TIM CONWAY PHOTOGRAPHY

WHAT IT IS: Full-service photography studio

OWNER: Tim Conway

ADDRESS: 1325 Troupe St., Augusta

IN OPERATION: 20 years

EMPLOYEES: Two full time, one part time

WHAT DOES YOUR BUSINESS DO?: We are a full-service photography studio with two divisions - a family portrait and kids division specializing in outdoor environmental portraiture. Our commercial division handles brochures, catalogs and annual reports for companies like Procter & Gamble, E-Z-Go, International Paper and John Deere.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS BUSINESS?: Photography was a hobby in high school. In college, I was the newspaper and annual photographer for Augusta State University. I attended two years of photography school after college.

STRANGEST CLIENT/INCIDENT?: Photographing Prince Andrew and all the protocol that goes with photographing royalty.

WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT THE BUSINESS: I enjoy the challenge of going into a shoot unseen and creating a dynamic, artistic photograph. I also enjoy meeting new people and capturing their personalities.

WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT THE BUSINESS: The hours! Weekends and holidays tend to be prime picture-taking occasions when families get together.

WHY YOUR BUSINESS STANDS OUT: Customer service, attention to details and great effort to create photographs that capture unique moments in time.

ORGANIZATIONS/EVENTS INVOLVED IN: We are involved in helping numerous local charities, schools and businesses such as Boys and Girls Club, Heritage Academy, United Way, Georgia Golf Hall of Fame and the Greater Augusta Sports Council.

AWARDS: I graduated valedictorian from photography school and have won numerous photography awards.

YOUR BEST BUSINESS ADVICE: If you do what you have done, you get what you have gotten. If you are not constantly soliciting new business or experimenting with different technologies, your creativity and revenue become stagnant.

WHERE YOU SEE YOUR BUSINESS IN 5 YEARS/10 YEARS: We are diversifying by opening a frame shop and satellite studio in Aiken. Technology will play a major role in photography over the next few years.

MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS PRINCIPLE: Hard work and complete dedication.

BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN THE BUSINESS: Competition from every Tom, Dick and Harry that has a digital camera and thinks they are going to be a professional photographer without any experience.

ROLE MODELS/INSPIRATIONS: People who strive to do their best!

BUSINESSES INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN THE BEHIND THE BUSINESS FEATURE CAN CONTACT THOMAS SMYTH AT (706) 823-3224 OR THOMAS.SMYTH@AUGUSTACHRONICLE.COM.