Gretje Ferguson Photography " While photographers are comfortable in their creative world, they often need help with the business end of things. NEWBO speakers and members help with marketing, promotion, and dealing with money. And my Roundtable is invaluable for helping to troubleshoot all kinds of issues before they become problematic."  - Gretje Ferguson

This Month's Spotlight Gretje Ferguson - Gretje Ferguson Photography NEWBO member Gretje Ferguson says that owning your own business isn't easy, but that's part of the reason to keep at it.   "Everything takes much longer than you expect it will," Gretje says. "Know that getting your business ducks in a row, adjusting your vision as needed, establishing contacts, and networking with like-minded professionals will all pay off in the long run. Hopefully, after years of painstaking work and dues paying, you will see that your business has blossomed into something better than you ever dreamed."   Sage advice from a woman who knows—Gretje has been photographing the world and people who inhabit it for over 35 years. On her own for the last seven and a member of NEWBO for three and a half, Gretje says she joined the organization after hearing many professional women talk about it and then checking it out firsthand. She says that NEWBO is a great resource for artists and other creative-type entrepreneurs.    As for her business' focus, Gretje says she specializes in portraits for business and family, and she also photographs weddings, bar mitzvahs, and corporate events. She spends much time on projects dear to her heart, including "Confronting Cancer," which is a series of portraits of people in the midst of cancer treatment and "Gay Dads and their Kids," which shows the warmth and commitment of alternative families. Exhibitions from these projects have been shown at art galleries around New England over the past several years.   Gretje adds, "My ideal customer for business portraits is anyone who needs a dynamic photograph for the web. My goal is to photograph everyone in NEWBO, and I have already done headshots for more than 20 members!"   She says that her ideal wedding client is someone who is planning a small wedding (fewer than 150 people), perhaps with a non-traditional feel. Gretje has a photojournalistic style where she captures the unfolding of the event without directing the action.   Has her NEWBO membership paid off? You bet. Gretje says, "NEWBO gives me an opportunity to surround myself with smart, savvy women who love to share information and experiences. The monthly meeting is a constant on my calendar."   Keeping this issue's theme of "The Future You" in mind, Gretje illustrates how she constantly pushes herself while still maintaining balance. "I regularly attend photography conferences and courses to keep up with business trends and technology. I participate in online professional photography forums. I am a founding member of a group of wedding and portrait photographers called the Digital Divas. We share advice on customer relations, marketing, and photographic techniques. My NEWBO Roundtable is my Board of Advisors. And I do yoga twice a week and sing in an acapella singing group, which keeps the creative juices flowing."   For inspiration, Gretje talks of an early mentor. "I had the wonderful opportunity of studying with the extraordinary portrait photographer Arnold Newman, who died last month. He encouraged me to stretch my vision instead of becoming complacent."   Gretje and her husband, Bob, live in Dedham. Their son, Alex, is married and lives in Texas. He is a computer animator and has been working on the animated film, The Ant Bully, due out this month. Bob and Gretje's daughter, Lisa—who is a pop and jazz singer—lives in Cold Spring, New York, with her husband and baby daughter, Sophie.