
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (24:20):
to say that they're a minority business and they're
not.
They're.
Just straight people trying towork the system.
And I answered the questions andI was honest with them about
what my status was and where Iwas in my evolution.
And they I live with my betterhalf.
We're not married, but we'vebeen together since for 21 years
(24:42):
now.
And so how that has helped isthat.
A lot of businesses, as youmight know, like to refer
businesses to by gay people.
I pick them businesses that Iwork with based on a lot of
times on who I knew in the, whoI know in the community.
(25:03):
I wanna support gay ownedbusinesses'cause they've
supported me.
And that has worked out verywell over the years.
We don't have a good Chamber ofcommerce LGBT, jam Chamber of
Commerce here in Columbus, butthere is one in Cleveland that's
really good and there's onesaround the country that are
exceptional and they haveconferences every year in
(25:24):
wonderful places and other gayowned businesses that I know
which you guys know aboutingenious and, call center, call
management, or I forget what thename of the company is that
Malcolm owned or owns, but theyboth benefited huge from being
Nash chamber of Commercemembers.
Ken (25:43):
So I want to go back to what you had mentioned earlier
about being able to understandlike how to choose talent for
the set.
You know, if you are working ona set, if you have to build a
set, so do.
Over the years, have you honedyour craft in being able to
(26:05):
choose talent and, and you know,and pick the right talent for
the job, or do you leave that tosomebody else?
Ray Lavoie (26:13):
I will take this from a differentt.
Ken (26:15):
I.
Ray Lavoie (26:16):
There's a conversation that happens every
time.
Somebody that I pick up thephone or they get an email and
it's a dance because the firstquestion out of my mouth is,
what's your budget?
And they say what's your cost?
And I'm like you haven't told mehow big a house you wanna buy.
(26:37):
Do you wanna buy a three bedroomhouse or a one bedroom shack?
What do you want?
want it in Beverly Hills or doyou want it in like Tulsa,
Oklahoma?
It's gonna cost differentthings, which kind of house you
buy you buy a set with 17 peopleof talent that are in the
(27:00):
background and the foregroundand stuff like that, like for
Chase Bank or something likethat, where you've got a cafe or
something like that in, in theshot.
Do you hire six people for thatshoot or do you hire 20 people
for that shoot?
And so those are conversationsthat happen back and forth
between media buyers at CorpCorporations and and me.
(27:23):
Usually sometimes if I have anagent, they'll be talking to my
agent as opposed to me.
'cause I should be out takingpictures.
But sometimes I'm on the phonetalking about.
How big is the cafe?
How many people are in it?
Is there, many sets are wedoing?
Are we doing two outside scenes?
The three outside scenes?
Are we in a set, a stagedownstage that I can rent?
(27:46):
There's a lot of variables onthat.
Did I answer the question?
Ken (27:52):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (27:54):
Good.
Mike (27:56):
I always ask this question to entrepreneurs.
Do you consider yourself a soloentrepreneur or a CEO, excuse
me, a solo CEO, or do you have ateam of people who help you run
the business?
Ray Lavoie (28:10):
I don't consider myself a CEO.
the one of the things that Italked about earlier about how
they said that you should findsomebody to do your books, I
have been with the samebookkeeper since 2008.
And she has kept me and out ofjail ever since.
Mike (28:31):
Nice.
Ray Lavoie (28:33):
between her, my CPA and the people that I trust, do
hair and makeup, set design todo construction, to do the
different aspects of the job areother freelancers.
So we're all, I am the leader ofthe PAC because they came to me
(28:56):
for the photograph, butassistants, the techs, the
whatever on the payroll of thatjob are all working under me.
But I don't consider itC-E-O-I-I
Mike (29:10):
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (29:10):
definitely don't.
Mike (29:11):
That's
Ray Lavoie (29:11):
enabler
Mike (29:13):
interesting because I, I would see that, I would be like,
Hey, Ray's the CEO, like, he's,he's running things like just, I
mean, the people are notnecessarily on your, they're not
your employees, but they'restill your team and you're
managing this team of people.
You're, you know, you're, you'remaking sure the, the, the system
is running well, right?
(29:34):
So if you don't consideryourself a CEO, what would you
call yourself?
Ray Lavoie (29:40):
Master of ceremonies.
Mike (29:42):
of ceremonies.
Okay.
All right.
I'm,
Ray Lavoie (29:45):
I make sure everything happens.
Mike (29:48):
yeah.
Ray Lavoie (29:48):
fed, people get done by a certain period, certain
time in the day.
