We recently connected with Mandy Middleton and have shared our conversation below.
Mandy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.
If I was to start over in my photography journey, I would give less stress to equipment and more to learning the skills necessary. There’s so much competition in the photography world and many can be about the latest and greatest equipment, that it makes new photographers feel that they’re not good enough with “lesser” equipment.
I would have done much more learning basic skills like posing and manual mode much earlier in my career.
Mandy, 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?
I am Mandy Michelle Photography, I like to say that I specialize in portraits and concert photography, and my skills are always evolving and growing. My goal with each photo session is to be better than my last.
I have 6 years of experience, I offer a wide range of photography services. What sets me apart is my commitment to making every session fun and easy for my clients. I strive to create a positive experience and deliver high-quality photographs.
I believe that a great portrait is not just about capturing a person’s physical appearance but also their personality. I work closely with my clients to understand their preferences and needs.
I think one of the things that makes me stand out is I love candid photography. If time allows I try to sit and watch during sessions and snap photos while families are engaged with each other and not focused on me.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
When I first started in photography my primary subjects were birds and wildlife. I assisted a photographer in modeling sessions and concerts and my desire to learn this world was started. I emailed every venue I could to find someone willing to give me a chance, one venue turned into a year of work slowly increasing as my skills increased. During this time I got comfortable doing family sessions, practicing on friends and family. Word of mouth kept me going strong, and now I have social media accounts on most platforms to showcase my work.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part for me is the reaction I get from my clients when they see my photos. I love the candid shots more than the posed and when I can capture the person’s personality in a single photo, I love it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandym_photography
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mandymphoto/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mandymphotography
Image Credits
Robin Schneider (photo of me with a camera)