Headshot Session with Creative Entrepreneur Amy Marks-McGee

I recently had a headshot session with creative entrepreneur Amy Marks-McGee. It had been years since she had headshots taken and was ready to update her website and social media profile photos. Amy chose the Basic Session and because the weather was great that day we were able to do both indoor and outdoor shots.

I love photographing creative entrepreneurs and find so much value in hearing their story. Here’s a peek into Amy and her business. I’m sure you’ll find it inspiring!

Amy, tell us about your business and what you do…

My business is Trendincite LLC and I specialize in fragrance marketing, flavor marketing, and trend forecasting. I’m a marketer, researcher, and writer. My customers are fragrance and flavor suppliers, consumer packaged goods manufacturers, and market research firms.

Sounds interesting! Can you tell us more about fragrance and flavor marketing?

Trendincite LLC identifies and analyzes fragrance and flavor marketing trends within consumer packaged goods to be proactive rather than reactive to the changing consumer. I identify patterns across a variety of industries and research lifestyle trends to generate new product ideas. The company’s core values are to engage all five senses, capture inspiration from unexpected places, and make the creative process enjoyable.

What services do your provide with Trendincite LLC?

• Trend Excursions: Guided, custom sensory trend excursions designed to engage all five senses, stimulate creativity, and inspire new product ideas.
• Marketing Presentations & Trend Reports: Custom food, beverage, and fragrance marketing, trend presentations and reports based on client-specific needs.
• Food, Beverage & Fragrance Market Research & Reports: Custom primary and secondary fragrance, food, and beverage market research and analysis.
• Fragrance & Flavor Writer: Professional business writing services such as ghostwriting, branded content, newsletters, blog posts, ezines, and press releases, specifically designed for clients who work within or service the fragrance & flavor industry.

Can you explain a bit about your entrepreneurial journey and how you got to where you are now?

I have a BFA in advertising and graphic design. In art school, I knew I was never going to be a fine artist and realized I enjoyed figuring out who the target audience was, why people would want to buy a product and how the benefits of a product should be communicated. This was all marketing. I fell into the Fragrance & Flavor industry and spent my 15-year corporate marketing career with three leading suppliers.

I had always wanted to have my own business, but I did not know what kind. After seven years of working in fragrance marketing, I went back to school for an MBA in Marketing Management in the evenings. At each company, I would outgrow my positions and get bored with my work.

In my last corporate position, I was pregnant with my first child and my priorities changed. Life had changed; I moved to Riverdale, became a mom, and decided to launch Trendincite, LLC. I was fortunate to have a supportive husband with a steady income and career as a DOE English teacher. If I did not launch my business then, when would I do it? What did I have to lose? I had no overhead and could work from home. I took the risk and knew I could go back to corporate if it did not work out.

March 2022 marked 16 years of owning Trendincite LLC.

How do you get new ideas for your business?

I realized that my best ideas for new fragrances or products did not happen during traditional 9 to 5 work hours. They happened when I was least expecting it and was not trying to solve a problem. My best ideas happened when I was traveling, eating out, experiencing a cultural event, or playing with my children.

What do you enjoy most about what you do? 

I launched Trendincite LLC to get individuals out of the office to help inspire and encourage creativity for new fragrance and flavor product ideas. The curated trend excursions are experiential and focus on smell and taste where customers visit unique stores, boutiques, restaurants, and cultural events in New York City. Trend excursions are my passion and one of the many services I offer. If I’m not out and about, I’m at my desk researching or writing about new products, services, and trends.

The fragrance and flavor industry is constantly changing. I love to develop, watch, and report on the evolution of products. Every time you think a store shelf is too crowded and cannot possibly fit another product, a new product makes its way onto the shelf. There’s always room for a new product, new trend, new application, new fragrance, new flavor, or new technology.

How does creativity play a role in what you do?

Creativity plays an important role in how trends are interpreted and the connections made between outside factors and their influence. I enjoy research and organizing the data and product examples into a final product such as a PowerPoint presentation, trend article, or blog post.

Any tips for women wanting to start their own creative business? 

Often entrepreneurs put off starting their own business because they are waiting for the right time. However, there is always something going on and there is not necessarily a right time. Many people have great ideas but bringing them to fruition is a different story. I encourage women who want to start their own creative business to invest in themselves and take the risk and launch.

Where can people find out more about you and your business? 

• Website: https://trendincite.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/trendincite
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-marks-mcgee-b352a34

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Amy’s Basic Headshot Session included 3 final images. These are the three she chose.

We were able to get a variety of looks which will serve the different needs she has in her business.

Amy is already putting them to use by updating her social media profiles and keeping it consistent across all platforms.

How long has it been since you updated your headshot? If you’re ready for something new, check out the headshot sessions I currently offer.