Hello my awesome readers!
I’ve decided to start an interview series about people, entrepreneurs, desk jockeys, creative types, anyone really who works to pay the bills, but who also have other creative aspirations.

First up is Grace Chon, an LA pet photographer , who is originally from the East Coast. (She and I went to summer camp together!!)
Here is her Shine Pet Photos blog, as well, that entails the trials and tribulations of running a successful pet photography business while juggling the demands of a busy career in advertising.

Tell the readers of “Girl at a Startup” a little bit about yourself.
I love animals — I coo over puppies and dogs the way most women coo over babies. Actually, my biological puppy clock started ticking ages ago while my baby clock has yet to get in gear! Like a lot of animal lovers, I thought I was going to be a vet for most of my life. I even graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, worked as an intern at the Philadelphia Zoo, and even worked in the Emergency Room of the famous University of Pennsylvania Animal Hospital. (Carrying body bags down to the basement — NOT FUN!) I eventually decided to pursue my passion for creativity and design, and went to grad school at The Academy of Art in San Francisco.

What is your day job?
I’m an art director at Deutsch LA. That means I work with my copywriting partner to come up with ideas for commercials, billboards, print, online, and more. As the art director, I work on the look and feel of our ads, and collaborate with photographers, illustrators, directors, and designers to bring our vision to life. Some clients I’ve worked for past and present include Saturn Cars, Panda Express, eBay Motors, Shutterfly, Lexar, and Domaine Chandon.

How did you get involved in Pet photography?
I’ve been interested in photography for as long as I can remember, but I didn’t seriously start dabbling in pet photography until I moved to LA in 2006. My roommate at the time had 2 dogs, and I took photos of them all the time. I even had photos of them at work, which my coworkers were always asking questions about — like “How did you take those?” or “What camera did you use?” I was just using a little Canon Elph point and shoot at the time, but it was really cool to get such positive feedback.

When did you decide to make the foray into pet photography considering your heavy workload? How did you do it?
Eventually, I upgraded to a Canon DSLR and started taking head shots of homeless dogs for a rescue group in Los Angles called The Pawd Squad. The feedback I was receiving on my photography was phenomenal, so I decided to turn my hobby into a side business. I launched Shine Pet Photos in February 2008. Advertising has notoriously awful work hours, but I squeezed in time to create my business anytime I could — early in the morning before work, at night after work, and on the weekends. Luckily because of my background in advertising and design, I was able to create my logo, my website, my brochures, and my business cards by myself.

You’re basically a successful woman entrepreneur. Any tips or suggestions?
Well I’m not quite a successful woman entrepreneur yet, but I do hope to be someday! Donny Deutsch of “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” on MSNBC, is also the chairman of the agency I work at. He once came to talk to us and one thing he said really stood out to me — “Follow your passion, and success will eventually catch up to it.” If you do what you truly love and are passionate about, you’ll end up with something really special. And people will take notice. That said, my other greatest piece of advice is find your own voice and be true to it. You can’t be TRULY passionate about something when you’re not being true to your own voice. If you try to launch a new business or concept that’s mimicking someone else’s voice, you’ll only be playing catch up for the rest of your career.

You’re someone who took a chance and are starting to see the fruits of your labor. One last bit of advice or inspirational thought?
This is so freaking cheesy but the mantra I tell myself every day is “You have to dream big, to win big!” (I also imagine Tony Robbins’ big head as I say this 10 times fast, in front of the mirror pumping my arms back and forth. Ummm sorry. Lame Judy Blume reference.) Seriously though, reach for the sky and you might be surprised at what you end up grabbing. Also — work your ass off. Trust me, hard work pays off. Hello, Horatio Alger!

Considering the recent state of the economy, any tips on budgeting, cutting costs?
Well, I can only speak from a small business perspective but basically — don’t spend money you don’t have. And as advertising can take up a huge chunk of your budget, be smart about what kind of advertising you’re doing and where.

And…what’s next for Miss LA Pet Photographer??
Right now I’m working on a few book proposal ideas. And I’m in the processing of launching yet another side business, which brings my love for animals and good design back together a little closer than photography does. We’ll see what happens!

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to answer these questions, and again, if you need gorgeous pics of your pets taken, call Grace!!