We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michelle Maney. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michelle below.

Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

If I had to start again I would have to figure out exactly what I want and need for my business. Being a photographer that would mean deciding what kind of photos I want to shoot and what services I need to help maintain my business. (Websites, social media, etc.)

Michelle, 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’ve wanted to be a photographer ever since I got my first National Geographic magazine. I would watch lots of nature documentaries and think, “wow I want to do that.”

So I did my research, took photos on my phone, and got my first DSLR when I graduated high school. When I failed my college courses I decided to start my own business.

Long story short, I mostly shoot macro photography. Since I can’t travel right now and photograph the big things I have decided to focus on the little things that you might not see.

I want to show that there’s beauty in the mundane. There’s beauty in your own backyard.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My ultimate goal is to have financial freedom. As someone who has never had money of her own I really want to have the freedom of not relying on someone else for money.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When someone loves my work enough to purchase it. That’s more rewarding then a like or comment of a photo.

There are definitely better photographers than me so for someone to want a photo of mine is a very big achievement for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.monkipawphoto.com
• Instagram: monkipawphoto
• Facebook: MonkiPaw Photography
• Twitter: monkipawphoto
• Youtube: MonkiPaw Photography
• Other: See what else I’m up to: https://michellemaney.carrd.co/