We were lucky to catch up with Faleshia Pyles recently and have shared our conversation below.

Faleshia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

My name is Faleshia, and it’s an honor to tell you my story about why photography is my passion and how I use it to help others.

As a child, I always wanted to be a photographer and to be able to freeze time somehow; don’t we all!

Well, in 2016, the reality of this superpower hit hard for my small family when my best friend decided this world was too harsh and made the forever choice to take his life. He was a mentor and like a father to my older boys, but in less than a minute, he was gone forever. We never got the chance to say goodbye; we didn’t have the time to tell him how much we loved and cherished him. But now all we have left is that last smile captured in an 11×14 framed portrait on our wall to remind us that time is not promised & the only way to freeze it is through photographs displayed for all to see!

I have made it my mission to help others know they matter, they can be seen, they should be heard, and they can only tell their stories. I do this by taking your most treasured moments and turning them into artwork for your space that time can’t take away.

I can’t wait to learn about what matters most to you & to help you see that the most important investment you will make today will live on for generations and to help everyone “Remember when!”

Faleshia, 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?

You know that one question you always get during a job interview, the one you know is coming, but you have a hard time answering the moment it’s asked,” now, please tell me about yourself.” I used to freeze up and ask the little voice inside my head, “what do they want me to say? What will get me the job.” The answer is, JUST BE YOU; there isn’t any correct answer other than to be true to yourself!

Why do I bring this up? Because when I decided to become a photographer, I wanted to be one you had never worked with before. I broke free of the poses you see daily and brought joy back to your sessions. So, as I was asked to create my brand and identify my niche’ I struggled because I didn’t want to be just one thing. It took some time, and as each portrait session was captured, I began to see why my photography was different. But it wasn’t until a mother, with whom I had just captured her and her family’s moments as they ran alongside the pond, said to me, “Thank you for making today so much fun; I have been so afraid to have our photos done because my children are hard to work with.” It was then that I found the very thing I had been working so hard to portray, the one thing that made me different from all the others!

As a single mother of three boys who tries to take the world on every day and do it all by myself, I understand the stress of getting everyone in the right clothes and being on their best behavior for just one day. But I also know that this is the one thing that makes photos less enjoyable and more like a dreaded thing. I WANTED TO CHANGE THIS!!

The one thing that makes my photography sessions unlike any other is THE EXPERIENCE! I want you to know that I see you, I feel your heart, and I want to help bring joy back to your memories of that time. I allow you and your children to play during this time, and it is often during those moments that your best smiles and laughter can not only be captured but felt through the artwork that is made from those very moments.

So, as you pass by your living room and look above your couch where your family’s portrait hangs, you can see what matters most, YOU! This is essential in any portrait session I do, and it’s the feeling you are left with after the moment has passed. It’s the stories that will be passed down as this portrait is carried on to generations yet to come. Genuine smiles are rarely captured when we try to force a pose that feels tight or when we have to tell our children to smile with their teeth.

I got you! If it is one thing you should know when you are looking for a photographer, choose quality & experience over price; you & your family are worth the investment.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I think the book that significantly impacted how I communicate with others is “The Energy Bus.” This book helps you see that your energy and attitude can affect others negatively or positively; it’s up to you. As I listened to this audio book my perspective started to shift drastically. I could see how waking up and allowing things to affect me bled into my creative process.

So as Joy explained to the book’s main character, there are ten rules to follow that will help you live a better life with fewer struggles and stress. As I listened to each rule, I felt myself flashing back to days I had allowed my mood to dictate my mindset. I am grateful for this book and the rules that have helped me understand what my clients need and how I can help them know they truly do matter!

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

The one goal driving my creative journey is to help make a positive change & impact in the lives of others and to let them know that they are possible and they matter so much more than they may feel they do!

I want every client I work with to know that they are essential, and I do this by asking questions and getting to know them before their session. I want to know what their hopes are for their session, and I want to know how I can help them understand the importance of printing their memories rather than leaving them trapped in their feed or on disks or drives that may stop working, causing their memories to be gone forever!

I want those kids and teens to know that they matter beyond the struggles they may be going through by showcasing their inner warriors. I want the mom in front of my lens to know I see her and that it is okay to take time to herself and to get dressed up and have her portraits taken! I want the single father to know I understand their dedication, and they too can have their moments with their kids turned into artwork time can’t take away, and those precious moments with their kids matter too.

And I want the trauma survivors to know that they can live beyond what happened & that as we work together to let go of those times of pain and know that those labels we tend to carry no longer have to hold us back. As a photographer, I want you to know YOU MATTER, and I SEE YOU & I’m here to help you!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.FaleshiaMaryPhotography.com
• Instagram: FaleshiaMaryPhotography
• Facebook: Faleshia Pyles

Image Credits
Cyclebar Saratoga Springs, Candle In A Darkroom, Demello Family, Palmer Family, Thomson Family