Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dyonna Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dyonna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?
I am currently managing my social media accounts. Overall, I enjoy creating content. However, keeping up with current trends and keeping my audience engaged can be overwhelming at times. I think I do a pretty decent job, but am hoping a professional social media marketer will be within budget in the near future.
Dyonna, 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?
Photography became a hobby in high school over 20 years ago. I didn’t have the epiphany to pursue it as a career until my early thirties. Up until that point, I had been a wife to my husband, Anson Smith, a mom to the most amazing and gifted children: Arron, Chez, Aspen, Anson Jr., and Jamison, and a full-time manager in healthcare. Although I was able to work my way up the corporate ladder, I did not feel fulfilled working for someone else. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and desired more.
I purchased my very first DSLR camera over 6 years. With plenty of practice on friends and family and some online training, I eventually gained the confidence to officially announce my Photography endeavors to the world – Dyonna James Photography, LLC, Established 2017. At that point, photography was a part-time gig for me on the weekends. It gave me the freedom to create and earn extra income for my family.
I specialize in Luxury Maternity and Motherhood portraits. Recently, I’ve curated a Maternity Client Closet. A client closet is a curated collection of clothing that photographers have available for complimentary use during a photo session. This enhances their client experience and takes away some of the stress of preparing for their photo session.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I know we’ve all the heard the phrase, “comparison is the thief of joy”. This statement couldn’t be more true in photography. Early on in my career, as a self taught photographer I often compared my work to photographers with more experience and a different esthetic. Was my work good enough? Will potential clients like my style of editing?
Once I began to focus on growth, both personally and creatively, I was able to overcome these insecurities. I’ve put in countless hours of learning new lighting techniques, posing, and composition. I’ve been consistently gaining more social media followers, more engagement, and most importantly more bookings.
Sure, I still have photographers I am inspired by, but I am more secure than ever in my craft!
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
I purchased my very first DSLR camera over 6 years. With plenty of practice on friends and family and some online training, I eventually gained the confidence to officially announce my Photography endeavors to the world – Dyonna James Photography, LLC, Established 2017. At that point, photography was a part-time gig for me on the weekends. It gave me the freedom to create and earn extra income for my family.
In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, I was laid off from my full-time job, which propelled me to pursue my dreams of becoming a full-time photographer. I began teaching myself studio lighting and renting local spaces to practice and book sessions. It was an overwhelming journey of shooting weddings, senior sessions, events, families. Ultimately, I’ve honed in my passion to Luxury Maternity Portraits.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dyonnajamesphotography.com
- Instagram: @dyonnajamesphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dyonnajphotography