Carrie Anne Gonzalez has over 10 years of experience and is responsible for all design elements, web-based marketing efforts, photography, and implementation of creative strategy at Pandora Marketing. She is skilled in website development, corporate branding, print and web based design, photography and video production. In addition, Carrie Anne has developed over half a dozen extensive surveys and an array of professional service marketing materials.
Carrie Anne is now the co-owner of Pandora Marketing. Prior to Pandora, Carrie Anne was a photographer for the United States Navy, where she was trained in all facets of the arts including portraiture, sports, landscape, studio and news photography, among others. After completing her service, she returned to New York where she continued her education in design and made her way as a freelance designer and photographer.
Carrie Anne is a member of The Art League of Long Island, National Association of Photoshop Professionals and The Heckscher Museum of Art.
What are you working on right now?
We currently have a few smaller projects on the burner, but our main project at Pandora now is catering more toward fine art and away from professional service marketing. We wanted to try something a little more out of the box and fun for us. We are working on a new site catering to wedding, “trash the dress” and boudoir photography. We expect to launch by January 2012.
Where did the idea for Pandora Marketing come from?
Sitting back to back in an office only slightly larger than a cubicle, two semi-opposites decided they were pretty good at what they did when they combined their efforts….so why not start a company? Theresa, my partner, likes to write; I like to design; she likes graphs, charts and budgeting; I like color, imagery and flow; Theresa likes to create a strategic plan and I like to make that plan happen. It just made sense. Together, we are booming with creative energy. So in 2010, we took that energy and let it out of the box.
What does your typical day look like?
I’m typically 30-40 minutes late coming into the office, cup of tea in hand, toting about 3 bags – one very small purse, one messenger bag which holds 3 journals, at least 2 professional magazines, my mail (which I never have time to go through at home) and who knows what else and my camera bag. The rest of my day is pretty much off the cuff. Bouncing around from project to project, going over ideas I may have gotten the night before, setting up for a food shooting for random cookbooks or menus or planning this weekend’s boudoir shots.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I’m still wondering that myself. It just kind of happens. Sometimes when I am done with a project, I take a step back and I think, “wow, did I create that?” It’s crazy. An idea is presented to me, or I will get one, and I’ll sit on it for a few hours or days. Then I’ll pop up and start writing and designing in my journal. Within a few short weeks a product is born, a story is told and an idea is solidified.
Three trends that excite you?
In the design world, Brazil becoming the new design super power is amazing to me and I am excited to see everything coming from there.
In the photography world, I’m amused and excited about the new “trash the wedding dress” trend happening as well as the “boudoir” trend. Both lend themselves to some great, fun and inspiring photography. It allows people to step out of their shells and be seen in a different way.
What is the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I was 15 and worked at Subway. I learned that I definitely did not want any part of the food service industry – unless it’s photographing it.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t do anything differently. I went into the military right after high school, I learned a trade that would stay with me for the rest of my life and when I was honorably discharged, I went back to college and did very well. I guess if I absolutely had to do something differently, it would be to embrace myself as an artist sooner instead of fighting it.
What is the one thing you did/do as an entrepreneur that you would do over and over again and recommend everybody else do?
Take a nap. Seriously, if you get tired, take a nap, recoup, get up and keep on moving.
Tell us a secret…
Pay attention to your dreams at night.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Don’t undercharge for your work and don’t take on clients that are going to completely stress you out. Money is irrelevant compared to happiness and peace of mind. Don’t answer your phone on the weekends and take time for yourself.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
[amazon_link id=”0061122416″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Alchemist[/amazon_link] by Paulo Coelho. You’ll have this book for life and read it many times over, each time taking something else from it.
If you weren’t working on Pandora, what would you be doing?
Taking a nap and waking up with more ideas.
Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?
- Pandora Marketing – because that’s us.
- Theresa Weston – because she’s hilarious.
- HOW Magazine – great ideas.
What are your three favorite online tools and what do you love about them?
- DaFont.com – Always different and creative fonts.
- WhatTheFont! – Sometimes a client requests a specific font from a piece they had designed prior to hiring me and there are times when the name escapes me or I am just slightly off from what I think it is. This website allows me to scan the font in, then it assesses it and tells me what it is. Great tool!
- Living Social and Groupon – Just awesome deals. The life of an artist does not include frivolous spending. These sites allow us to enjoy ourselves on a budget. 🙂
Who is your hero?
I don’t really have one. There are many people who I admire – Frida, Diego, Weston, Klimt and Dorothea Lange. Just a ton of people really.
Connect:
Pandora Marketing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pandora-Marketing-Consultants/149517348437657
Pandora Marketing on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/PandoraMkting
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.