Running a Business as a Student

Story by: Ryan Moriarty

 

A part-time job is common for a lot of students these days. Simply taking classes isn’t always sufficient with extra curricular expectations rising and internships becoming more common place for students. But some are taking it a step further, owning their own business, while still in school. 

Cocoa Laney is a Junior at the University of Montevallo and has owned her own small photography business, Cocoa L. Photography, for the past five years.

“It just kinda developed from a hobby, to an obsession, to a career,” Laney said. 

Cocoa working at her computer.

Laney got her start in photography with her mom’s point and shoot camera, which eventually lead to charging for photos in early high school. After spending a summer taking photos in Rosemary Beach for the summer, Cocoa knew she had found her ‘thing’.

“I started doing it, and I realized I could make this into a career,” Laney said. 

A budding business and a growing clientele of over 100 different sessions this past year, college wasn’t entirely a necessary choice for Laney.  She says college offered new experiences though, and provided a layer of credibility she thinks will help her. 

“You build life skills, and just learn things that you can apply indirectly to being a professional. But can you make it work without one, of course,” Laney said. 

Laney says that being a student and an entrepreneur at the same time does make things harder at times. 

Cocoa taking photos of her friend Dagny Mullins.

“I do feel kinda conflicted about it a lot of times. I take myself seriously, but then on the other hand, I dont take myself seriously at all. It’s kinda funny saying ‘I’m a professional photographer’ when I’m also a junior in college.” 

The intimidation of being a young business owner isn’t easy but Laney says it also helps drive her to improve her business. 

Check out Cocoa’s website or Facebook Page to see some of her work.