We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shileshia Milligan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Shileshia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
Like many photographers, my journey started by photographing the people closest to me—family members, friends, and anyone who was willing to step in front of my camera while I learned and grew. Those early sessions were invaluable, but I remember the moment things began to feel different.
My first client who wasn’t family or a friend came through a simple social media advertisement I had posted for Christmas mini sessions. A family had planned to book with their regular photographer, but when that photographer wasn’t available, they began searching for another option. Somehow, my ad appeared during their search.
They didn’t know me personally, and they had no prior connection to my work beyond what they saw online. Yet they decided to trust me to capture their family’s Christmas photos.
That booking may have seemed small at the time—just a set of holiday photos for a family—but for me it represented something much bigger. It was the first moment someone outside my immediate circle saw my work and believed in it enough to invest in it.
It was a quiet but powerful confirmation that what I was building had the potential to reach beyond my own community.
Every photographer remembers that first client who took a chance on them. For me, it was a family simply looking for Christmas photos—but their trust marked the beginning of turning a passion into something real.
Shileshia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Shileshia Milligan, and I’m the photographer behind Honey & Haze Photography based in Madison, Alabama, serving families and couples throughout North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. Photography for me has always been about more than just taking pictures—it’s about preserving moments that become part of a family’s story.
Like many creatives, my journey started simply by photographing the people around me. Family and friends trusted me to capture their milestones while I was learning and developing my style. Over time, what started as a passion began to grow into something much bigger as people outside my circle began discovering my work and trusting me with their memories. That’s when I realized photography wasn’t just something I loved—it was something I was called to build.
At Honey & Haze, I specialize in weddings, family sessions, and portrait photography. My style leans toward warm, emotional, and timeless imagery, photos that feel genuine rather than overly posed. I want my clients to be able to look back years from now and still feel the emotion of that moment. Whether it’s a couple starting their life together, a growing family, or someone simply wanting to document a season of life, my goal is to create images that feel both beautiful and honest.
One of the problems I love solving for my clients is helping them feel comfortable in front of the camera. Most people come to a session saying they’re awkward or don’t know how to pose, and a big part of my process is guiding them so the experience feels natural and relaxed. When people feel safe and comfortable, the photos become authentic—and that’s where the magic happens.
What sets my work apart is the intentionality behind it. I care deeply about the experience my clients have, not just the final gallery they receive. From the first conversation to the delivery of their photos, I want people to feel seen, valued, and taken care of. Photography is deeply personal, and I don’t take lightly the trust people place in me to capture moments they can never recreate.
One of the things I’m most proud of is building a brand that reflects both my artistry and my values. Honey & Haze represents warmth, connection, and the beauty found in real moments. As a wife and mother, I understand how quickly time moves, which is why documenting life’s seasons matters so much to me.
What I want people to know most about my brand is that the work I create is rooted in storytelling. These aren’t just photos for social media—they are memories that will be passed down, printed, framed, and revisited for generations. Being trusted with those moments is something I will never take for granted.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Building an audience on social media has really been about consistency and authenticity for me. In the beginning, I simply shared my work—sessions I photographed, moments I loved, and the stories behind the images. Over time, people began connecting not just with the photos, but with the heart behind them.
I think one of the biggest things that helped me grow was showing more than just finished images. I shared the journey, the learning process, the excitement of new sessions, and the meaning behind the moments I was capturing. When people can see the person behind the work, it builds trust and connection.
Another important part was simply staying consistent. Social media can feel slow at times, especially in the beginning, but growth often happens gradually. Each post, each session, and each interaction with clients adds to the story you’re telling about your brand.
My advice to someone trying to build their own audience is to focus less on chasing trends and more on building genuine relationships. People are drawn to authenticity. Share your work, but also share why you care about what you do. Be patient with the process, keep showing up, and let your passion speak through your work.
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to gain followers—it’s to build a community of people who connect with your vision and believe in what you create.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
Staying connected with my clients is something I care deeply about because photography is such a personal experience. Many of my clients return for multiple milestones—engagements, weddings, maternity sessions, and family photos—so maintaining those relationships is very important to me.
I stay in touch in a few different ways. Social media is a big part of that because it allows me to continue sharing my work, celebrate my clients, and stay engaged with their lives even after their session is over. I also use email through Flodesk to send updates, announcements, and seasonal session opportunities so clients are always aware of what’s coming next.
Beyond that, I try to keep communication personal. Sometimes that means responding through direct messages, checking in through email, or even picking up the phone when needed. I want my clients to feel like they can reach out to me easily and that they’re more than just another booking on the calendar.
For me, brand loyalty really comes from the experience people have. When clients feel cared for, guided through the process, and truly seen during their session, they’re much more likely to return and recommend you to others. My goal is to make every client feel comfortable, valued, and excited about the memories we’re capturing together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.honeyandhazephoto.com
- Instagram: honeyhazephoto
- Facebook: honeyhazephoto
- Other: honeyandhazephoto@gmail.com