Mike (29:54):
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (29:55):
You manage the client and say, coming up on 10
hours.
Do you want to go into overtime?
No.
Mike (30:03):
Right.
Ray Lavoie (30:04):
Then wrap it up.
Mike (30:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, and, and a lot of theseconversations, you know, we
always talk to people and theimportance of having a team,
because you can't do everythingyourself, right?
It's not like you're sittingthere doing someone's makeup,
you're not sitting there makingsure the set is perfect.
Ray Lavoie (30:21):
It is the last thing on the planet you want is me
doing your makeup.
Not a pretty picture,
Mike (30:30):
I love it.
Ray Lavoie (30:31):
no pun intended.
Ken (30:35):
Talk to us about how important it is to have a
network of people that you canrely on.
Right.
Especially because like you hadmentioned that like, you know,
you're not a CEO and you don'tnecessarily have quote unquote a
team, but you do have peoplethat you rely on, right?
(30:56):
Because, you know, for you to besuccessful, you have to also
have the right set of peoplearound you to make that happen.
So talk about how you make adetermination on the teams that
you choose whenever you're doinga photo shoot.
Ray Lavoie (31:12):
It comes down to attitude mostly.
If I have an assistant that thecall time is 8:00 AM and they
show up at eight 15, they'reoutta my book.
They don't get the, they don'tget the importance of being on
time or early.
They don't get the enthusiasm oflearning.
They don't they're there for thepaycheck and that's just not
(31:36):
great.
When it comes to stylists, Ilike that come to me and say,
you thought about doing it thisway?
Have you thought about taking itfrom this angle?
This method will take two hoursif we do it this way.
It's one hour often giving meoptions.
I'm the, decision maker inchief, I'm not the chief, I'm
(31:58):
the decision maker.
They come to me like a directoron a movie set.
They say blue drapes or greendrapes, and I say green drapes.
And then they go on the nextthing.
It's 85 millimeter lens or 35millimeter lens, and I say 35
millimeter lens, and we go fromthere.
And it's just a collaborative I,I really feel like it's really
(32:20):
important that they know that Icare about them their safety,
their their salary, the just totake, let them feel like they're
taking care of in theenvironment of the photo shoot.
I can't take care of them day today.
That's their business.
But when they're on my set, myresponsibility.
CJ (32:43):
So can you talk about,
Ray Lavoie (32:45):
of me.
CJ (32:45):
You know, you, you got into photography as a passion.
Can you talk about, you know,if, if I'm you know, a young
adult and I'm thinking about,you know, stepping out and, and
starting a business for myselfand I'm interested in
photography, with yourexperiences, what are some of
the, the strategies you thinkthat they should focus on to, to
getting their business off theground?
(33:06):
Some of the lessons that you'velearned.
Ray Lavoie (33:10):
So first I want to take a offense to the word
passion.
It's more about having acuriosity.
Because passion can get you introuble.
It can get,
CJ (33:22):
Some passions can
Ray Lavoie (33:23):
passionate.
See, but if you're in a, ifyou're in a conversation with
the accounting department, itmay not be good that you're
passionate, more logistical.
CJ (33:36):
right?
Ray Lavoie (33:37):
But I really, I, I've heard many people talk
about following their passion.
I say, follow your curiosity.
I've always wondered how to takepictures and stuff like that.
I think I've been passionate,but I also, I've been in it so
long that it's not necessarilypassion that's fueling me
anymore.
It's more curiosity and see howthings can turn out.
(34:00):
Now I do get, I get stagefright, which is hilarious'cause
I'm a photographer, but I getstage fright before a client
shows up.
Did I get everything in order?
Is everything in set?
Is everything where it needs tobe?
And so I'm gonna ask you torepeat the question because I
lost track of it.
CJ (34:18):
no.
I was just curious, you know,if, if I'm you know, early
twenties, late teens, earlythirties, someone that's looking
to, to get into the industry ofbecoming a, a quality
photographer, are some some keystrategies that you've learned?
With your, through yourexperiences that you could share
with you know, a youngentrepreneur.
Ray Lavoie (34:38):
I looked to the masters.
I looked to Irving Penn.
I looked to Avedon.
I looked to Gordon Parks.
I look to.
Norman Parkinson j lots offamous photographers throughout
the years.
And I sit there and I wonder howthey did that.
And having a curiosity about howthe photograph is created is
(34:59):
really part of, I got a clientthe other day, they wanted to do
a set of their their, of directboard of governors.
they gave, sent me a photographthat they liked, that they
wanted to imitate.
And I was like what did they doto do that?
Did they use a hard light?
