A mum who started her own business capturing precious family memories says it was a ‘huge risk’ – but one that paid off.
Rebecca Scope launched Penny Elizabeth Photography earlier this year from a studio in a summer house which she rents in Cullercoats.
And she’s now celebrating after being named North Tyneside Business of the Month.
Rebecca, 27, had been unemployed since her daughter Penny was born four years ago.
After becoming a single parent, she decided she needed to find work to fit around school and nursery hours – as well as being something she loved.
Having tried a few different career routes, which weren’t for her, Rebecca’s thoughts kept returning to setting up her own business in children’s photography.
She explained: “I took a huge risk and decided to start planning if it was something that could be achievable.
“I began doing free photoshoots for friends and family and casting calls and, using social media, started to build up my business.”
Rebecca began working with North Tyneside Council’s The Business Factory and was assigned a business adviser.
The Business Factory, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, shines a spotlight on the quality of new businesses based in the borough each month with the Business of the Month campaign.
She added: “The biggest challenge I’ve found to running my own business is the financial side.
“But The Business Factory helped me get on the New Enterprise Allowance scheme, which helped so much, and I had the most amazing business adviser, Nicky Burke.
“She helped push and guide me through any downfalls and gave advice when I really needed it.”
Thanks to support too from her family and partner, slowly Rebecca has managed to grow her business, which offers a wide range of photography for local families but specialises in newborn baby photo-shoots.
“I give parents the opportunity to capture lifelong memories and portraits that have not only sentimental value but freeze a time in their life they can remember forever”, she said.
“Working my own hours has made childcare so much easier as well as spending time with my family and earning money.”
The rewards of running a business are also plenty, Rebecca added, and she particularly enjoys receiving feedback from her customers.
“I feel confidence that I am documenting the moment and the memories whilst they are babies and mum will only have them at this age once,” she said.
“I really put myself into the session, my full concentration and full attention. I am caring and gentle as well as maternal and understanding.
“You have to be, as babies don’t really care when they need to go, they’ve got to go! And it’s always either on me or the blankets!”
Rebecca believes North Tyneside is a great place to start a business, particularly if it’s aimed at parents, babies and children, due to large parent and baby community in the borough.
And she says the resources available to any budding entrepreneur are ‘amazing’.
But, knowing what she knows now, what one piece of advice would she give to anyone else wanting to follow in her footsteps?
“If I could offer you any advice, it is pick wisely,” Rebecca said.
“Pick something you love doing and see how you can turn it into a business. There is nothing better waking up in the morning and being excited to go to work or doing that little happy dance when things work out.”
Any small or medium-sized business in North Tyneside can nominate themselves or somebody they know for Business of the Month; simply provide a reason – ideally within 280 characters - why they think they should be selected and come along to the monthly business coffee morning.
Nominations can be tweeted to The Business Factory using the #NTCBiz, posted on its Facebook page or emailed to info@thebusinessfactory.co.uk
Find out more about about Penny Elizabeth Photography
