We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Monika Herbert a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Monika, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
So this may come as a unique spin, I haven’t felt misunderstood creatively but personally. When I was 15, I picked up a vintage film camera and fell in love. You see, as early as I can remember I have never felt understood or like I fit into any group. This would follow me longer than I wanted or intended. The camera gave me an outlet, I felt important and I felt liked by this silly little object. Little did I know, 18 years later, that I would be running a 6 figure wedding photography business and get a diagnosis of Autism at the age of 34. Do I still feel like an outcast, yes but learning about my ASD diagnosis has really helped me understand myself and that lonely feeling that comes with it. I still channel all my energy into my photography and I absolutely love my job.
Monika, 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?
So when I was 13, I was a kid staying with my dad every other weekend, thanks divorce haha. I really had a toxic father, so staying with him was a miserable task for me but he did live at a really cool lake house. Through these visits, I met this cute little skater boy who wakeboarded and always had a camera in his hand. We fell in love, I learned a lot about the arts world and soon had a camera in my hand. I learned so much about lights and shadows, finding beauty in the unexpected and started using photography as a healthy outlet for my emotions and sadness.
My first client was my friend in high school, her mom hired me to take her senior portraits. I felt so honored to capture her personality the way I knew it and to be paid at 17 for my passion? say what? Flash forward to one year later, I had one wedding under my belt and only charged $300 to shoot it.
I have been in the wedding industry for 14 years, I have traveled to 5 different countries for weddings, shot over 400 weddings and still have a passion for what I do.
I have learned so much about working smarter and not harder. Work life balance is for sure the hardest part about owning a business because it never shuts off. Learning when to say no, creating boundaries and marketing to your ideal clients.
I’d say the one thing that sets me apart is my laid back personality and ability to read people.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I grew up in a toxic home, my father was an abusive alcoholic and my mom was a survivor of his domestic abuse trying her best to protect us children. So to say she made mistakes, that’s for sure an understatement because the trauma she endured. So when I was 15, I moved out of my home and lived with my childhood sweetheart and his mom. Through this transition, is where I learned to provide for myself at such an early age. I myself was a survivor and I look back so proud of myself. I could have fallen for vices such as drugs and bad energy but instead I worked to provide myself something I wasn’t fortunate to have growing up. For instance food, I remember starving as a child and I was damn sure to never go without food again. I’m proud of my commitment to my art and my constant fighter attitude.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For sure my personal freedom. I could not imagine having a boss and getting dressed every day for the same routine. I love how I can stay in my pjs one day, then dress super fancy another. I love making my own schedule and creating magic whenever I intend for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: monphotography.com
- Instagram: monphotographykc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063709831697
Image Credits
Monphotography