Tim Harty, The Business Times

Sara Kiser, founder of Grand Junction photography business Kiser Captures, branched out with another business and officially opened Blue Spruce Marketing Co. on Jan. 30.

Both businesses are based from her home.

The new venture offers comprehensive marketing services to businesses in Grand Junction and the surrounding area, providing social media strategy, website development, brand development, public relations, advertising and more.

Kiser, who is 31 years old, got her start in photography 10 years ago when she started Kiser Captures in North Dakota.

“What started as a hobby in photography quickly turned into something more,” she wrote in an email interview. “I began in North Dakota, where photographers were in short supply, and soon found myself being asked to take on more projects. As my portfolio grew, I expanded from shooting small family portraits to weddings, commercial construction photography and other commercial work.

“My sons, Jack and James, have always been the heart of my photography and the driving force behind my inspiration.”

Kiser also has 10 years of experience in digital marketing.

“Creativity has always been a driving force in my life, whether it’s through writing books or creating short films,” she wrote. “One day, a friend asked if I’d ever built a website. With my ‘I can do anything’ mindset, I said I hadn’t, but I’d give it a shot. That moment led to me diving into web design, social media content and SEO for various companies.”

She has another skill set that isn’t being used now, but Kiser said she spent 13 years in the dental field, helping dentists worldwide grow their practices.

Her journey to the Grand Valley, she said, came from encouragement by her best friend, Sonja Lueras, whom she met in Grand Junction.

“We were both working at a dental office that didn’t align with our goals,” Kiser said, “and one day she asked me when I was going to take the leap and become my own boss. She saw my potential, and it lit a fire in me. That year, we both walked away, and that’s when Kiser Captures officially came to life.”

And now Blue Spruce Marketing Co. gives Kiser another outlet to use her creativity.

She’s flying solo at the moment, although her 9-year-old son Jack “has been a great little helper. Later this year, she plans to hire two employees.

Kiser said she already has done marketing work for several local businesses, including Monumental Dental, Glass Doctor and Diamond Realty. She said she helped them increase their online visibility, attract new customers and build stronger connections with their audiences.

“I’m incredibly proud of the results we’ve been able to achieve with our early clients,” Kiser said. “Whether it’s driving traffic to a website, improving social media engagement or boosting brand awareness through effective PR, I’m passionate about delivering measurable results for every client we work with.”