Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxanne Morgan.
Roxanne began her creative career path in 2002, attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). She earned her Associates Degree in 2004, then continued onto earn her Bachelors of Science Degree in 2009 from the Art Institute of California.
Her love for photography began in 2008, she quickly realized this was her passion, and began Black Velvet Photography. Roxanne’s design background has lent to her special talent; an eye for detail, set designing for her shoots, and a love for working with every one of her clients.
During her first year in business, she linked up with a company that contracted her to photograph large executive summits. These events have taken her to over 20 states and Canada. Her love for travel has also sparked her interest in destination weddings as well. She has flown all over the country shooting events and weddings and loves every minute of it!
Although labeled as a wedding and event photographer, her passion lies in many other types of photography. She loves working with families, maternity, engagement, headshots/modeling, tasteful boudoir, product photography, and is willing to try anything!
Roxanne’s one true motivation for all her hard work is her beautiful daughter. She has already shown interest in learning photography herself, so together they take special trips to the backyard to take photos of nature. Roxanne couldn’t be more proud of watching her daughter’s interest grow every day!
Has it been a smooth road?
To be honest, this career path had found me and felt so natural from the very first day I picked up a camera 9 years ago. There are always bumps in the road starting a new business, but my entrepreneurial overall path the years before had led me to the business I run today.
The biggest challenge at this point is the growth every year and juggling life and business. It seems lately to be about an 80/20 split…80% business! I can’t complain at all because I truly love what I do. I now have a great team to help assist, shoot, and post production during the busy seasons.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I began with a simple modeling shoot for a friend 9 years ago, once I posted those images on my personal Facebook page, the overwhelming response from friends and family turned my hobby into a business what seemed overnight. I then began to focus on tasteful boudoir sessions which became one of my favorite types of photography, but due to the privacy of 90% of my clients, I rarely have the opportunity to showcase the final work.
My overall specialties come in seasons and in waves. From August to December is heavy in weddings, holiday family session, corporate events, and company galas toward the end of the year. From January to July is many boudoir sessions (for Valentine’s Day), Spring and Summer weddings, and Spring family sessions. Year round I shoot many maternity sessions and of course there are newborn shoots weeks after those maternity sessions. I love that once I meet a client, I tend to be their go-to photographer for all of the important events in their lives from that point forward. I feel like part of the family!
I feel that my attention to detail, my artistic eye, and my people skills set me apart and create a comfortable dynamic with each of my clients. I also have my special secrets when editing the photos in post-production which give the “wow” factor, and my clients cannot get enough!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Due to the nature of my business, I travel constantly from city to city. Southern California is by far the most diverse and beautiful place to photograph. The saying of being able to snowboard in the morning and surf at sunset is so true! I have done shoots up in the mountain areas and shoots down at the water all in one day. I have found forestry style locations just 15 min from the beautiful beaches, and my clients love that we can hit both locations within their session time.
My advice to anyone starting out, just drive to get lost! I find the most amazing spots off the side of the road sometimes, I’ll purposely take a wrong exit and drive up an unknown area with an eye for creativity. I have found the most unique and beautiful spots by just taking a day of “scouting”. The possibilities are endless to what you will find from city to city here in So Cal! Once you find these cool locations, stop, take a photo with your phone, and a note on the time of day (for lighting purposes). I’ve accidentally lost some pretty amazing gems by not documenting them before driving away. I keep a small notebook and pen in my glove box just for my scouting missions!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackvelvetphoto.com
- Phone: 714-600-6631
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackvelvetphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackvelvetphotodotcom/
Image Credit:
Black Velvet Photo
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.
Roger Crane
January 18, 2019 at 19:16
Dear Roxanne – nice to meet a 3rd cousin even here in cyber-space. I’ve been email chatting with your Mom, Kim. I am Roger Crane. Your great-grandma Charlotte “Nana”) and my Mom, Mary were sisters. You are a lovely and talented woman. I wish you much success.