Your Name: Sal & Roxi Ausonio
Business Name: Daisies & Clovers Photography
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Family? Pets? Hobbies? Etc.
Sal was born and raised in San Diego, whereas Roxi grew up in Los Angeles, then relocated down to San Diego to attend college. We met while working at Veterinary Hospital and have been blessedly married for 10 years now and have 2 gorgeous children (not biased at all lol). We currently don’t have any pets, though the kids are begging for a couple of kitties to snuggle with. Outside of photography, we love love love to play outside with the kids – any sport really, drive to the beach, explore new hiking areas, watch movies (we are a Disney family), and cook! We can totally get down on some good grub!
Tell us about your Photography business. How did you start and why? What do you specialize in? Would you go back and do anything differently?
To be honest – (it’s always the best policy, right?!), we needed something for me (Roxi) to keep my brain from going to mush. When our son was born (the youngest), we decided that I would be a stay at home mother while Sal made the dough as a Nurse Practitioner. Little did I realize how hard it was going to be for me to stay at home. I was used to working day in and day out – 15-hour days – the hustle and bustle at a busy emergency and specialty veterinary hospital. Going from that to watching Mickey Mouse all day, nursing them, and changing diapers – was a bit of change. The idea of photography came up to help fill that void that I needed. We have always had a love for photography – we use to hike a lot and take a lot of Landscape and Macro photography. We were originally going to open a nature photography business, but after looking into costs vs. benefits etc. we decided portraiture photography was the way to go. Looking back, I wouldn’t change nor do I regret giving up my Veterinary career. I forever will cherish the quality time I spent with my children when they were babes and as they grow now. I am happy and blessed that I have found something that challenges me, gives me passion, and still enables me to be home with our children. We specialize in Family Photography, Children, Maternity, & Lifestyle Newborn Photography primarily, but also have a great passion for Couples & Boudoir Photography as well.
Has it been a smooth road? Have you encountered struggles that you could share?
Hahahah hardly. It has definitely been a huge learning curve for us. We both were science majors in college, so the business aspect and knowing all things of what is needed/required to run a business has been a struggle for sure. All the licenses, permits, fees, needed paper trails etc. is mindboggling lol. If anyone wants to write a book on how to start a photography business 101 – it would be seller! We are self-taught photographers – maybe if we went to college and majored in the arts or photography itself, we may have been more prepared. But we didn’t lol. We kind of just dove right in and have kept running since.
What do enjoy the most about what you do? What do you enjoy the least?
Our favorite part is the reveal! Watching our client’s reactions and love for their images gives us all the satisfaction in the world. What do we enjoy the least? Probably the paperwork side of things.
What inspires you?
Time. We love having the ability to ‘stop time’ for people and giving them the opportunity to relish in a moment through a photograph that they will love forever, and generations to come.
What is your farewell piece of advice for someone interested in taking the first steps toward entering into your field?
Honestly, we would suggest mentoring under an experienced photographer within their area first before signing any paperwork or stepping on the ‘business’ gas pedal. It is definitely not easy learning and running a business – probably no matter the type of business we guess. Anyone that thinks it just about taking photos and editing them will sadly be mistaken. We probably spend 75% of our time running the business/marketing/writing and 25% of our time actually shooting and editing images. By mentoring under another photographer – they would hopefully receive the guidance of all things necessary to set up the business, run the business, and help them see what style and specialty fits them best.
What is your favorite Candy Bar?
Sal – Cookies & Cream Hershey’s bar
Roxi – Snickers
What is your favorite Childhood Memory?
Sal comes from a big family and are all Disney Fans. Each year they would save up enough money to go to Disneyland, so any memory of them at Disneyland would be a fav. Roxi loved being outside – riding a bike, skateboarding, playing basketball with friends. Any memory of summertime play outside with friends would be a good one.
You are a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be?
Sal would be ‘Midnight Cool Blue’ – because he is night owl and is always ‘cool’ lol.
Roxi would be ‘Blue Fawn Frenchies’ – because I love those stinkin’ French bulldogs – so cute!
Daisies & Clovers Photography – Website / Facebook / Instagram
