Rising Stars: Meet Melissa Stewardson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Stewardson.

Hi Melissa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
A little over ten years ago, I was home with my young daughters, loving being a stay-at-home but also missing the workforce. I missed the interaction with other adults, keeping my brain stimulated and growing. And I wanted the opportunity to help contribute financially for my family. I knew I didn’t want to go back to my full-time job as a project manager and do the 8-5 days. I also didn’t want to leave my kids in daycare or with a nanny. I wanted a job with flexible hours that would allow me to still be the primary caregiver to my children.

So I started to think about how I could make that happen. I have always had a creative gene and loved taking photos of my own kids so one day, I decided I wanted to try and become a photographer. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it happen, but once I made that decision, I put every spare minute I had into making that idea a reality. I had an entry-level digital camera, kit lens; and a computer. I started reading anything I could about photography, mostly online and watching YouTube videos and taking lots of photos of my kids.

After I purchased some editing software and figured out how to shoot in manual mode, I gained the confidence to start asking friends if I could take photos of their kids. From there, I started building a portfolio and working on the business side of things. I bought a business start-up book, better lenses, business cards, etc. and I built a Facebook page and blog. After a few months, I decided it was time to officially launch my business; Melissa Stewardson Photography!

When I first started a lot of my clients were friends, but gradually with referrals and marketing on social media, my business started to grow. And now here I am, ten years later with my own studio, website and profitable thriving business. It’s been a lot of hard work and late nights, but it’s all been worth it!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I definitely had some bumps along the way. I learned pretty quickly that having a good contract was essential. I got burned on a few things early on in my career and it wasn’t pretty. It’s also imperative to update your contract as your business evolves and grows. I also had to realize that there are some clients that will never be happy and you have to not take that too personally, but that is SO hard. Some clients may not be your ideal clients, but you don’t know who they are until you have to experience dealing with one. You learn from it and move on. Lastly, you have to learn to say no to things you don’t want to do. I know I am not an event photographer…it’s just not my jam.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a portrait photographer who specializes in newborn, children, family and senior photography. I have my own studio space and I also shoot on location in outdoor settings. I am known for my creative and unique newborn sessions, perfect combination of lifestyle and posed sessions and the warm backlit glow of my golden hour sessions. I am most proud of having my own studio, seeing repeat clients year after year for 10 years and turning a profit since my first year in business. I think what sets me apart from others is client communication and swift customer service, as well as my ability to work well with kids. Lastly, I think people connect with my style of photography.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
There a few characteristics I think are most important to my success. First, I am by nature a very self-driven person. I thrive on getting things checked off on my to-do lists. I love getting galleries delivered to my clients earlier than they expect. Second, I am extremely fast with my client service. I make it a point to respond to new inquiries and client emails as quickly as possibly. I treat my business very seriously and want my clients to know that they are valued. Third, being friendly and outgoing can get you a long way in the photography business!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melissastewardsonphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissastewardsonphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaStewardsonPhotography
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/melissa-stewardson-photography-placentia