Meet Naomi Aïde and Anca Castillo of PhotoCaide in Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Aïde and Anca Castillo.

Naomi and Anca, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Our story started last year in a cubical of all places! We loved sharing stories and pictures of our kiddos on our breaks at work. One day we were chatting and acknowledged how blessed we both were and wanted to create a way to give back to the community. Our love of taking pictures of our kiddos kick-started our brainstorming session. Immediately we knew we wanted to provide a way for families to get affordable, adorable, and stress-free pictures with their loved ones. We quickly got to work using props and displays that we owned and pieced together other objects we found or had or was donated to us and then created a work of art! We set up three beautiful displays, posted dates and times and were so excited to give back to the community in a such a fun way.

Our grand opening came and we were ecstatic. We got all set up and sat there and waited and waited and waited some more. We stayed positive and we had 1-2 families show up. As we brainstormed new ways to reach the community, we remained positive and were not willing to throw in the towel. A few weeks later, we prepared three Christmas displays. Once we posted pictures, prices and times on social media, we immediately went into overwhelmed mode…but in a great way! We had people messaging consistently all through the night. Without those clients who believed in our displays and faithfully come each holiday season thereafter, we would not be here where we are today. Thanks to our PhotoCaide friends who support us and allow us to be apart of their family memories and moments during the holiday seasons.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We believe that success always encounters struggles and that is the beauty of it all. As much as we would love to devote all our time to PhotoCaide, we both work full-time jobs as well as have two little children under the age of three which keeps us super busy. We have allowed this precious time with our children to teach them how to work hard, build relationships with one another and capture all the moments in the displays, even those “beautiful” tantrums that we have learned to embrace.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
PhotoCaide is a stress-free environment that encourages families to capture their loved one’s smiles, sweet moments as well as in the moment shots. We set up holiday-themed displays and let our clients have access to take as many pictures as they would like with their own camera or that of their photographer’s. We are not professional photographers, however we love helping take the picture so the whole family can be captured with the display. Every family needs a family picture hung in their home and we take pride that we are able to assist in such an affordable way! We remain the best price in the valley and that is what sets us apart from the others. Another thing that sets us apart is our free day for military this Christmas season – December 1st!

What were you like growing up?
Anca grew up in Romania and moved to Alaska as a school girl. Not having a whole lot, being resourceful is a skill the whole family perfected. Anca was always very creative doing things like dance, theater, and art which ignited her love of DIY. Her passion for art and DIY is something she hopes to pass down to her kids so they know anything is possible with a little imagination. Naomi grew up in Small Town, AZ as the 5th of 8 children and had her first entrepreneur gig as a six year old. She was responsible for buying her own school clothes and had to figure out a way to make money during the summer. Her mother encouraged her and her siblings to go outside at night with a flashlight and collect nightcrawlers, also known as worms! They sold them to fishermen the following morning. This taught her how to work hard for the essential things of life. She wants to teach her own children how to work hard to earn the things they need.

Pricing:

• One display = $15
• Two displays = $25
• Three displays = $30

Contact Info:

• Phone: 4804660869
• Email: Photocaide@gmail.com
• Instagram: PhotoCaide
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/photocaide

Image Credit:
JB and Anca Castillo

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