We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessica Mirabile. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessica below.

Jessica, 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?

My photography business is what it is today because of Instagram. Through this social media outlet I was able to share my work, organically grow a following and create my small business. I honestly don’t think I would have started at all if it weren’t for this platform. It was such a simple and easy way to start – and then it just grew from being consistent with posting, sharing, giveaways, tagging. At first I was afraid to launch a photography instagram page, I think I created it and kept it private for a while I was practicing shooting and learning more about my camera. Once I felt a little confident with my work I was able to promote myself and share my passion.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a part-time, self taught natural light photographer and a full time mom of four. Since the day my first daughter was born I had a draw to photography – it was when I got my first DSLR camera too. It wasn’t until my fourth child was born that I decided to bring this passion to life. More so because I needed something in my life other than motherhood that I could feel proud of. Being a mother is everything to me, it really is but I felt that I could not only be defined by that – I needed something more that was just for myself. So what started out as a hobby turned into something much more than I could have ever thought. When I first started taking on clients 5 years ago I was a nervous wreck – I was not confident and so unsure of myself. But, through the years I have had so so many families come to me and this has all been practice because I do feel like I am getting better and better at this – there is always room to improve and to master the art and that is something I am really grateful for. Every shoot is different, every family is different, it’s always different for me and I need to adjust in the moment to make my work come alive for them through photographs.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A story I will never forget;

It was in the way way beginning when I started taking on clients, I was charging $125. I had a family I was meeting about 45 minuets from me …. and at the time one of my close friends had a coworker who “needed” pictures done right away – she had mentioned me to her and while I was hesitant to take on two families in one day, I did it. Trying to conquer my fears, right? Well the first family that I had booked on my own, all went great. The second, my friends co-worker, did not go so great. I knew when I left there that I struggled the whole time with lighting and the kids, after all it was one of my very first shoots to people who were not my friends. I came back, did my best with editing, and sent out the galleries. The first family loved their photos, no complaints. The second, the woman messaged me how unhappy she was with the photos. This was the first and only to date person who made me feel awful over photos. She did not just simply complain but said not nice things about them and wanted her money back. I was ready to throw in the towel because of this woman. I look back now and I can’t imagine if I did. Let one woman determine a future, how crazy was I to even let that be a thought! I am now so glad that I took it as a lesson. From that I was determine to learn how to shoot better when direct light comes into my photo/setting.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

FRIENDS FRIENDS FRIENDS

I took pictures of my friends kids and families, they shared the picture and tagged me. I promoted myself through my own personal instagram, consistently posting and tagging to attract people. It’s really all a game of tagging and sharing in order to grow an audience on social media. I have also felt that giveaways defiantly help grow followers. But the most helpful I would say would be the clients, when they are happy with your work, they post your photo, tag you and share my info with all of their friends, Its a big game of networking.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Jessicalauren_photos