We were lucky to catch up with Victoria Haydn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Victoria , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Victoria Haydn spent over 10 years at the top of the Premier League photographing the stars of Manchester City Football Club. Learning visual marketing tricks from one of the biggest clubs in global sport, Victoria knew she could use her knowledge to help other businesses. Now she helps kick-ass business owners elevate their brands with stunning personal branding photography.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After completing my photography degree 15 years ago, I embarked on my journey into the world of photography. My career took an unexpected turn when, as a new graduate, I had a chance encounter with the Manchester United photographers. They mentioned needing an editor for match days, and despite having never watched football before, I agreed to join this cold and wet world of sports photography.

For two years, I honed my skills as an editor, but soon realised I wanted to be behind the camera, capturing the action myself. With no further opportunities opening up at Manchester United, I decided to take a leap and switch to Manchester City.

I was offered a 6-month internship at Man City, which was later extended to 12 months, and eventually, I was hired as a full-time Assistant Club Photographer. The high-pressure, intense environment suited me perfectly, and after five years, I was promoted to Head of Photography just as Pep Guardiola became the new manager.

My role allowed me to travel the world with the team as they dominated the Premier League, capturing the highs and lows of some of the club’s greatest years. It was a special time, but after ten years, I felt the need to evolve and seek new challenges.

Armed with firsthand experience in using imagery to market one of the biggest brands in global sport, I decided to channel that knowledge into helping female founders and dynamic business owners elevate their brands with stunning photography. I launched this new venture in March 2023, and it has been a tremendous success.

Despite advice to remain in the football world for a stable salary and security, I am incredibly pleased that I followed my dreams. Now, I have the opportunity to be creative with a diverse range of business owners, helping them grow their businesses and attract their ideal clients. My journey from sports photography to brand photography specialist has been fulfilling, and I am excited for what the future holds.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for me has been to make friends. And I mean REAL friends who I want to be around and who support you in your life and business. You can find these people in so many different places – networking, social media, gyms, yoga classes, charity lunches and even supermarkets, I make genuine connections with people and I genuinely care about them. I take time to listen to what they’re dealing with in life and business and I become someone who they can trust too.

Being a business owner can be super lonely at times but when you build a circle around you, it can lift you and your business in so many ways. I promote all of my client’s businesses because I want to shout from the rooftops about how amazing they are. And I LOVE doing it!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That working until you are nearly dead on your feet doesn’t equal success.

I’ve come to realize that equating success with working to the point of exhaustion isn’t sustainable or fulfilling. In my earlier experiences, spanning various roles from waitressing to pet care, I used to believe that working longer hours meant greater rewards. However, this approach often led me to push myself beyond my limits, leaving me physically and mentally drained.

Reflecting on this, I recognise that my tendency to overwork stemmed from a desire to prove myself as the hardest worker. Yet, I’ve come to understand that true success for me, lies in having time – time for family, nature, leisurely walks, and bubble baths.

I vividly recall moments when my hectic schedule left me with scant time for even the most basic self-care tasks, like rushing through a shower and accidentally injuring myself in the process. These experiences made me question the value of sacrificing personal well-being for work.

A poignant reminder from someone stuck with me: “It won’t be noted on your gravestone that you worked every Christmas.” This struck a chord, prompting me to reassess my priorities.

I’ve since worked on unlearning this unhealthy cycle of constant stress and high-functioning anxiety. While it still takes conscious effort to embrace downtime, I’ve made significant progress in allowing myself moments to pause and smell the roses.

Overall, I’ve learned that success isn’t solely measured by productivity or long hours spent at work; it’s about finding balance and cherishing the precious gift of time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.victoriahaydn.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriahaydnportraits/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriahaydnphotography/