We recently connected with Miranda Flores and have shared our conversation below.
Miranda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?
I failed at starting my photography business… but hold tight, and let me explain!
After several years of being a hobby photographer, with the support and encouragement of my husband and family, I decided to quit my job and pursue photography full-time. At the time, I didn’t have consistent work—just the occasional shoot or wedding here and there—but I was determined to find a way to make it work. I handled all the legal stuff, spent hours picking the perfect business name, and agonized over creating the “perfect” website. I threw myself into trendy social media posts and videos, all in an attempt to attract business from the comfort of my home. I even tried a little bit of networking, but it was intimidating, and instead of pushing myself to focus on it, I’d get caught up in other tasks to convince myself I was still making progress.
Months went by, and despite my efforts, the business didn’t grow the way I had hoped. I received a few referrals from friends and family, but that was it. As time passed, I became more discouraged and stressed about the lack of “success,” and it started to feel like my dream was slipping further and further away. Nearly a year in, with little to show for my hard work, I reached a breaking point. I thought, “I’m done!” In that moment, I felt like a complete failure—not just as a business owner, but as a photographer. I was embarrassed by the lack of results and ashamed that I was giving up so easily. I ended up returning to a 9-5 job and completely dissolved my business. I didn’t touch my camera for months.
It took some time, but eventually, I realized my failure wasn’t in not having a booming business on my first try. It wasn’t that I was a failure as a photographer or creative, or even as an entrepreneur. The real failure was that I stayed stuck in my comfort zone. I made excuses to avoid the things that would have actually helped my business grow, and I let my fear of failure control me. I overthought everything to the point of paralysis, which kept me from taking the necessary steps forward.
Reflecting on those experiences, I recognized that the true lesson was not to fear failure, but to learn how to push past it. Fast forward a couple of years, and I’m back at it—this time with a clearer vision, a stronger work ethic, and a commitment to stepping outside my comfort zone. I’m now building my photography business from the ground up, and in the short time since I’ve reignited my passion, I’ve already seen more growth than I did in my first attempt. I’m excited for what the future holds and proud of the progress I’ve made so far.
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.
I tend to be a bit long-winded—I’m a storyteller at heart—so bear with me!
I’m an adventurous, book-reading, matcha-loving wife and toddler mom. I grew up in Colorado and moved to Texas for school at Baylor University (sic ’em Bears!). After graduating, I decided to settle in the wonderful community of Waco, Texas. During my time in school, I had the opportunity to travel all over Europe through a study abroad program and spent three months living in Costa Rica after graduation. Not long after returning from my travels, I met my husband! We’ve now been together for nearly 7 years, married for almost 4 of those, and welcomed our daughter in 2023. I have a deep love for the outdoors, so when the weather is nice here in Texas, you’ll often find me on walks with my family or running around the park with my kiddo.
Growing up in Colorado, I was always taking photos—whether it was with disposable cameras my mom would buy or a little point-and-shoot digital. I loved capturing the beauty of the world around me, but it wasn’t until I took a high school photography class that I truly discovered my passion. That was the first time I got my hands on a DSLR, learned about Photoshop, and really started exploring portraiture. It changed everything. I became hooked on capturing the essence of people and their stories, rather than just landscapes. From that point on, I spent all my free time learning more about photography, taking photos of my friends and family (who were often my willing models), and refining my craft.
In college, I began taking on my first paid shoots—senior portraits, family photos, creative sessions, and even my very first wedding. It was clear that weddings had a special place in my heart. I loved documenting the love between couples and being a part of such an important day in their lives. But I also couldn’t leave behind my passion for creative portraiture—the artistic process of capturing someone’s personality or bringing an idea to life through dynamic poses, composition, and lighting.
Choosing just one type of photography to specialize in felt too limiting, so I decided to specialize in both weddings (and elopements) and portraiture. This way, I could continue to merge my love for storytelling through both intimate couple moments and creative, artistic portraits.
Today, as a destination wedding and portrait photographer, I primarily focus on couples—whether that’s capturing their weddings, elopements, or engagements—but I also have the privilege of working with families and individuals. What I love most about my work is the opportunity to meet incredible people in amazing places and tell their stories through photographs. My goal with every shoot is to ensure that the images I create are a true reflection of who my clients are—capturing their love, their personalities, and the essence of what they wish to share with the world.
