We recently connected with Myonia Mckeithen and have shared our conversation below.
Myonia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?
I would have to say the most innovative thing I’ve done in my career would be not having the equipment I need, but somehow always making it work. The old saying of “It’s not the camera but person who’s behind the camera ” I took that and ran with it my whole career. I decided not to let it control the out come of my work. I’m always thinking of new and creative ways to make my shoots fun yet alway making sure the quality of my images are still up to par.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I first got started when I was just a child, running around taking pictures of my family with my barbie polaroid camera. I would take pictures of almost any and everything at that time. Then once I got older and started high school I took photography classes as extracurricular class , My photography teacher then told that I had an eye for this and should consider going to collage for photography. When I graduated I did not listen unfortunately I went to college for something thing completely opposite of what I love to do. That only lasted a few months then I decided to switch my major and go to an Art school to chase my dreams of being a professional photographer. I attended the Art Institute of Washington and graduated in 2018 with my bachelors. At the time while in college I loved to shoot events and lifestyle, but as time when on my love for fashion , Portrait , and beauty photography grew much larger then I expected. It’s kind of all I want to shoot most of the time, but my love for photography has me to shoot everything. I’ve never been afraid to take on a challenge. What I mean by that, when my client’s ask me to execute a vision for them sometimes it something out my comfort zone. Im never afraid to accept because I always say if a person is requesting you for service they want your form of Art. One thing that sets my photography apart from others I’m not afraid to use colors and different composition. I’m very proud of my work , and how I managed to grow in my work today in 2022. I couldn’t be more proud of how Monae Photography is turning out. I am still learning and growing in my craft as well as my business.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Definitely networking is key to growing your clientele, you have to meet new people in order to meet other new people. Also I love to put projects together and find models. I’ll put together a mood board to create content to post. I love to make sure I have fresh content to gain new clients, also to keep my social media accounts up to par.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal is to shoot for celebrities, and bigger brands, I am a very driven person so I tend make sure when I say something that “something” is accomplished.
Contact Info:
- Website: Monaephotography.com
- Instagram: Monae_Photography
- Facebook: Monae Photography
- Youtube: Just Moeskii
Image Credits
Personal phot: Instagram @Amv_photos_ Behind the scenes photographer: Cat Williams @ladiivakreations All 3 Studio Images: Monae_Photography Myonia Mckeithen Yellow Studio image: Clothing by: Space Kitty @Spacekitty000 Makeup Artist: @Rakualwaysflourish Maternity Photo: @its.anais Plant Photo: @naomikm._