Did they use a soft light?
Did they use high ISO?
(35:19):
Did they use a big depth offield?
All the different things thatmake up the secret sauce, that
is a photograph.
And so I feel like that's.
Having a curiosity and passionfor finding out how things are
done photographically.
Did they use ai?
Did they use how much wasretouched?
How much is real?
(35:42):
These are all questions that weask now that are very difficult
to answer at times because I'mfinding out that a lot of people
are needing technology to,replaced traditional photography
to the point where I was in astudio for a networking event
that was a film productionservice and they had a booth
(36:05):
that was, that they were alldoing that.
This one associate was doing allthe different kinds of bottles
of perfume and liquor and he wasvery proud to say that none of
them ever existed.
It fabricated all of'em.
And I was like, oh, great.
(36:25):
Now I have to compete with
CJ (36:27):
Right.
Ray Lavoie (36:27):
I, that, it's like you, you're kidding, right?
There's nothing that's.
Nothing existed.
They didn't start from aphotograph, they didn't start
from any kind of place.
have to be really creativenowadays to make something of
(36:48):
worthy.
Mike (36:49):
Well on that subject, does that, how, how does that make
you feel?
Does that terrify you?
Does that worry you?
You feel as though, you know,there is still a place for an
actual photographer to come inand, and, do the work?
Ray Lavoie (37:06):
If they ever get over the hump of it being
looking ridiculous, I thinkwe're worried.
right now it still looks reallyridiculous.
It, if you can tell an ai, it'slike you're like, this is just
not
Mike (37:20):
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (37:21):
Right.
There's no proportion to thebody to hips, to legs, to
everything's out of whack.
And so I don't feel too, I feelcautious.
But I don't feel scared yet.
I've seen things online where onLinkedIn, they advertise, a
picture of you in a nice settingor something like that, and
(37:44):
we'll just snap it into aheadshot for you.
It's just something innate thatpeople can see that it's fake.
They don't know why it's fake.
They don't, they can't verbalizewhat's wrong with the picture.
But they look at it and go,there's something not right with
this.
There's, I can't tell what itis, but I know there's something
(38:05):
that's not real, and I thinkthat I really I specialize in
getting really great expressionsand compositions for of people
Mike (38:16):
Right.
Ray Lavoie (38:17):
in let of, instead of living it up to ai.
Mike (38:19):
Yeah.
And that, I think that'simportant and, and I think
people will realize that,especially if you wanna do
something that's professional,right.
People aren't just gonna hoponto AI and have some pictures
done.
I mean, maybe a novice who'sstarting their business, they
can't afford a photographer.
Maybe that's where AI help them.
But as they, you know, build abusiness and you want to be
taken more seriously, youprobably need to go hire a
(38:42):
photographer.
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (38:44):
I believe in two, two jobs.
If you're going to dophotography, a good bookkeeper
and.
A good retouch if a good retouchwill make you look good without
making you look fake.
Mike (38:56):
Perfect.
CJ (38:57):
So that's the, and is that someone that I guess you hire
separately or is that stuff thatyou do yourself?
Ray Lavoie (39:04):
I do myself on many of the smaller jobs, but I, on
the big important things, I mostcertainly use a retouch.
Mike (39:13):
Perfect.
Well, a little, little bit ofthe, other side of things.
So have you had someone comeinto your studio that I.
After the fact, you were like,this was the most bizarre,
uncomfortable photo shoot thatI've ever had to do.
(39:35):
And without using names orexposing anyone, can you, can
you describe one of thoseexperiences?
Because I, I'm, I'm pretty surethat y'all can't be formal and,
and, you know, professional.
Ray Lavoie (39:48):
I'll give you two examples.
Mike (39:50):
I can't wait.
Ray Lavoie (39:51):
A gentleman who was in real estate came into the
studio and said, you're takingmy fixture today, but I want you
to make me look like I've lost40 pounds.
40 pounds.
And I said,
Mike (40:07):
aI.
Ray Lavoie (40:07):
I can do that.
you're not gonna look real.
'cause you're not.
not, you're not gonna.
It's not gonna look real.
I couldn't even explain it, hewas like, do it.
Anyway, he decided to opt out ofthe retouching of 40 pounds,
(40:28):
lost.
Another person came into thestudio and I took their pictures
and I said, how much retouchingwould you like to have done?
One to 10 kind of thing.
He's oh, go to 10.
Go completely to 10.
I'm like, all right.
I will make everything.
Flawless.
He got the fiction back andsaid, oh no, no way.
Go back.
You went too far.
