We recently connected with Michelle Hewitt and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Covid really threw a curve ball into the wedding and photography industry in a huge way. Pre Covid we had a lot of large weddings that included a focus on the event rather than the meaning behind the event. It was a party before it was a commitment. Obviously, weddings scaled back significantly during Covid, but now since things have opened up pretty much to pre pandemic levels, I am still seeing the smaller more intimate weddings become more prominent. Guest counts of 30 or so and even less are more and more common. This smaller even allows for a more focused feeling on the commitment between the couple and it also seems to lend to more details about the items that the are fun and unique to the couple. I’m seeing more personalized decor and special items throughout their big day.

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.

My name is Michelle and I’m so glad you’re taking time to find out a little about me. Based in California, I’m always searching for that perfect light here, but I love to travel! I’m hoping to bring more adventures in front of my lens as my craft grows and expands. I have always loved to travel, and now am excited to combine this passion with my photography. Described as a landscape portrait photographer, I love to find those amazing spots that reflect my clients amazing stories.

I believe in inclusion. I believe everyone has the right to be represented in photographs and social media. Which is why I try very hard to keep my business reasonably priced and accessible to everyone. I believe everyone is unique and their story belongs to them, I’m just a passer by who gets to capture it.

I’m a mother, wife and sister, but I have always been an artist at heart. I believe my unique outlook on life is what has helped me see things others can’t, and reflect it in my photography. I got into this field because I was tired of taking my kids to big box store for photographs, and thought “hey, I’m an artist…I can figure this out”… I picked up a camera and for the next 12 years, I have taken in all the inspiration and direction from other photographers and learned as much as I can on my own.

I’m pretty awesome, but so are a lot of other photographers in California. I believe my motivation to provide lasting images for my couples without a lot of pomp and circumstance of business mumbo-jumbo is what sets me apart. I focus on telling the story of my couples and leave the business side out of it (or as much as I can). There are other photographers who do it for their portfolio, I do it because I believe in love stories that deserve to be told. I love photographing weddings, engagements, families, seniors, and even bands!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Hands down the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing love in it’s purest form. I’m fortunate to photograph some of people’s best days. Weddings, engagements, families…they’re together for photos to celebrate a milestone usually. Getting to be a witness to these joyus moments and times is so amazing. The second best part of what I do is getting to follow along with these couples and families as they move through life’s moments. Engagement photos turn to wedding, move to maternity and move on to family photos. It honestly is the most amazing job in the world.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

This photography was never intended to be an income source or stream. I started photographing my kids and it slowly built into a small family photography business. It wasn’t until my now 16 year old son was in Kindergarten and one of the fellow parents was a wedding photographer. As a single mom, she decided it was time for her to go get a “real” job, or at least one that pays insurance. She had been shooting weddings for 10 years and wanted to impart her wisdom upon someone, so that it wasn’t a waste of her time. That first year, she took me under her wings and we shot nearly 25 weddings in one year. I learned so much from her and credit her to where I got my start. From that year on, I have continued to build relationships with other vendors in the industry and created some great friendships. I have not had a huge scale up in my business, at least not super quick…, it’s truly been a slow and steady, but also this way, I am able to take the clients when I want and balance my home life and raising 3 kids.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.valleyimagesphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/valleyimagesphotography

Image Credits
Valley Images Photography