We were lucky to catch up with Lakesha Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lakesha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is a tricky word and often looks differently for everyone. I achieved a level of success when I worked my way up the career ladder to eventually land a management position with a great salary and then when I became an entrepreneur. For someone else success can be as simple as being the first person in family to graduate college. While visual is different the meaning remains the same. To achieve success–personally or professional I have learned to live by three principles. 1)Learn, 2) Build, and 3)Share. We must learn all that we need in order to build what we want, so we can then share with others. Success is learning- finishing school, listening to a podcast, or reading a book. Success is Building-working and putting all that we have learned into action. Setting goals and outlining the proper steps to achieve them. Success is sharing- mentoring someone, investing in the next generation, or giving back to nonprofits. Learn, Build, Share = Success

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”– Mahatam Ghandi

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Where do I begin… In high school, I was very involved in the Arts–TV production, drama, cheer, and social clubs, so to later in life become a photographer could have been destined even though I had other plans. In high school, I was introduced to websites and design in order to complete a junior class project. While creating this project, which I still have today, I fell in love with graphic design. Creating and designing was such an art that brought me so much pleasure. So much so that my plan was to graduate and go work for Disney World. Unfortunately, that dream has not come true yet, but graphic design found me in a different way. I went on worked in corporate America, having a daughter at 18, this was what I needed to do. As I climbed the ladder I soon became a leader, but I always had a camera in hand. I would then become a leader, with more independence, but more responsibility and great salary to suffice, but I always had a camera in hand. I was and still is the mom that made you stop to take a picture, just to be able to go back to that photo years later to relive the moment. I was always the one behind the camera on family vacations. Never did I every imagine I would be able to expand my hobby into a business. After high school, I went on to complete college at the University of West Florida, while continuing to work and all was well until I was laid off due to closures. I then had to seek another job. I worked retail parttime which I loved, but need a full-time gig. A couple of jobs later and a horrible management experience–I landed a great job at a local radio station, but that soon came to end due to the pandemic. After the pandemic came into play, life as we once knew it was different–for everyone. My husband was the one that invested in me first, bought my first camera and encouraged me to do what I loved. This was a no brainer because we had children in daycare, who if exposed to COVID had to return home for 2 weeks at a time–and this happened four separate times. I began a journey into entrepreneurship–blind because no one in my family worked for their self, all were raised to finish school and get a good job. Along this journey I have learned so much. I learned that photography gave me that same feeling back in high school. The techniques of editing are very similar to graphic design, but enhanced. Photographing has allowed me to incorporate my love of people (from corporate America), meeting new people blindly, engaging in conversation, and capturing them, savoring those priceless moments. My company is one of the Arts–the vision is to expand into a place where youth can come in and explore photography, video, dance, etc. Currently my husband and I are doing everything, so I have had to dust off those graphic design skills when posting on social media. I have learned that having a social media presence is necessary, but one shouldn’t rely on it solely for clients.

Work life balance is something that is key, but often overlooked. As a married, mom of seven (yes seven kiddos) ranging from 20 to 9 months, I must be sure too give my business and my family the right amount of time. I have learned how to set boundaries and that saying no is okay.

We are a team who captures ‘snapshots in time’–we want to bring your vision to life! We want to celebrate your milestones in life and preserve those memories. We look to create lasting relationships through an experience. We have fallen into the niche of event photography and business branding, however  we look to capture various types of photography; graduation portraits, maternity, real estate, headshots, landscape, commercial, birth, along with family/individual sessions. We are all across the board! We are most proud of our philanthropy work–as we work with several nonprofits. We seek to give back using our talents and skills where needed. We are evolving daily, learning more about this industry in which we can use to help fulfill the visions of our clients. Entrepreneurship isn’t for the weak and you will often put much more into it than the standard 40 hours, but in the end it is so rewarding because you know that your clients (and employees) are being taken care of your way.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Networking and Word of Mouth. I first began working with non profit organizations, but it wasn’t about what I could get out of it but more what I could give–little did I know in the giving I would then get an investment. The investment in return would be relationships, partnerships, and friendships. I gave and will continue to give my service to organizations I am truly passionate about. The mission must be one I can connect with and thus far the connections have blessed me personally and professionally. The relationships gained has brought so much enrichment to my life. I then stepped outside of my comfort zone by joining in with some other community organizations (serving beyond my service of photography) and placing myself into to a different space–ultimately switching up my circle and surrounding myself with like minded people. I never imagined the feedback I would receive from others who were also business owners or investors, or those who just wanted genuinely pat me on the back and refer my services to someone. I have held steadfast to something one of my mentors shared with my husband and I, she told us its not about who you know, but about who knows you! My reputation as a person and as a business owner matters and that’s why I put my best foot forward no matter what.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I do wish I had known about business mentorship–where to seek it. Mentorship is very important as much of what you will encounter along the journey a mentor can assist you in the navigation process as you build–personally and/or professionally. I also wish I had known more about our local entrepreneur hubs–many of these are where you can find investors. You can also find out about grants available for start up capital.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/GCPanorama
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GCPanorama

Image Credits
Gulf Coast Panorama, Lakesha Davis (me) Impact 100 image – Madrina Ciano