1851

Laura Novak Meyer never intended to break into the franchising industry. In fact, she first launched her concept&mdash;<a href="https://littlenest.leadpages.co/new-own-a-studio-aug16-leadbox/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-encouraging-franchisees-to-be-creative-has-helped-laura-novak-meyer-establish-a-unique-culture-across-little-nest-portraits-system-11540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little Nest Portraits</a>&mdash;as a way to find balance between her personal and professional lives. Recognizing that in order to settle down and have a family of her own she needed to leave the demanding travel schedule of a photographer behind, Meyer decided to use her experience in a different capacity. Instead of traveling the globe to shoot high-end events including weddings and family portraits for well-known athletes, she would bring a boutique photography experience to the masses.

The first Little Nest Portraits studio opened its doors for business in a Philadelphia shopping center. Designed with families in mind, the brand strives to create a luxury photography experience that&rsquo;s more personal than traditional studio sessions. That&rsquo;s why its stores are modeled after five-star hotels and boast amenities like built-in play areas for kids and a relaxing refreshment area for parents&mdash;Meyer set out on a mission to set a new standard for the experience that comes with shooting maternity, infant and family portraits.

Because of its unique positioning within the photography industry, it wasn&rsquo;t long until customers were asking for a Little Nest Portraits studio to open up closer to their homes. Not wanting to have too many employees under corporate management, Meyer ultimately decided that franchising was the best way to grow. But she didn&rsquo;t want her business model to lose its one of a kind experience. So she decided to be a different type of leader and franchisor.

&ldquo;I think that in adopting a business model&mdash;especially in the franchising industry&mdash;you can either choose to be cookie cutter or you can build a strong network of people around you. We knew right off the bat that we wanted to go that second route,&rdquo; said Meyer. &ldquo;Our top priority has always been to bring other passionate leaders into our system. That way we can continue to find the twist that every Little Nest Portrait location should bring to its individual community.&rdquo;

That approach to building Little Nest Portraits&rsquo; system has been instrumental in its development initiatives so far. With five locations currently open for business and 11 more that are currently in various stages of development&mdash;including three grand openings expected to take place this month&mdash;it&rsquo;s clear that aspiring entrepreneurs are receptive to Meyer&rsquo;s flexible business ownership opportunity.

&ldquo;As the founder and leader behind an emerging franchise concept, my goal is to create a system with enough structure that our owners find value in being a part of a proven system that can be replicated. But I don&rsquo;t want to take the fun out of being an entrepreneur. Our franchisees are building a business that they need to be able to relate back to their local community, which is why we encourage them to bring their own ideas and expertise to the table. So far, that spark of individuality within our franchising system has created a supportive and fun culture that we&rsquo;re planning to expand as we open up new studios,&rdquo; Meyer said.

Through its ongoing development initiatives in cities that span the entire country, Little Nest Portraits is aiming to establish a strong national presence in the months and years to come. And while that nationwide expansion is creating momentum expected to set the brand up for long-term success, Meyer says there&rsquo;s another part of being the leader behind Little Nest Portraits that&rsquo;s even more rewarding.

&ldquo;The most rewarding thing about running this business is watching other people realize their dreams as entrepreneurs. It&rsquo;s incredibly inspiring to see our franchisees thriving professionally while still having time for their families and personal life,&rdquo; said Meyer. &ldquo;There aren&rsquo;t enough companies out there that embrace the needs that people have in order to be truly successful. That&rsquo;s why finding the right balance between work and home is such an essential part of Little Nest Portraits&rsquo; business model. I think that adopting that flexible leadership style is a big part of what&rsquo;s given us the gift of success.&rdquo;

How Encouraging Franchisees to Be Creative Has Helped Laura Novak Meyer Establish a Unique Culture Across Little Nest Portraits’ System

1851 Franchise

By rejecting the traditional notion of a cookie cutter franchise, Meyer is building a strong team of passionate business owners.

how-encouraging-franchisees-to-be-creative-has-helped-laura-novak-meyer-establish-a-unique-culture-across-little-nest-portraits-system

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Unlocking the Potential: How Much Can You Earn as an Onigilly Franchisee?

unlocking-the-potential-how-much-can-you-earn-as-an-onigilly-franchisee

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno 

Grease, Grit, and Growth: DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno, Nevada

grease-grit-and-growth-dewitts-ignite-new-chapter-for-filta-environmental-kitchen-solutions-in-reno-nevada

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-50 Unit-Wendy's-Franchisee-June-2025

Why This 50 Unit Wendy’s Franchisee Is Betting on Layne’s for His Next Big Move

wendys-franchisee-expands-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Jim Balis Talks Growth, ROI and the Future of Fast Casual on “Rock My Restaurant”

capitalsprings-jim-balis-talks-growth-roi-and-the-future-of-fast-casual-on-rock-my-restaurant

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Carol DeNembo — Chief Marketing Officer, Mountain Mike’s Pizza

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-carol-denembo-chief-marketing-officer-mountain-mikes-pizza

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Missy Maio - Gong Cha - Top Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Missy Maio — Vice President of Marketing and Global Partnerships, Gong Cha

franchise-marketing-leader-missy-maio-gong-cha

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

petbar Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

petbar-franchise-deep-dive

Design with outline of three houses and people working on laptops within them

Top 10 Low-Cost Home-Based or Mobile Franchises for 2025

low-cost-home-based-mobile-franchises

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Juan & Whitney Fernandez & family, BIGGBY COFFEE logo

From Chiropractic to Coffee: These BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchisees Are Brewing Something New in Troy, Ohio 

biggby-coffee-franchise-coming-to-troy-ohio

How Encouraging Franchisees to Be Creative Has Helped Laura Novak Meyer Establish a Unique Culture Across Little Nest Portraits’ System

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS