Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melissa Avitia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Melissa , thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I have taken through my journey as a photographer is quitting my full-time job that I had from 2015 – 2023. I was frozen by fear and anxious to leave the comfortable spot I had worked so hard for within the company. In my mind that lingering question always remains “will I be able to provide for my family during this economy?”. I only had shoots on the weekends, which made my availability very limited and I worried it was going to continue to be that way. when I had my full time job I didn’t really think about the money just creating but realistically that mind set had to be changed.

Little did I know once I actually quit my job and I was able to focus more on marketing, creating beautiful photographs and my own schedule that it would open up a bigger world for me. I truly believe when people say you need to give your dreams 100% not just half heartedly because you’ll be able to reach that potential sooner than expected. Juggling my full-time job ended up holding me back, Im glad I took that risk never look back. Shooting outdoor and in my studio has overall enriched my life and attitude.

Melissa , 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?

At the beginning of my journey as a photographer I started with nature landscape shots. There is something about capturing the vastness and beauty of nature that really pulled me in. Whether it was at a macroscopic or microscopic level I was out there hiking and looking for those shots. When I would post my picture on instagram I had the support of many strangers giving me confidence in my work asking if I would do family photos. In my mind I was very nervous. I had alway done flowers, rivers, and mountains. How in the world was I going to include people? I had to push out of my comfort zone and interact with my new clientele. All my worries were laid to rest once they saw their photos and they were ecstatic to see “such beautiful photos”.

When you book with me I want this to be a whole experience not just another session. I enjoyed being able to take my clients to nature spots they have never been to. I want this moment to have a positive impact as they take their photos. I feel immense joy when I hear “where did you find this spot? We need to come back here another day!” because I know they are going to relax and have genuine reaction while shooting. When I am behind the camera I can’t help but smile to see clients overjoyed being with each other after setting the location. It’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to capture the emotions of others in that way.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Everyone’s financial situation is different. Personally, to fund mine I had to look for credit cards that would benefit me and slowly start accumulating my equipment. I had a fear of buying used camera equipment from people online so I bought everything brand new from Canon or Best Buy. I think my first year I didn’t really make any profits because I was so busy paying everything back and this is where my full-time job was convenient. I also did a lot of mini sessions for children. The most I would charge was $50- $85 and I would book 10 sessions a day for two weekends in a row. I was definitely overworked, but I had a specific goal in mind so It’s what kept me going. Once I was able to catch up on my debt I found the balance and slowly upgrading gear it took me awhile though I was on my second year by this time

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Building and maintaining a reputation in this market can be overwhelming. I have always been a person to keep to myself and not make any connections because I felt like I wasn’t good at making conversation. But within the past couple of years, I have changed my perspective in that regard. I always see those posts about networking and I didn’t think much of it until I started seeing the benefits. You don’t have to sell anything when you’re networking, just saying “Hello” & introducing yourself goes a long way. When it was done to me, the lasting impression was their simple kindness, and effortless flow of conversation. Ive also reacted out to local business that are barely starting and do their headshots. Starting a new business is scary and I just want to show that there are people out there rooting for you to succeed.
I build my clientele using social media, specifically Facebook and Instagram. I try to keep it professional but I also get more reactions when I show interactions with my clients, bloopers, or hardships. I feel like it makes it less intimidating about booking with a person you’ve never met.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mely_snaps?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelySnaps/