We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maryh Harris a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Maryh , appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
In order to become successful, I believe you should start by focusing on the one thing. Become a master of your trade and expand on its intricacies.
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
If this is the first time you’ve heard of my business, M Lashell Photography, stay with me for a formal introduction. Maryh Lashell is a brand lifestyle and commercial photographer who strategically revitalizes brand campaigns. My journey to become a professional campaign photographer started around 9 years ago with a different vision in mind. Even before then my eyes would always twinkle when I was in the presence of a camera. Since I can remember Ive been taking my friends and families pictures starting with an old faithful Polaroid. I always loved candid images that showed the essence of a moment; so for me its started with capturing unforgettable memories. When i came into adulthood I followed my passion and created Captured Connections in 2013 which was my first photography name. During the beginning of my journey I found out that I loved lifestyle imagery more-so than a typical portrait. Whether it be a birthday, engagement, family, or wedding session I took it upon myself to introduce many of my clients to a narrative style of imagery that many ethnic families in my area had not experienced before. It was exciting! So by 2015 I felt strong in my lifestyle imagery, and I knew I was disciplined, and ready to develop more. After 2 years of practice and growth I established myself as a real business. Now branding myself as M. Lashell Photography, which is first letter of my name and middle name. Over 9 years Ive been blessed that all of my passions of art, beauty, fashion, crafting, home design, and theatre, can be represented in one form of a well thought out image. Since I have mastered the intricate skill of photography and editing my goal is to expand my current niche of photography , and turn it into a creative agency. With well thought out images and other added campaign components, I guarantee my clients will show up consistently for their business and brand. Gone are the days of old school marketing, M Lashell Photography creates a strategic and aesthetically appealing campaign that that tells your story, helps you inspire others , informs your audience about your brand, and best of all sells your product. Im most proud to help miniority brands grow into the legacies they desire to become. It takes many components to build a business, not many are transparent enough to let you know that brand awareness and marketing is one of the most important pieces to the puzzle of expansion and growth. Im most proud that my business provides a campaign that is a one-stop shop for social media marketing & developement.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My most resilient story comes from the time I almost gave up on my business. I had just quit my full time job of 6 years as an insurance adjuster job. I was excited, the plan was for my boyfriend at the time to support me for 6 months while in the grind of shifting my imagery from a focus of families (etc) to focus on branding and commercial work. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way! He broke up with me, now I was sad and poor. I didn’t have the spirit to continue to market myself online, or take many photography sessions. And on top of it all I got an eye infection that lasted for months. I could barely see, and I felt defeated. Finally I reached out to family for help. I moved in, got a job with AAA insurance for financial security, and I rested, cried, partied , and ended up getting pregnant……..
This was it the moment I had to decide to I want to follow my dreams or continue to work for insurance and grow in corporate America. I was torn, and scared. No way would I bring a baby into this world and not be able to take care of her. My business was at a stand still , and if was up to me revitalize it. During a deep meditation and prayer, I got a message from God that I can be a successful branding and lifestyle photographer. I had already been practicing for free with several brands. Now was the time to make moves and come back strong after child birth. For 10 months I planned how I would appeal to my audience, I planned rates, and packages, I planned social media strategy, I collaborated with other creatives. I returned to my business after almost 2 years of depression, and carrying a child.
Now I know Ill never fold. Its only up!
How did you build your audience on social media?
I built my social media audience through authenticity. I heavily engage, and I am transparent about the value I can bring to businesses through branding and commercial photography. I inform my audience on the importance of marketing and brand awareness, this is the most important way potential consumers will find you. The advice I would give to others is to hire myself, I will create strategic social media campaign components that connects the right customers for you, to you!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mlashellphotography.co
- Instagram: M_LashellPhotograpy
Image Credits
Photographer Kaelon Walker