(40:50):
And I was like, I told you Iwas.
He was like, go all the way.
And I was like, all Right.
then it's not gonna look real.
And he is don't care.
Just make me look perfect.
And he hated it.
Mike (41:03):
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (41:04):
So he went back to a more normal.
I find that people don't knowwhat retouching can do,
Mike (41:11):
Mm-hmm.
Ray Lavoie (41:11):
to go and ask for more retouching than less.
I
Mike (41:15):
It could probably make you look like a completely different
person.
Ray Lavoie (41:18):
right.
It's actually in the eyes.
It's actually not the eyes, butit's the face underneath the
eyes that a lot of women wannahave removed.
And when I remove it, they lookmuch younger.
So much so that they don't looklike they have the experience in
brevity to who they are.
(41:41):
They look all of a sudden 17,and it's like something's not
right and it's their, they'veremoved every detail of I
removed the wrinkle
Mike (41:53):
They removed their wisdom.
Ray Lavoie (41:55):
They remove the wisdom.
And I caution against that allthe time, but I'm always, women
are the hardest and the bestbecause they pick up on all the
details.
Guys come in to get theirpicture taken.
stand there, they sit, they'relike, are you done?
Are you done?
I'm gonna, I'm outta here.
Use whatever one you want.
(42:17):
Women are like I didn't get thechin right.
I, there's hair in my face.
Can we do some more?
I'm like, absolutely.
I will make this stuff.
I go by the philosophy that theycome to me for a portrait.
They need to leave withsomething they love, and if they
don't, if we haven't takensomething they love, we'll take
more pictures since until youfind something that you love.
I asked them, please stay havingto re reset up and reshoot is
(42:41):
much more expensive than justtaking a couple more pictures
today.
Mike (42:45):
Right.
Perfect.
Well, we are coming close totime.
So I really appreciate you goingthrough all of this, telling us
a little bit about your world.
But before we go into the nextthe next thing with which is our
lightning round, where we'regonna ask you some questions.
What is the name of yourphotography studio?
Ray Lavoie (43:10):
You can find me atRay@rayLaVoie.com Ray
LaVoie.com is the website aswell,
Mike (43:17):
Perfect.
CJ (43:18):
How about
Mike (43:19):
All right.
And I will de Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (43:23):
Ray LaVoie, and it's LAV as in Victor, OIE.
It's more vowels than you thinkis necessary.
Mike (43:31):
We, we'll, we'll tag everything in, in the, in the
post of things.
Ray Lavoie (43:37):
you very much.
Mike (43:38):
but CJ, if you could, while I pull up a timer here, if
you could explain what our next,CJ or can, it doesn't matter
what we're doing next.
CJ (43:45):
Yeah, this part of the
Ray Lavoie (43:46):
I'm
CJ (43:47):
of thing.
No, it's nothing to be afraidof.
What we'd like to do is ask youfive quick fire questions.
Just, you know, here we end,come back to that, that piece
about passion.
What, whatever comes to mind,whatever you feel.
The I idea is to get throughthese five questions within the
minute, and Lovett has a timeron the screen.
Mike (44:08):
All right, Ray.
So, CJ said, just five questionsI'm gonna ask you.
Don't think too much about it.
Some may be serious, some maynot be serious.
And just let us know whateverpops into mind.
All right.
Ray Lavoie (44:19):
All right.
Mike (44:20):
So the first question what's your favorite camera
system?
Ray Lavoie (44:25):
Canon
Mike (44:26):
Nice.
What's one piece of advice you'dgive to a beginner photographer?
Ray Lavoie (44:32):
Don't give up.
Mike (44:34):
give up.
What's the most challenging typeof photography that you've
tackled?
I.
Ray Lavoie (44:41):
Architectural
Mike (44:43):
I'll come back to that.
Okay.
If you could photograph anysubject, what would it be and
why?
Ray Lavoie (44:54):
Stephanie gr, player and just'cause he, he's a great
person.
Mike (45:00):
Oh, okay.
last question.
In 2005, I.
time would you start gettingready to party at Axis?
Ray Lavoie (45:11):
Nine would
Mike (45:15):
Sounds accurate.
Sounds very accurate.
And that's it.
All right, well, you got throughthe five questions.
Easy enough.
Ray Lavoie (45:25):
Thank God.
CJ (45:27):
I do have one thing
Ray Lavoie (45:28):
Worried about that.
Mike (45:30):
yeah, go ahead.
CJ (45:30):
this is for the audience mainly.
What is something you wish youknew before starting your, your,
you know, journey intophotography to your business?
