Six of the Top 10 Highest-Rated Women-Owned Small Businesses are Photography Companies
A recent study has revealed an interesting trend in the world of small businesses: six of the top ten highest-rated women-owned small businesses (SMBs) in the US are wedding photography companies. The study, conducted by fintech company OnDeck, analyzed Yelp reviews of 12,789 women-owned SMBs in 431 of the largest American cities, and found that wedding photography companies are leading the way in customer satisfaction.
A Tale Ahead, a Pacifica-based wedding photography business owned by Annie and David Zou, topped the survey with a perfect 100% five-star rating from 391 Yelp reviews. In an interview with OnDeck, Annie shared her journey as a young woman in business, emphasizing the importance of clarity and confidence in building trust with clients.
"As a young woman, I had to learn to lead with clarity," she said. "I reminded myself to project an image of a confident, experienced photographer so that I could earn that level of trust in my clients." Her hard work has paid off, and she now enjoys a more relaxed and casual approach, relying on word-of-mouth and positive reviews to attract clients.
Other wedding photographers who secured top ten spots in the survey include Genevieve Elaine from Virginia (second place) and Vitalia Kotik from New Jersey (third place). However, it's not all about wedding photography. Four of the top ten positions were taken by other women-owned SMBs, such as a florist in Austin, a gym equipment installation company in Oakland, a notarial practice in Belmont, and a wedding venue in Springfield, all boasting five-star ratings.
OnDeck's study was thorough, scouring Yelp for women-owned SMBs in 431 US cities with at least a 4-star rating from 50 reviews. They then manually researched each SMB website to ensure the inclusion of only small businesses. While OnDeck didn't define the criteria for an SMB, the Small Business Administration considers companies with 500 employees or less as SMBs.
The study highlights the success of women-owned photography businesses, particularly in the wedding photography niche. It also invites readers to explore related topics, such as the best cameras and lenses for wedding photography, and provides an introduction to the author, a writer, journalist, and photographer who joined Digital Camera World in 2026.
