IN PROFILE: Elena Arms
BUSINESS: Pahrump Photography
AGE: 42
BACKGROUND: “I grew up in New York on Manhattan. My mother put an old 110-camera into my hands at age 12 and that’s when I started taking pictures. It has been a passion of mine all my life. I spent some time in the U.S. Coast Guard and that is where I met my husband. My specialty is taking family photos and that started when I had my kids. I was never satisfied with the standard JC Penney type photos and that’s when I decided to do them myself. I got a degree in photography in 2004 and opened my first studio in 2011. ”
FIRST JOB: “I worked as a bike messenger in New York City.”
YEARS IN BUSINESS: “I have been in business for almost four years.”
PERSONAL: “I love to Salsa dance, but I also love spending time with my kids. I have three kids ages 14, 15 and 18.”
BUSINESS CLIMATE: “The business climate for photography is great if you are willing to work at it. To do my job you have to love people. Also there is a lot of potential for those who are willing to put in the work. Everyone can buy a digital camera, but the good photographers are the ones willing to learn new things and can stick with it. If you can do all those things, business will come to you.”
