For this week’s blog post, I sat down with our owner and founder, Miriam Morales, to ask how she took the leap and created her own company during the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression.

What made you want to start your own company in the middle of a pandemic?

So that's the one that I get a lot but, I think mostly because in previous years I was looking for a way for me to help people propose. I was kind of already doing that with my photography business, it just wasn’t as elaborate. For me, my favorite thing to photograph is couples or proposals but I was looking for a way to be more creative with the display and make it more romantic. Then, at the same time, I had friends that were married or were trying to celebrate anniversaries but they couldn't because everything was closed last year, so I was like hey maybe I can merge both ideas and offer this experience to everyone.

Did you have any prior experience running a business beforehand?

So I started my photography business around 2013. Before that, it was mostly part-time and I also freelanced for a lot of other photography companies, but obviously last year all of that stopped. I was promoting my photography business on my own and I still do. But that's where all of my social media experience came from. And then I also followed a lot of entrepreneurs and coaches that help you grow your business online. I always attended their classes or watched their videos, and listened to their tips. 

 What skills/traits do you have that you think helped you become a business owner?

Well, I think my background in photography helped a lot and I had background experience in events because I photographed weddings. I also consume a lot of media from Pinterest and blogs that showcase amazing weddings that have really trendy themes and decor. That’s how I got my eye for design. And I knew I wanted to take my customers to places in San Diego that photograph really well. So all the picnics that I’ve done have been in places where you can really enjoy the scenery of San Diego. 

What things have helped you grow your business in the middle of a pandemic?

100% social media. A lot of people ask, “How did you promote yourself? Did you spend money on ads?”. And they are surprised when I tell them that I really haven’t. I’ve only paid for ads once back in January but even then it was a very small amount. But I feel like most of it is from engagement from Instagram, word of mouth from clients, and collaborating with other influencers and small businesses on social media. And the one platform that put my business in front of a larger audience was Tiktok. After some of my Tiktoks went viral it pushed my business to the top of the search pages on Google. 

How do you think your company has had an impact on its customers?

Last year there was nothing open until like late September when they started to open restaurants. You couldn’t do anything indoors so with my business I was able to give customers an activity that was compliant with Covid guidelines. I launched San Diego Picnics right when the parks and beaches opened because they were also closed for a long time. And I think people were really itching to get outside after being cooped up in their houses for so long. And even now people are eager to connect with one another whether it's for a special occasion or just because. I think there is a lot of value in the picnic experiences that I offer because everyone is unique and they create lasting memories. Especially during Covid19, I have been able to create a relaxing escape for people to stop, unwind, and reflect with their loved ones. 

 What things have you struggled with in the process?

The demand has been super high. I thought the demand would slow down but it’s been pretty consistent and at the beginning, it was only me doing everything so I needed a lot of help. But now If I ever get overwhelmed or if I know the quality won’t be as good, then I try not to take it on. It's better now because we have more people on board so I'm able to better split up my time. And we're still able to offer great customer service and really good picnic experiences to clients.

Who are your biggest supporters?

Well definitely my family because I live with them, so they have helped a lot with little tasks here and there. As well as close friends because they’ve recommended and promoted me. They’re very vocal in telling people that I launched a service and that’s helped a lot to bring exposure to different people in San Diego.

What is the most rewarding part about owning your own business?

Well, just how much growth it has had. I didn't think I was going to be able to do this full time but right now I'm dedicating all of my time to it. This is nice because when I first started I had a lot of ideas and I feel like I’m slowly getting closer to expanding on them. There's a lot of things that I still want to do. I'm hoping that, if this continues to grow and we're able to add on more members, then I’ll be able to slowly launch those ideas and offer more experiences and increase the quality I have to offer clients.

What is your vision for the company, where do you see it growing?

So definitely want to add on a little bit more details or services in regards to the couples’ proposals. So I want to do a more detailed luxury experience for them and have someone on my team dedicated to just doing that. We just launched group picnics so now that people can get vaccinated and gather in small groups we’ve been getting a lot more inquiries for those. I definitely see San Diego Picnics hosting bigger groups, and hopefully just slowly getting to venture into small dinner parties or even small elopement picnic styles would be awesome too.

What tips do you have for people wanting to start their own business?

1. Definitely research. Social media makes everything seem easy whether that’s photography or business but it really isn't. I highly recommend everyone to research legal laws to make sure you’re conducting your business properly. Also, research your competition and how you can make things better. Definitely take your time. Don't just launch into something without having all the information. 

2.  Find your niche and the specific area that you want to focus on. Because you need to have something unique that you can bring to the table that you think you can add your own flair to. That way, you can be like hey, this is what sets me apart from the rest.

3.  Have a website. That's like a massive mistake that I made at the beginning. I didn't have a website so when my Tiktok videos went viral I wasn't prepared for all the attention.

 Lastly, make sure you have at least one or two people helping you. It’s okay to ask for help. Don’t stretch yourself too thin because you want to make sure that the product or service that you’re offering is of high quality.


If you liked the photos you saw in this blog post, check out Miriam’s website here.