Sharing the âFiaFiaâ...getting to know Gracie Setu
"Fiafia Art Photography"
This week we Spotlight Gracie Setu who is a talented Niue photographer and creative.
Fiafia Art Photography was born out of Gracieâs love for capturing memories which can be passed down to generations to come. Gracie started her business part-time in 2017, and decided to make it her full-time gig in June of this year.
Fiafia, meaning âjoyâ in the Vagahau Niue (Niue language), Gracie aimâs to bring joy into peopleâs lives through her photography and art. Anyone she works with will leave with a feeling that they are welcomed into the family because that is what Gracie has learnt from her own family â itâs all about connecting with one another and cherishing those moments you share.
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âArt is a reminder that it is everywhere; it is up to me,how I can incorporate it in my photography and joyfully share that with everyone I work with.â
For Gracie, it’s been a challenge during the Global Covid19 Pandemic climate of not being able to fully do what she loves, which is to photograph anyone, anywhere. Since then, she has recently extended her service offering to include social media content creation and product photography.
When asked what advice she has for others thinking of starting a business, Gracie explains, âInvest in yourself, invest in your business, invest in a coach or mentor â learn from someone who has done it before you.â
Gracie serves as a reminder that life is full of surprises, and if she can overcome any barriers, you can too!
Getting more behind the lens...
What inspired you to set up your own business: Being able to get creative in areas that I desire, work in my own desired times and with clients that align with my values.
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Where did you get your entrepreneurial spirit? Â Are your parentâs entrepreneurs? My parents were/are hardworking people; mum is a very talented creative and successful individual who loves to weave hats and mats and also had a Sewing business. Today she only does small orders for families and friends. Dad was a successful and small business family man, who worked on the land to provide for his family and before he past, he had a cement truck business. His motto was and now passed on to us his kids âDo it once and do it wellâ
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What was your key driving force in becoming an entrepreneur? Knowing my WHY, knowing there is more to me within and perhaps my journey can motivate other Pasifika individuals to live out their dreams. It doesnât have to be difficult, do not complicate your decision. It can be as simple as trusting yourself and your abilities. Also finding a mentor or coach you trust, they will help and guide your strengths and weaknesses, they can enhance and heighten you and your abilities.
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Where did the idea of your business derive from? From my family, creating and capturing moments in time. Having photos with loved ones before they are ill is a beautiful gift to leave for generations to come.
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How did you come up with the name for your Business? Fiafia mean joy in the Vagahau Niue (Niue language) whether I can sprinkle a little bit of joy in someoneâs day that is my biggest WIN. For anyone who works with me, I love seeing them leaving feeling joyful and happy. Art is reminder that it is everywhere; it is up me, how I can incorporate it in my photography and joyfully share that with everyone i work with.
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Considering the competition in todayâs business world, how would you highlight your Business competitive advantages? What makes it stand out of the others out there? By staying in my own lane and knowing that people will work with me because they align with me. What I bring to their lives with photography adds value to their own. The business values I have speak volume in my work, grounded, quality, passion to name a few.
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Who is the one entrepreneur to be your greatest example and inspiration? I have a squad, count them as ONE!! ï Â
The powerful supportive women and men I have in my life, they have individually shaped me to who i am today.
What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule? Have a plan and follow it â this is where discipline comes in, therefore i become more consistent in my schedule. There are many areas that I have discovered; there is more to you then what you say or not say. Having the discipline to show up consistently for yourself and your business. Plan your week on a Sunday, do things in bite sizes throughout the week, plan your next day the night before and follow your own schedule. Discipline is the key to consistency. (No jokes it is my song i sing and i even miss many verses some days, new day new attitude though đ Consistency and discipline are my mates, they donât always show up, although you gotta keep trying and keep at it.