Mike (45:41):
Good question.
Ray Lavoie (45:42):
I think the really important thing that I didn't
know and I didn't realize isthat it's like show business.
It's a business.
You really have to run it like abusiness.
And I'm very much a person thatruns on feelings and emotions
and my love language is emotionshow it makes me feel when I do
things.
(46:03):
And business is not aboutemotions.
It's about selling high andbuying low and doing all kinds
of things that are notinstinctual, instinctive.
And so you have to fight yourinstincts.
To make good business decisions.
CJ (46:24):
Can you tell us a little bit about, well, I know that the
show is ending, but you broughtup in the lightning round
architecture being a difficultsubject.
Why is that?
Ray Lavoie (46:33):
Because you're without control.
When was the last time you saidyou could control the weather?
You have to pick the right day.
You have to pick the rightangle, you have to pick the
right lighting.
It's just really fraught withdifficult questions.
Is the sun setting the right wayon the building?
(46:54):
Is it going the right?
How much do you wanna change tothe building to look correct and
such?
Mike (47:02):
Yeah.
Ray Lavoie (47:03):
lucky recently and I took a, and I'll send it to you
guys.
I took a picture of the fifththird building downtown and I
got lucky on the lighting.
I got lucky on the location Iwas in.
I got lucky on the camera that Iwas holding at the time.
I got Lucky to Sunday and it's agreat picture and I'll share it
(47:23):
with you after
Mike (47:24):
Nice.
don't think it's all luck.
I think some of it's skill too.
You know, you've been doing itlong enough, you're a
professional.
Ray Lavoie (47:30):
process.
Mike (47:31):
Yeah.
I.
Ray Lavoie (47:31):
I.
say luck, but it's decisionmaking like is this the right
time to do this?
Is this the right time to dothat?
And I made all the Right.
decisions that day.
Mike (47:41):
Perfect.
Awesome.
Even more reason for people tolook you up and have them come
take your headshot because youknow what you're doing.
You're a professional.
Ray LaVoie, everybody.
Ray Lavoie (47:49):
I.
Mike (47:50):
before we get going, there's one little thing that we
do at the end of each show.
I call it the Wakanda piece.
Pause, and it's just gonna be ustaking a.
I'm taking a moment to do athing, and then I'm just, at
some point I keep saying this,at the end of every episode, I'm
gonna take all of these picturesthat from all of our guests that
we've had, and I'm gonna postthem online, but it's just going
(48:11):
to be us doing a post like thisand smiling into the camera,
holding it for a few seconds sothat later I could take a
screenshot and then Yeah, we'll,we'll use it.
And then from there, we'll,we'll end the show.
All right.
So I now hold now hold it.
I'll make it uncomfortable.
That's what I do.
And then we'll go from there.
All right.
So on the count of three we'lljust do it.
(48:33):
So 1, 2, 3, and good.
Perfect.
Well, that's the end of ourshow.
I really appreciate you comingon, Ray.
I haven't seen you in likeforever.
I mean, I've been out of.
Columbus for seven or eightyears now, but the next time I'm
in town, I'm gonna have to comeby and say hello.
Ray Lavoie (48:56):
Have to come to Chicago and you have to take us
out to sidetrack.
Mike (49:00):
Yeah, anytime.
Always welcome.
You're always welcome.
We'll, we'll make sure to getready by nine, 9:00 PM
Ray Lavoie (49:07):
The, slushing machines are dangerous,
Mike (49:10):
The, man, the slushies are dangerous, but they're so good.
I could have like one or two
CJ (49:15):
Yeah,
Mike (49:16):
that.
I, I can't have anymore.
Oh, they're very sweet.
They're very sweet, but they'reperfect During the summer.
the summertime.
Ray Lavoie (49:23):
my day to diabetes.
CJ (49:27):
Ray, thank you so very much for, for me, you know including
us in your day and getting upthis early in the morning.
Ray Lavoie (49:36):
For the interview, I really found myself much more
prepared than I thought I was.
CJ (49:40):
I don't know
Mike (49:40):
Yeah.
Yeah.
CJ (49:41):
of.
It's just us.
Ken (49:43):
Yeah, conversation.
Mike (49:45):
laid back, relaxed conversation.
CJ (49:48):
Thanks for tuning in to the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast.
If today's conversationresonated with you, don't forget
to subscribe, share, drop acomment, and leave a review.
We're building bridges, onestory, one mindset, one move at
a time.
Show our guest some love bychecking out their socials too.
Until next time, keep pushing,keep growing and keep walking in
(50:11):
your purpose.
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