We recently connected with Megan Davey and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

In college, I studied journalism, advertising and public relations. It was required that each student in my mass communications college took visual media classes, which is the first formal training I ever received for photography. That was just the tipping point. Once my classes established my interest in photography and really trying to pursue it as a business, I dove into the industry head first. For a year, I worked as a creative intern for a prominent wedding photographer in my area. I learned her processes for social media, booking clients, client communication and other marketing methods. I was so obsessed with learning more that I spent my free time watching YouTube videos on everything from editing to gaining clients. The most essential skill that I had was motivation. Through my drive to get better, it naturally came with time. My biggest obstacle throughout this entire process was myself. For years I thought about the idea of starting my business before I finally had the confidence to take the leap, put myself out there, and truly create my business.

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

I am a Midwest-based wedding and lifestyle photographer. I specialize in wedding, senior, and couple’s photography, with a love for candid, true-to-color images.

What I’m most proud of is having a job that I truly love. I feel very lucky to be doing what I do!

The main thing I want people to know about my brand is the core of everything I do: preserving memories. I shoot and edit with the goal of accurately documenting and preserving memories for my clients. I aim to capture real colors, emotions and moments in every single image I deliver to my clients.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

In order to fund my business, I had to start from the bottom. I had an old camera that I had received for my thirteenth birthday (I started my business at nineteen) and although it wasn’t the best quality, it taught me how to properly use manual mode and really get into the photography industry. I also gave out a lot of free shoots — I reached out to friends, family, people I knew who were getting married and offered so many free galleries (with the stipulation that they would post the photos on social media and credit me as the photographer). Soon after, I took a photography class at school because I knew it would help me gain access to rentable gear on campus. For two years, all of my gear actually belonged to my school. When it was time for graduation, I had already saved enough funds from my business to not only buy, but upgrade my own equipment.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

One thing that I never considered when I decided to pursue a creative business was the lack of free time. Myself and many of my photography friends have gone into the business under the assumption that we would have more freedom over our schedules, we would be constantly traveling and working less. This could not be farther from the truth. While there is no one to ask for time off and you technically do get to set your schedule, we often are planning our work over a year in advance and struggle to say no to new inquiries (despite how busy and rundown we may be). There are many late nights, early mornings, meals worked through, and social events missed (especially as a wedding photographer who gives up most weekends). The work is really never done when you own your own business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.megandaveyphotography.com
• Instagram: @MeganDaveyPhotography
• Other: TikTok: @MeganDaveyPhotography

Image Credits

Megan Davey Photography