the rustic cowgirl
LIFE OF CHARLIE KEEGAN
Rustic Cowgirl Design was established in 2018, just a few short years after Charlie Keegan Photography was started. At the age of 14, my passion and love for photography and creativity started flourishing and since then I have become a well-known photographer capturing annual large events, weddings and much more.
I never thought that my small hobby would become so big and as such, I now have a waiting list for photography sessions and am completely booked out on most weekends. Just this year, I introduced graphic design services to my photography business and changed the business name to ‘Charlie Keegan Creative’.
This diversity allows me to incorporate both my photographs and graphic designs, opening my creative mind to more challenging things which I love doing.
It always makes my day to receive a message or email from new and returning clients wanting to create something new or update their logos. To be able to assist them is just a good feeling knowing that they are happy with the outcomes and that I have helped them. I have always loved the process of photography - from planning the shoot to during, editing the images and sending off the final products. I am thrilled to be able to capture someone else’s memories which they can cherish forever.
It has always been hard to juggle, with school and currently Grade 12, but I think the positive thing that I have gotten out of running several businesses that I have learned to prioritise my school work, photography and Rustic Cowgirl Designs without getting overwhelmed and leaving things to the last minute.
Not quite one year ago, I put my love of western fashion and creativity into my second business, Rustic Cowgirl Designs. In the short 10 months of opening Rustic Cowgirl Designs, I have come further than I have ever thought I could, having over 250 orders placed through my online website, over 2000 likes on Facebook and nearly 3000 on Instagram.
It really has been a dream come true being able to combine my love for western fashion through photo shoots with models wearing my accessories for Rustic Cowgirl Designs and being involved with so many other Australian boutiques and well-known brands stocking my products in 5 stores Australia wide.
Whilst it does all seem like sunshine and rainbows, at the age of 16, I have two successful businesses, am completing Year 12 at boarding school, a school-based apprenticeship in Hairdressing and live 4 hours from home and my family. It has been a long road getting to where I am now.
From completing assessments late at night to packaging and shipping orders early in the morning, hand delivering orders to local customers and editing images in my bed well past my bed time, it has been hard but very enjoyable work!
When I ponder about owning a business, no matter who you are or where you are based in the world, it's about your determination and confidence in what you want to achieve and set your goals to reach them.
I am not saying it is going to be easy but the feeling of achieving your goals will give you the strength to keep going.
Strive for what you want your businesses reputation to be and known for and don’t forget to take a moment or two to sit back and appreciate what you have created, be proud of it and then set another goal or ten and work hard to achieve them.
We can all achieve what we strive for, you just need to put your mind to it, plan accordingly and anything is possible. If a 16-year-old girl who has grown up in a small town 60km from Roma Queensland, can build herself two businesses then anyone can achieve their goals if they put their mind to it.
“Anyone can achieve heir goals if they put
their mind to it””