For me, photography is about more than just taking pictures; it’s about creating art that feels authentic and meaningful. I want my clients to look at their photos and see their story—expressed in a way that is beautiful, dynamic, and uniquely theirs. Whether it’s a wedding day filled with emotion or a portrait session that captures someone’s spirit, I want my work to showcase the moments that matter most.
One thing I really value is building a personal connection with my clients before their big day. I often arrange a coffee meet-up or a FaceTime call to get to know each other, chat about their vision, and make sure we’re a good fit. From there, I work closely with them every step of the way—from brainstorming ideas to scouting locations, helping with timelines, and coordinating the finer details of the shoot or wedding day.
The knowledge and experience I’ve gained over the years have been invaluable, and I take pride in making sure that each couple or individual I work with has the best experience possible. I truly love what I do and the opportunity to help others celebrate life’s most important moments through my photography.
What sets me apart is my commitment to authenticity and creativity. I believe every couple and every individual has a unique story, and it’s my job to bring that story to life in an artful, thoughtful way. I’m incredibly proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients, the trust they place in me, and the lasting memories we create together. And above all, I’m proud of the fact that I get to do what I love every day.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
This story closely ties with the time I “failed” at pursuing my business. After deciding to dissolve my first attempt at starting a photography business, I completely stepped away from the creative world. I took on a 9-5 job in the financial sector, and during those couple of years, my husband and I started a family, welcoming our daughter into the world.
When I finally decided to revisit my love for photography and explore the idea of launching another business, I realized I had to completely pivot—not just in terms of strategy, but also in my mindset. Not only did I want to approach things differently this time, but my circumstances had changed drastically. Now, as a mom with a full-time job, the time I have to dedicate to my business is much more limited. So, every moment I do get to work on it has to count.
My time management skills have been pushed to their limits as I balance the complexities of starting a business from almost scratch while soaking in the beauty of motherhood and maintaining a full-time job. This experience has completely shifted my perspective on time. It’s made me realize just how strong and capable I am when I commit to something. I had to pivot in how I approached running a business, how I defined success, and how I viewed my own productivity.
Each day, as I work toward building a successful photography business, I continue to learn new ways to push past my comfort zones, adapt my time management strategies, and evolve my business approach. I’m incredibly thankful for the pivots I’ve had to make along this journey because, without them, I wouldn’t be the person or the creative I am today.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I’m at my core an obsessed learner. I thrive on gathering knowledge, absorbing new ideas, and constantly soaking up information about my passions. Whether it’s learning the latest techniques in photography or exploring the fundamentals of running a business, I’m always looking to grow. My reading list is a mile long, and I’ve had the privilege of diving into books that have shaped my business and creative journey, such as Atomic Habits by James Clear, which helped me build better systems and routines, or timeless classics like How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, which deepened my understanding of communication and relationship-building in business.
However, the most transformative resources for me have been podcasts and YouTube channels, particularly from other photographers and creatives. These have not only taught me the technicalities of the craft but also reshaped my mindset about success, entrepreneurship, and the intersection of creativity and business.
Podcasts have been a powerful tool in my learning process. They provide insights into how other photographers and creative entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of running a business, handling the ups and downs of creativity, and keeping their passion alive amidst the hustle. I particularly love The Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher, which covers everything from marketing and strategy to mindset shifts, and The Freelance Friday Podcast by Latasha James, which has been incredibly helpful for understanding how to balance the creative and business sides of being an entrepreneur. Listening to these creators share their struggles, successes, and strategies has been eye-opening and motivating.
Additionally, YouTube channels from creatives like Sean Dalton, Jai Long, and Ben Hartley have been pivotal in changing how I view the relationship between business and creativity. Sean Dalt’s videos on productivity and scaling a photography business have given me practical tools to streamline my workflow, while Jai Long’s mindset-centric approach to entrepreneurship has inspired me to think more strategically about the growth of my business without sacrificing my creative passion. Ben Hartley’s content, particularly around storytelling and branding, has shifted how I approach marketing, showing me how to position myself authentically while still running a successful business.
In a world that is constantly evolving, especially in the creative space, these resources have helped me see that business and creativity are not separate—they are deeply interconnected. I’ve learned how to approach business with a creative mindset and how to nurture my creativity with the business strategies that help me stay grounded and sustainable. The knowledge and insights I’ve gained from these resources have truly changed how I view success in my career and how I manage my business every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.miraflorphoto.com/
- Instagram: @miraflorphoto
- Facebook: Miranda Flores Photography
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/miranda-flores-9bb124182
Image Credits
Myself- Miranda Flores
Randy Flores
Lesley Tucker