Measured, LLC
I got to spend a little time a couple weeks ago with Amanda Gajdosik of Measured, LLC while she photographed a full steak dinner. Talk about work! Amanda cooks all of the meals and items she photographs, and the care she takes in preparing is amazing. She spent several hours prepping the full dinner while I recorded and photographed her. We laughed, we chatted, we had a great time while she worked, and she still took such amazing care with her setups. And every bit of her food was still edible, and smelled and looked absolutely delicious!
Amanda also let me interview her. Read it below!
1. Tell me about your business. What do you do? How long have you been doing it? What made you want to do it?
I am the owner and founder of Measured, LLC a food photography service located in Central Wisconsin. I do food and product photography, recipe development and testing, and recipe videography. I have been making food since I was tall enough to stand on a stool next to my grandma, but it wasn’t until last year that I decided to take the plunge and go full time into pursuing my passion of food photography and recipe development. After many trials and even more errors, I decided it was time to really live my passion and pursue the only career that would leave me happy and fulfilled.
2. What’s it like being a woman in business? Your industry specifically, as well as in general.
The food photography/blogging industry is, blessedly, dominated by women. I am grateful for the support, knowledge, and encouragement I have found among fellow female food photographers. Also, the safe space we have created amongst ourselves to discuss clients, projects, and finances. Women, in general, are raised to be accommodating, and to do everything they can to make another person happy. When you involve a price tag with that and have to stand up for yourself to be paid what you’re worth it can be daunting and disheartening at times. The friends I have who do what I do understand that, have lived that, and are there to pick me up when I fall.
3. What are some of the strengths you feel being a woman gives you (business-wise)?
As a woman, I am in-tune with emotions – my own, my clients’, and prospective customers’ a client is trying to entice. I can express those feelings and thoughts through food, telling a story with my work and evoking a memory or emotion that will resonate with viewers. Also – multi-tasking! We women are just good at it! When you wear the countless hats of a female small business owner, it’s imperative that you can be the creative director, spokesperson, photographer, editor, bookkeeper, and/or social media expert that is necessary for continued growth and success.
4. What are some of the struggles of being a woman in business?
Being taken seriously and sticking up for oneself. I am a young woman who has an even younger business. I am often brushed off or ignored by larger, older companies or pushed to do more work for less compensation. There is always the threat of “we will get someone better to do it for less.” At this point in my career, I no longer fear that remark, or the “No,” or being ignored by prospective clients all together. There are clients out there who will respect my process, my vision, and my products who will gladly pay for them. It’s important to repeat and remember that and not devalue myself or my work, even if the temptation is there.
6. If you could give one piece of advice to a woman starting her own business (either in your industry or not) what would it be?
Seek out support. From family, friends, and other women in your industry.
I have a partner who has done nothing but encourage me from day one. In fact, the main reason I was able to leave the “traditional” workforce behind was because my husband said it was more important for me to live my dreams than anything else. “You follow your passions and I’ll pay the mortgage.” How blessed am I?! He knows (possibly better than I do) that I will work longer, harder, and better when it’s for myself and my own business than I ever could for someone else.
Therapy has also been a wonderful source of support during the last year of being my own boss. When you own your own business, it is all of you. All the blood, sweat, tears. And…the baggage. It’s important to work on yourself, not only professionally, but mentally, emotionally, and relationally. If you can’t take care of yourself and your emotions or nurture your mental health, you won’t be able to sustain your business. It’s important to show up for yourself in these important ways so you can show up for your business day after day.
5. If you could go back in time, would you still open your business? What would you change, if anything?
Yes, absolutely, 110%! I used to wish I had started sooner, or not given up so easily in the past, but I know now that everything happens for a reason. I am doing what I was made to do in the place and time that I was made to do it. I am tempted to say that I would have stuck to it sooner, if I could change anything. But, because of the career path I went down, I have a beautiful life with a wonderful man and a mischievous dog. If I had opened my own business sooner or started it somewhere else, I wouldn’t have those two loves of my life.
Check out the video I made of Amanda doing what she does best:
Amanda is located in Ripon, Wisconsin, but does work nationally. She’s even been published in nationally distributed magazines! If you’re interested in hiring her for your food photography needs:
Measured, LLC
(864) 504-0537
