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

Monika, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Yes! I’ve run Monika Normand Creative LLC full time since August of 2018, and it’s provided me with full time income for over 3 years now. Learning early on that income will be irregular in a creative, self-employed field is key – and as a Type A person, this was/is a challenge for me! I officially started my business in 2017, running it part-time. During that first year and a half of business, I was able to make good financial decisions that benefitted my business because I wasn’t worried about living off my business income. I had a full time job to pay my personal bills, therefore all business income could be reinvested in the business and saved to build a safety net for when I did quit my job.
A key note here is that I worked in financial institutions for a few years and LOVE finance/saving/investing/spreadsheets, so I was very thorough in making sure I had enough money saved before quitting my job. I recommend having 6 months of personal expenses saved, so you’re not stressed out trying to pay yourself right off the bat when you go into business full time. It’s a comforting feeling knowing you can cover your bills for a good chunk of time as work starts to come in.
I also always maintain a buffer in my business checking account to cover monthly expenses, pay myself and my employees, and to cover purchasing large business equipment and flights, etc. till I can pay myself back. AKA I don’t want to miss out on a good purchase, good investment, etc. for my business because I need to wait for the money to come in.
One concept I wish I could have gotten my brain to understand sooner is: to stop living with and acting out of a fear-based mentality. You know the one that says: “what if I don’t get enough work?”, “what if I can’t make enough money?”, “what if I lose clients?”. This type of thinking will only hinder your growth and cause you unnecessary stress. I’ve proved again and again that I am capable of running a successful business, making good decisions, and making good money too. So, my advice to speed up the process of success in a creative field or any field for that matter? Start thinking about what CAN go right and stop focusing on what might go wrong. Have confidence in yourself and make decisions from a place of trust and abundance, not scarcity and fear.

Monika, 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 brand photographer and content creator specializing in personal brands, hospitality, food and beverage, products and businesses. I work with a range of clients from fashion bloggers and dog trainers to national brands and local restaurants. High quality, personality-packed, brand-driven content is king in today’s world, and I help my clients capture vibrant imagery that helps engage with their customers, drive sales, and highlights what makes them unique. I strive not only to create beautiful content for my clients, but to also give them a great experience. I’m known for my bright and vibrant editing style, making my clients laugh, and bringing out their most comfortable, confident selves on camera.

I started my business based out of Massachusetts as a wedding and portrait photographer, serving clients throughout New England. I moved to Dallas in 2017 and shifted my business focus to the branding and business realm and now offer video and social media content creation (and have a team!) as Monika Normand Creative LLC.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building my social media presence has taken a long time, and I truthfully have a love hate relationship with it. That being said, I do get a good amount of leads from Instagram (and occasionally Facebook, Pinterest, etc.) so it is definitely worth investing in!

Here’s my advice on building your presence:

1. Know your brand. Get clear on what you do, who your clients are, what problems you solve, etc. Make sure your social media content reflects that. If you’re confused, your feed will reflect that and your potential customers/clients will be confused too.
2. Consistency is key. You need to show up regularly on social media and you’ll be rewarded over time.
3. Set up a social media schedule that you can realistically commit to. Consistency is key, but if you’re trying to show up every single day and post to your feed and stories and reels etc. 7 days a week, you’re going to get burnt out real quick. A scheduling app like Planoly can really help with time management when it comes to social and keeping a consistent schedule.
4. Be open to new trends. Listen to the young kids! LOL
5. Take mental breaks from social. It’s easy to get caught up in comparison, and ultimately that’s bad for your mental health. Remember that social media is just a business tool, not your whole dang life.

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

Number one, most simple thing you can do – and I cannot stress this enough: be nice to people. Being kind, honest, trustworthy, and treating people with respect and care has grown my business so much. It’s crazy to me, but people seem to have lost the human element to running a business. If you can perform your services well and also be sure your clients/customers feel seen, understood, cared for, and respected – you are going to be successful.

Number two: consistency. Reputations are built on consistency. For me as a photographer, having a consistent editing style is key. I’ve become known for my vibrant, natural editing style, and my clients know they can expect that same characteristic style every time they work with me. My website and social media pages also portray this consistent editing style and use the same language when describing my brand and service offerings. Get clear on your brand, what you offer and who you serve, and then show up consistently.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://monikanormandphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monika_normand_creative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monikanormandcreative
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-normand/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRqrDmy3Is9r6P2WFpzL8Hg
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/monikanormandcreative/

Image Credits
Monika Normand Creative LLC