What would your advice be to anyone thinking of starting up their own business? Investment. Invest in yourself, invest in your business, invest in a coach or mentor â learn from someone has done it before you therefore they can 10x your goals; you will not have to spend years doing it on your own. You cannot do it on your own, trust me i tried, you will learn that people come to your life at the right time to teach you a lesson; for personal or business growth, it is up to you to change. CHANGE YOUR LANGUAGE, yourself talk makes a huge difference, remember it all starts with YOU, be a kind to yourself.
What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in? Self-care, self love, self humour, self talk. It all starts with you, ainât nobody gonna do it for you. Rest and always give gratitude to God and Self. Celebrate often; small wins are the greatest, be your own cheerleader, congratulate yourself often, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Give gratitude often throughout your day.
What sacrifices have you had to make since becoming an entrepreneur? I have to sacrifice my time for rituals for self; in order for to run a successful business I have to make sure I am successful in my mind, body and soul. For example meditation, praying and gratitude journaling first soul work I do every single day. Â Take care of you first before any emails or social media.
What do you enjoy most about what you do? Empowering others to be who they are and believing in their dreams. I love and enjoy meeting new families; at events I get this opportunity to meet the eldest to the youngest members of the families, it brings me so much joy. Love meeting new entrepreneurs and business owners, I get to photograph them and share their stories.
The Global Covid19 Pandemic has affected Businesses across the globe. Has this affected your Business & How? Do you feel there is enough support out there for MSMEâs in your region? What support do you think is needed & most important? Since photography is service based, not being able to be out there to photograph anyone is hard. Fortunately the company I was working for was very helpful and very supportive. Since going full time, I have had to pivot and take on new different offerings in my business; offering social media content creation and product photography.
Whatâs the biggest thing you struggle with as an entrepreneur? Mental health, we are facing it differently, feeling anxious from time to time. That is ok too and knowing how to deal with these emotions also not afraid to ask who and when to ask for help, it has helped me enormously knowing it is ok to feel these but seek help from God, coaches, family and friends, you are not alone so reach out to someone you trust. Everyone close to you offer you different comfort and know you differently so reach out to them.
What do you do on a daily basis to grow as an entrepreneur? Give gratitude to God, myself and the life I have, listening to podcast, self help books and mostly do my best to FOLLOW THE PLAN and schedule of the day! Each day comes different vibes, although what i do in the morning determines how my day will play out.
What do you wish you knew before you started your business? Money, having a healthy relationship with money. Confidence in yourself and to charge your worth. To be consistent with anything and everything you do. Having discipline to do what you say you would do!
What best motivates you? Being in nature is so magical; it is up to you to see that magic though. A day photographing products or with clients, you want quietness, simplicity and there is abundance. Lay down outside in nature, watch the clouds, count the leaves, and just breathe.Families and friends motive me, always make an effort to connect with them. Playing with children keep me young at mind and they remind you that life is simple, whether it doesnât work the first time keep trying until you get it. You will get annoyed and frustrated before asking (or crying) for help.
How have your entrepreneurial motivations changed since you first started? It has has changed so much, 2 years ago my goal is happiness. What is happiness to you? My goal now is to be mindful, live life mindfully from the words and visual images i use, speak and think daily from the moment i wake up, in my mind, to the actions i take, this makes a huge difference to the bigger pictures and goals. Do things in bite sizes too, eg you bite and eat an apple, you donât swallow it, so yeah bite sizes.
How Do You Manage Stress? Morning rituals, breathe â meditate, to be in a state of stillness and focus only on my breathing. I have a few alarms throughout the day to remind me to breathe from my diaphragmatic space.
Great breathing technique from my coach, itâs box breathing. Inhale for 4seconds, hold for 4seconds, exhale for 4 seconds and hold for 4seconds. Repeat as often as you need until you feel a sense of calmness.
Do you have a favourite quote? Â I have 3 actually âdo it once and do it properlyâ â my dadÂ
âI amâ Marissa Peer, what comes after those 2 words are powerfulâchange the conception of yourself and you will automatically change the world in which you live â The Power of AwarenessÂ
âbe kind to yourself
