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

Meribeth, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

Photography is an industry that is undervalued and underestimated at times. There are individuals out there that believe Photography is just pressing a button. However, it is so much more. It is an art form that we spend time trying to master. Because people do not fully know all the behind the scenes work photographers do, many people assume that the prices being advertised are inflated.

The reality is that the cost of doing business as a photographer is quite high. If you are a legal business, you have taxes, insurance, equipment costs, editing software subscriptions, etc…that all must be factored into pricing. Not to mention the hours spent preparing for and editing after a session.

We as photographers have to price ourselves based on what we need to survive as individuals and business owners and sometimes that means we aren’t the right fit for a client and that’s ok!

Meribeth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a newborn and maternity photographer. When I started photography, I did NOT want to work with babies. They scared me. But I embraced the fear and jumped in head first learning as much as I could. I would not trade my career for anything!

I get to snuggle cute babies and capture the happiest moments in people’s lives. In my portraits, I strive to make these babies and their families the center point. I am a more minimalistic, monochromatic photographer. I want the baby to be what you see when you look at my portraits.

Finding this style has not been easy. A person can easily be pulled into the newest trends and styles, but it is important to find where your passion is and carve out your own little space. I always have improvements that can be made, but I think I have finally defined my style. And let’s be honest, I get to snuggle cute babies all day – what could be more fun?

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Relatability, integrity and my baby whispering skills have built my reputation. I am a newborn photographer, but I am a mom first! I share my experiences with my clients. I let first time moms know they are not alone in their exhaustion. I share tips and tricks with them. I share struggles I have had. I strive to make them feel comfortable with me handling their precious babies.

I also feel like integrity has been a cornerstone in my reputation. I am human. I make mistakes. When this happens, I am upfront and honest with clients. I forgot to respond to an email in a timely manner- I tell them I was wrong! I need to reschedule because of illness or life- I let them know what is happening and make it up to them. I think that builds respect with my client base.

Last, but not least – I have baby whispering skills. I think when moms and dads see me with their babies, see how I handle their precious cargo, see me soothe an unhappy baby, it leaves a position impression. Positive experiences are experiences you want to tell other people about. I try to make every session I conduct one that the client will want to tell friends about.

Nearly 100% of my marketing is word of mouth, so my reputation is vital to my success.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

As a small business owner we need to work 24/7 to be successful. This “theory” is one I am still trying to unlearn. While it is crucial to hustle to make a business successful, it is equally as important to set boundaries. If you are working all hours of the day, you will burn out. It is important to find a work-life balance for the sake of your family and your business.

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Contact Info:

• Website: Www.myheartsdesirephotography.com
• Instagram: @myheartsdesirephoto
• Facebook: @myheartsdesirephotography

Image Credits
My Heart’s Desire Photography