Photography sessions have always been very stress inducing for me and Jamie put Riley and I at ease from the beginning, making the whole process...dare I say... fun??
As a small business owner and a senior dog parent, I can't recommend high enough. From talking us through branding for our small business, to executing on the game plan we came up with together, it was a total 5 Star experience and the pictures came out better than I could have imagined!” - Josh Hart
I thought he’d never ask! Recently—finally!— Josh Hart reached out for a branding session with his beagle, Riley, and I couldn’t wait to capture his journey. Josh and I have followed each other’s entrepreneurial paths for a couple of years now.
Two years ago, Josh left a successful insurance career—the only one he’d ever known—to chase a dream. Starting Riley’s Candles in his garage, he had no formal business plan, no nonprofit, and no website. But he did have a vision. Today, Riley’s Candles is more than just a business; it’s a mission. Josh has combined his love for candles with a purpose-driven approach to save dogs and spread positivity.
Josh wanted a more professional image than the selfies he had been posting on social media but he really didn’t want a stuffy corporate headshot. We decided to make photographs in his candle shop and then step outside the building for a few neutral backdrop photographs. He wanted the images to “build empathy and trust”, to be “authentic” and “warm and fuzzy.”
Reflecting on his journey, Josh shared, “This photo reminded me just how far we’ve come in two years.”
Riley’s Candles is so much more than just a candle business. It’s a symbol of resilience, a beacon of hope, and a testament to Josh’s passion for doing good in the world. Through Riley’s Candles, Josh has combined his love for candles with a mission to save dogs and make a positive impact. It’s proof that you can quit a corporate job (no offense to corporate jobs, of course) when you’re ready and build something that inspires and proves there is good in this world.
For Josh, the journey has been both challenging and rewarding, and the branding session was a moment of full-circle reflection. “This photo reminded me just how far we’ve come in two years,” he shared.
It was a privilege to capture this moment for Josh and Riley’s Candles. This session wasn’t just about headshots; it was about celebrating a dream realized and a purpose fulfilled. Here’s to Josh, Riley, and all the bright things to come. In the words of Josh, “Let’s goooooo!”
