Meet Emily Woodruff | Virtual Assistant to Photographers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Woodruff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
This is a tricky question because life fluctuates so much, so frequently. The way I’ve built my business allows me to control how many hours I have available for my clients. If our household is a little less time-constricted, I’ll send an e-mail to clients asking them how many hours they’d like to secure my services for in increments from 10-40 hours per month. The more my family and my business has going on, the less available options I offer. Currently, we’re in the middle of moving and most people can relate to the extra stress that can add to a family- so I’ve limited my clients to only be able to offer my lower packages- to ensure I don’t overwork myself or under deliver to my clients.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart from other virtual assistants is that I am also a photographer. I work directly with photographers and having the same skill set, understanding and vision as most of them is incredibly helpful. They respect that I have done the work, been in the field and know the struggles they face instead of just admiring it. It’s not too often you come across a person who is admin-focused and art-focused, so I’ve found my own little ambidextrous niche and ran with it. I started this business when COVID hit and basically took photography offline for several months in Michigan. I needed a secondary income and because I am an administrator by day, I finally put two and two together and started working with photographers to update websites, create opt-ins, blog updates, photo editing and more. It hasn’t been a walk in the park- as each photographer has their own editing styles and flair and sometimes we just don’t mix, but that’s part of the process and I am learning more about my strengths with each client. I have learned that a lot of what my clients need is a support system and to feel like they aren’t alone in their business- being entrepreneurs, we’re told constantly that we are doing things on our own and by ourselves and it just doesn’t have to be that way- we still need one another and still all need a great cheerleader in our pocket- so I try really hard to be the best one I can for each client I have. My goal with Moxie Assist is to help others learn about outsourcing- that it doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds, nor as expensive. It’s worth it to invest in your business and take back some of the hours in your day. You can’t be superwoman- so let someone with more expertise in specific areas take on some tasks you either hate or struggle with. It can be really freeing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Photography Studios (for rent) in Michigan Facebook group! ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/948989176241116 ) A FREE resource for photographers and studio owners in Michigan to connect and find local rentals / locations for their upcoming events. A great resource for owners to advertise and connect with new clients. It’s really become a great community and I think is really beneficial for a lot of folks. It only allows photographers or owners to join, so you don’t get bombarded with session advertisements, calls for models, etc. It’s pretty niched down and I am so proud of it.

Website: www.moxieassist.com

Instagram: instagram.com/moxieassist