We were lucky to catch up with Corey Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.
Corey, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
I do like to disrupt traditional thinking and ways of doing things. In my photography business, I have challenged the standard business headshot and photo session for women entrepreneurs. I have turned this into a complete brand experience! My clients don’t come to a studio, sit on a stool in front of a grey backdrop and stare into bright lights. My clients are developing the messaging that aligns with their values and speaks directly to their target market. They are defining their goals and developing a plan for growth. They are being empowered to know what makes them unique and worthy of success. They are strategically planning ahead and arming their marketing tools with creative professional imagery that aligns with the value of their product or service.
I co-founded another business in 2022 that aligns with my passion of supporting the growth of women entrepreneurs. That business is PubliSHEd Nation and we are disrupting the traditional model of community and networking. PubliSHEd Nation is a women-only community built on the model of collaboration over competition. We believe there is enough business and space for us all. We know that when we come together, without fear, we will collectively grow further than we ever could alone. Specifically, PubliSHEd Nation (publishednation.com) is an online community space where women from all over the world can come to connect, collaborate and grow personally and professionally! Inside this space, we have (and continue to add) a directory of business building and personal development resources of growth for our members to access. We believe that your level of success is directly tied to your level of personal development and we are committed to growth in all areas of life. Our goals include global and generational change for women entrepreneurs by encouraging personal development and strategic growth through industry specific collaboration.
Opportunities to connect with PubliSHEd Nation include:
- A live zoom gathering inside PubliSHEd Nation on the 3rd Friday of each month at 12pm for a presentation and speed networking.
- A local Kansas City area coffee meet up on the First Friday of every month where we gather in person at 9am at The Fillmore Cafe (Unity Village Campus).
Corey, 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 roots began in small town Iowa where my parents modeled the entrepreneur’s life and spirit for me. Over the years, I watched them find joy in building community through these endeavors and it instilled a big heart within me for supporting local small businesses.
My creativity, talent and personality come together in this beautiful way to support the growth of women entrepreneurs. My brain is designed to take one idea and generate multiple ideas around it. My passion for visual storytelling allows me to transform an idea into creative, visually appealing imagery and messaging that attracts your target market. My optimistic nature ensures that each interaction, photo session and opportunity to connect with another woman is fueled with positivity, laughter and a slew of fun shenanigans. I am proud to provide a service that empowers women to show up for themselves and stand out by being themselves in front of the camera.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
As a woman entrepreneur in a typically male dominated industry, I struggled in the early years of my business to find a support system. It was impossible to find another photographer who was willing to mentor me or help answer my questions. I would try to attend networking meetings and was told there was already a photographer member, so I wasn’t welcome to join. I was attempting to find a supportive community focused on abundance, and it simply did not exist. The world of photography was seemingly riddled with unspoken competition and client poaching. This did not resonate with me at all. The lesson I had to unlearn was that this popular path did not have to be the norm for me; I would blaze my own trail with an abundance mindset. I refuse to be the photographer who safe-guards any success as my own personal “secret”. To this day, I look to connect with other photographers and collaborate with other creatives in a variety of ways.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I think the pandemic has forced all entrepreneurs to pivot in some ways. Prior to the pandemic, my only offerings were in person; my time in exchange for money. When I couldn’t physically be with my clients, I wasn’t making any money or positive impact for my clients. Not surprisingly, 2020 was also a very challenging year in my personal life. I had major back issues which led to months of sciatic nerve pain and discomfort. My entire life was quite literally on hold and was demanding immediate changes from me. So, I made them. I altered my habits drastically, starting each morning with some combination of meditation, reading, prayer, journaling and exercise. I have always been a reader, but I started altering my book categories to only ones that would inspire me and/or teach me something. I began affirmations and spoke them silently throughout the day and out loud whenever possible. I altered my office desk to an adjustable one, standing most of the day. I increased my water intake. I did forgiveness practices.
These small positive changes added up quickly and had a ripple effect on my mood, attitude, pain levels, and creativity. In 2021, I released my first online course where I teach entrepreneurs how to develop their branding message and get started with their own brand photos using their phone camera. In March of 2022, I connected with my (now) business partner and co-founded PubliSHEd Nation (publishednation.com), an online community of women entrepreneurs who share an abundance mindset, the desire to grow, collaborate and give and gain support. This year, I am expanding my offerings to include a workshop to teach and empower the next generation of brand photographers to be successful! The takeaway here is that pivots and challenges do not need to be labeled as “bad” things. If you can be open to the opportunities that result from these inevitable pivots; you will always grow and learn something in the process.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.coreybrownphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreybrownphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoreyBrownPhoto
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreybrownphoto/
Image Credits
Nina Skaggs & Lovegrass Creative