We recently connected with Adele L. and have shared our conversation below.

Adele, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

In 2011 I was working Full time as a Human Resources Manager. I was discouraged, I felt like I wasn’t really gaining traction in my life. I really didn’t want to spend my entire life behind a desk hiring and firing people. I had a passion for photography. My friend was getting married and asked if I would photograph her wedding. I told her I didn’t have any experience and she completely understood. At the end of the day she was so happy with her photos she referred me to 6 people who were getting married the following year. In that moment I remember sitting down and thinking: “Could I make this a business?” I looked over the photos again and the very next Monday I quit my 8-5 job, with $300 in my pocket and ran a contest for a business name. In September 2011 EMC Photography Studio was Born. Today in 2023 I am almost making 6 figures and of course I still hire and fire people. . . but its on MY terms, not anyone else’s. Take the risk, no matter how big.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

EMC Photography Studio started in 2011. with $300 and a dream. We focus on Glamour & Wedding Photography. We have a team of 4 (2 photographers & 2 videographers) We take our business very seriously but know what the word FUN means. We fight with each other, we laugh with each other, and we cry with each other. All in all,. . . we are family, and I couldn’t ask for a better one.

Have you ever had to pivot?

PIVOT! I was on a roll working in Southern California making a high 5 figures a year and just running with it. In 2014 I met the love of my life. With a Photography business you pretty much can move anywhere and still get business. . . right? Wrong! I moved to Yuma, Arizona in late 2015 and couldn’t catch a break. I was really nervous my business was going to tank after 5 solid years of making it the best photography business I could ever ask for. So.. in all the FRIENDS glory – I had to “pivot”. HARD! I had to downgrade my prices, services, and Target market. I had to understand what my customers ‘here’ wanted vs what my customers in California wanted. It wasn’t easy.
However, Today I’m making more than I did those first 5 years combined in just 1 season.
Don’t be afraid to Pivot. Don’t be afraid of change. Just tweak what you do to accommodate where you are and who your customers base is. It will all work out in the end. (Just don’t yell at Chandler like ross did)

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The best thing that helped me build my reputation within my market is being the FACE of my business. A lot of business owners don’t like showing their face but me, I LOVE it. I show my face on my social media all the time. I walk into businesses and always talk about what I do and if they need my assistance to let me know. I carry around business cards everywhere I go. Being the face of your business really helps. After all, if you didn’t know who Beyonce was first, you would never buy her art.

Contact Info:

• Website: emcphotographystudio.com
• Instagram: @emcphotographystudio
• Other: @emcweddings

Image Credits
All photos taken by: EMC Photography Studio — @emcphotographystudio & @emcweddings