We recently connected with Mika James Amaya and have shared our conversation below.

Mika, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today

What an excellent question. For me, hindsight definitely is 20/20. If I were starting over I would have placed a heavier emphasis on business versus my artistry. I’ve come to find that you can create the most beautiful portraits that families will cherish forever, but if no one sees or purchases them, your business will fail.

As such, I absolutely could have reached my current level of success quicker and with less capital, by establishing and executing a solid business plan from the very beginning. For me, this would have included investing in mentoring from other photographers and industry leaders who have surpassed the level of success I wanted to achieve. I also needed to know my costs of doing business to properly set my pricing structure to achieve these financial goals.

However, one thing I did do correctly from the beginning, was run my business with a service driven heart.

Mika, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’d be happy to! Actually, before I became a professional photographer I worked as a Long Term Care and Hospice Nurse. Nursing was so rewarding but as a mother with younger children, the work hours began to interfere with me being fully present for my children. I transitioned into photography, a passion of mine, and the rest is history. My first portrait studio is Mika James Amaya Photography and is where most people know me from. Soon after I identified a need for an editorial style of photography in the same service area, I’m so excited to have launched a second portrait studio, Aidan Grace Couture! Named after my children ( my boys have the middle name Aidan and my girls have the middle name Grace ) and based on my belief that women are central to their families, Aidan Grace Couture serves women who recognize the importance of preserving their most cherished time as an expectant mother through timeless, meaningful portraits. as with my first studio, I offer a stress-free portrait experience with keen attention to detail to create exquisite heirloom albums, statement art pieces and framed prints to enjoy in your home.

I now work exclusively as a maternity, newborn and family photographer at both studios servicing the Raleigh area and am lucky to travel near and far for my clients. At every session I photograph I do my best to capture the essence of my clients glamorously. I use minimal props coupled with beautiful posing, artistic lighting and high-end wardrobe options that don’t distract from the beautiful family front of my lens. As a Raleigh area photographer who specializes in maternity, newborn, and family portraiture, I truly believe in the beauty of simplicity. My goal is to document the family authentically so they’ll look back years from now and remember just how incredible those fleeting moments really were.

I’m happy to say that besides the beautiful portraits I create most clients commission me as their photographer for the beautiful products that I offer. I’m always asked if I sell just the digital files and of course I do. But, I believe that the images we create deserve so much more than just a share on social media or to be tucked away on a hard drive. At my portrait studios, the artwork possibilities are endless! Because I believe that every image you love deserves to be printed, whether that be for a wall or in an album we offer the highest quality framed prints and heirloom albums. Our heirloom albums are the best place for memories to be kept bound together and to be passed down for generations. Our framed prints become gallery walls that can grow with your family. So. no matter if it is a simple entry wall grouping or a complex stairway design we create the perfect artwork to enjoy on your walls or in albums everyday.

A little more about me, when I’m not behind the camera I love spending time with my family, quietly drinking coffee, and simply enjoying time outside in nature! I’m a Christian and I love Jesus. I have five children, of Jamaican descent, a first-generation American, and am fluent in Spanish.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

My business started with very humble beginnings. My first DSLR camera was a gift. I used it to take photos of my own children, extended family and friends. At the time, I was still working full time as a Nurse and used savings from that job to register my business and purchase the professional grade lenses and gear that I needed to launch my business. As I photographed clients, I reinvested a percentage of the profits back into my business for mentoring, education and to establish my wildly popular studio wardrobe of luxury high-end dresses.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

There is a saying that if you do what you love you will never work a day in your life. And, I find that is absolutely true for me with respect to keeping in touch with clients and brand loyalty.

As I mentioned before, many of my clients become dear friends! I am honored to be a part of documenting their family history as they anticipate and welcome a new child.  Then, I have the honor of photographing all of the beautiful milestones that child will experience over their first year. Then we see each other again every Fall to document another year of family togetherness. Even when my families move away from the Raleigh area, they continue to commission me for their family’s portrait sessions. It warms my heart when children who I have photographed from when they were in their mother’s womb remember and anticipate portrait sessions with me. We always spend the first few minutes of the session catching up. The children tell me all about how their school year is going and what their new interests are.

It’s also easy to keep in touch because I adore sending gifts and cards in the mail – because honestly, who doesn’t love to open their mailbox to a wonderful surprise!

In all, I am able to keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty because I love what I do, have earned their trust and approach each client and their family with authenticity and a service driven heart. My intention is to run a profitable and thriving portrait studio, but not at the expense of serving my clients well and treating them as I would want to be treated.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.MikaJamesAmaya.com and www.AidanGraceCouture
• Instagram: @mikajamesamayaphotography

Image Credits
Mika James Amaya Photography and Aidan Grace Couture