Hawthorn Woods couple launch cutting-edge photography business
An interview with Gail Horn, who owns Destiny Photographic Art with her husband, Dale.
Q: Describe your business. What do you do?
A: We are a husband and wife photographic team, with emphasis on unique upscale cutting-edge photography on metal/aluminum. We hope to sell to the general public as well as galleries, interior designers, etc. We also offer donations of our work to some charities, and we are currently offering a percentage of our sales for a period of 6 months to a few charities such as BCureful and Below The Belt. To further explain, I think our home page describes this best: “We offer upscale, cutting edge photographic images on metal. Unique wall decor for the home or office. Gritty city scenes. Surfboards among the weeds at a simple roadside stand along a narrow winding road on Maui. Waves splashing on the black sand shoreline. A lone piece of driftwood in the smooth wet sand. Hip. Contemporary. Clean. Sharp, crisp images with brilliant color. Not ‘what everyone else has.’”
Q: Tell us a little more about the art on metal.
A: Photographs on metal emphasize color, sharpness and clarity. Special photo enhancements help accentuate the metal characteristics to formulate unique art while preserving the subject’s natural beauty. The metal’s durability surpasses any other type of printed artwork or photograph. The lightweight metal print extends approximately one inch from the wall, creating more dimension. No frame is necessary, presenting a clean, contemporary look. We also offer gallery canvas wraps, thin wraps, metallic finish prints, and a variety of other interesting surface choices.
In addition, we can provide custom verses incorporated into the photograph. Verses can be added to the wall mounted pictures, as well as an assortment of jewelry, memento boxes, plaques, business card holders, key holders, etc.
Q: What made you start your business?
A: We were downtown on Christmas Day. We decided it would be nice to take some pictures downtown with the lights, etc. I took some of the “L” that turned out very well. Dale had been offering his portraits on metal, primarily to high school seniors. When I saw all of the metal of the “L”, I was curious as to how it would look if we printed the photos on metal. As a thank you for taking me downtown, I had some printed up for him as a gift. They looked amazing. It totally brought out the texture. I showed the final product to some people who told me, “you need to sell this stuff,” so that’s what we are trying to do.
Q: What has been the most difficult obstacle in running or starting a small business?
A: Between working full time with our own separate jobs, myself at Eagle Test and Dale with his own Portrait/Wedding business (www.dalehornphoto.com) we don’t have a lot of time. It is also very expensive to spend the money up front to have enough of a variety of samples printed up to show customers. It can also be discouraging when you especially see how interested a business is in the product, but they are having financial difficulties themselves and they aren’t even sure if they will still be in business in the near future, so they don’t want to make any commitments. It is very easy to get your hopes way up, only to have them shot down. Today’s economy doesn’t help, but what we have is so cool we really are determined to make it work
Q:What do you enjoy most about operating your business?
A: Working together. We have been married for nearly 27 years, but we still have such great times together. Taking pictures of cool things for hours at a time and then seeing how they turn out. Finding that one “perfect picture” that makes it all worthwhile and seeing people’s reactions when they see our work.
Q: Is this what you pictured yourself doing when you were young?
A: Dale wanted to be a photographer since he was young and he worked for a small studio in Arlington Heights before starting his own business in 1988. I always wanted to be a photographer, but my parents shot the idea down, saying that, “women don’t do that,” that if I did, I’d be “a starving artist.” Dale and I met in 1984, so it was pretty funny that I came home and told my parents that I had met the man of my dreams and that he was a photographer. After all these years, I finally am getting the chance to pursue this dream with my soul mate. That’s why we named the business Destiny because it was our destiny to do this together.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: Worrying about making it and the financing it takes to get it rolling the way we need to. We really want this to work, and we feel that what we have to offer is exciting, but it can be expensive and discouraging at times. I also keep brainstorming, trying to come up with new exciting ideas and how to find more contacts, when I should be sleeping.
Q: If you could give one tip to a rookie business owner, what would it be?
A: Don’t get discouraged — things don’t happen overnight. Good things take time and are worth the wait. And, don’t give up on your dreams. Everyone has a destiny — and if you find yours, pursue it. If you have a partner, work together to make it happen and it will be so worthwhile when it does. My philosophy: A long hard journey traveled together is far more rewarding than a simple shortcut encountered by one.
-Kim Mikus
Ÿ Every Monday we cover a local suburban business. We want to hear about yours. Contact kmikus@dailyherald.com.
Destiny Photographic Art
42 Park View Lane, Hawthorn Woods, IL 60047
Owners: Dale and Gail Horn
Year business started: December, 2011
Web address: www.destinyphotographicart.com