Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Stewardson.
Melissa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
A little over five 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 work 8-5. 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 care giver to my children. So I am beginning 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 that 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 DSLR camera, kit lens; 18-55mm and a computer. I starting reading anything I could about photography, mostly on-line and watching YouTube videos and was taking lots of photos of my kids. Once I 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 starting building a portfolio and buying business items such editing software, additional lenses, business cards 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, five years later with my own studio, website and profitable thriving business. It’s been a lot of hard work and late nights, but I just love my job!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of the struggles I faced early on was not knowing the business side of owning photography business. I remember a session I had at a park with a large extended family. I was going about my business doing photos and then a park ranger came over to me to ask to see my photo permit. I had NO idea I was supposed to get a permit. It was so embarrassing, but I learned my lesson and bought the permit I needed. In fact, a lot of good outdoor locations require permits, and those permits all cost money. I also learned that I definitely needed a good contract. I started out without one and learned quickly that I needed one to protect myself. One of the biggest challenges of owning my own business is learning to say no. I run the entire business by myself and can only stretch myself so thin. Fall is an especially busy time of year because so many families want family photos for holiday cards. I was killing myself trying to book every inquiry. All the admin work, photo taking, editing, accounting, styling assistance and print orders can take over my life. And my family was paying the price. I needed to find a work/life balance that worked for me and my family. I have finally found a good balance of knowing how many sessions I can book a month without working 80 hours a week.
Melissa Stewardson Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Melissa Stewardson Photography (MSP) is a boutique photography studio. MSP specializes in studio newborn and child photography sessions, as well as outdoor family photos. MSP is known for unique posed newborn and child sessions, as well as golden hour, backlit family sessions that are fun and candid. I am most proud when my clients tell me they love their photos and cried happy tears when they viewed them for the first time. I think my connection with kids and my ability to bring out their real personalities sets me apart from other photographers. I make it a point to meet and get to know the kids before I ever start shooting photos. I also have an extensive prop collection and offer free styling for all photo sessions. I use a styling tool that creates an outfit for each family member and then a corresponding style board that has the links to purchase all the clothing. This way the mom isn’t running all over town shopping at various stores wondering what to buy. It makes it very easy for the client and helps create beautiful photos. Lastly, I am also crazy when it comes to swift communication and follow up with my clients. I admit that my cell phone or computer is always on and near me so I can be sure to answer emails or questions very quickly. I think my clients love getting quick responses and edited/printed photos delivered in a timely manner.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I was very lucky to photograph a celebrity couples newborn baby a couple years ago. One of my photos ended up on People.com. It was pretty amazing! Besides that, having clients that book me time after time and year after year gives me the warm fuzzies!
Pricing:
- Posed Newborn Session – $750 (includes 20-25 digitals and print credit)
- Family Session – $550 (includes 20-25 digitals and print credit)
- Simple Session – $400 (includes 12-15 digitals and print credit)
- Milestone Session – $325 (must take place in MSP studio, includes 7 digitals)
- Professional Head Shots – $200 (includes two looks and two digitals)
Contact Info:
- Address: 1936 Hock Ave.,
Placentia, CA 92870 - Website: www.melissastewardsonphotography.com
- Phone: 714.269.3150
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/melissastewardsonphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/melissastewardsonphotography
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelissaStewards
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/melissa-stewardson-photography-placentia
Image Credit:
Melissa Stewardson Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Jen Stewart
July 20, 2017 at 07:20
Melissa is a true professional. She’s a joy to work with.