We were lucky to catch up with Jamela Carter recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jamela , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.

I worked in healthcare for the last 4 years. While photography has always been a passion of mine, I always enjoyed helping people and providing care and just being a positive light for my patients. I was in school as well as working during covid and I remember like the rest of the world I was getting burned out. My business however continued to grow and that gave me peace and a sense of purpose outside of work. June 2022, I decided to walk away from healthcare and put 100% into my business, I realized I couldn’t go another day without pursuing my passion. Its been 6 months and I have never been happier, stepping out has provided many opportunities that I never even dreamed. It’s priceless to be able to now be more present with my family and being able to do what makes me happy every day…never feels like work, I am truly blessed.

Jamela , 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 name is Mela Jay, I am a photographer based in Fayetteville, NC. I have been capturing moments and creating memories over 6 years. From family portraits, events, professional creative headshots and every milestone in between; no job is too big or small. I enjoy shooting outdoors and being able to catch those special candid moments in between “posed” shots. I treat each session as if it were my own so it’s a personalized experience tailored specifically for each person who hires me.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I had a good friend purchase a camera and I remember helping them learn how to use it properly. I always had an interest in art and photography so I was happy to assist. After a few weeks, my friend encouraged me to photograph objects which turned into nature and landscapes. Finally I upgraded to people and I realized I might be on to something. I named my business “Moments by Mela” in 2017. I decided I wanted to take my business more seriously and went under a phase of rebranding. June 2020 “Mela Jay Photography” was born and by the grace of God has continued to thrive and grow beyond my wildest dreams.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy is being able to put yourself out there, and being consistent in the content that you’re putting out. By doing these things, essentially form follows function and you gain and retain clients for the long haul.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.MelaJayPhotography.com
• Instagram: @MelaJayPhotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMelaaJay

Image Credits
My personal headshot was taken by Dara Colon of Serendipity Creative Media, LLC