We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natalie Borton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natalie below.
Natalie, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?
Experience is always superior to any class you’ll ever take. I always knew my passion lied within my camera and entrepreneur ambitions, but I thought it felt out of reach because I didn’t study business in college or videography. However, after graduating and working in the marketing world for years at a few different companies, I carefully studied the CEOs and photographers in the agencies I worked at. How did they handle fires and what leadership abilities worked/ didn’t work? How did the photographers direct a photoshoot? What were the people I was admiring doing and how can I bring these practices into my own life?
These were all things I observed through these jobs and reaching out to mentors for that I knew would serve me when I decided to take the leap of starting my own company.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Late August Studio came from my passion for visual storytelling and deep experience in digital marketing. Growing up I always had a camera in my hand, directing little photo shoots with my friends at sleepovers and daydreaming about big campaigns in school.
During college to get my head out of anxiety tendencies I picked my camera up and found a creative outlet by taking photos of trips I went on and my friends. I’m originally from Kansas, so moving to San Diego not only felt like a complete life flip but I felt so inspired by the beauty here. There was something special about the flow I got into a session but I never thought I could make a career of it at the time. I was told a traditional 9-5 was the path to success.
Flash forward a few years I’m graduating in the middle of COVID, trying to enter the workforce during a pandemic was interesting to say the least. But I’m grateful for the path it led me to build the relationships and skills in the agencies I worked at. I diversified my skillset to learn video editing, content strategy and social media marketing.
As a creative, it’s important for us to continually be inspired. I knew when the time to quit my 9-5 was right when I felt so out of touch with myself. There was no time to dedicate to any creative passion of mine and felt myself slipping in a depression. I had personal connections and mentors that were able to guide me to a launching pad that I could finally take the leap to start my own content agency.
Starting in December 2022, Late August Studio has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I specialize in brand photography, content creation and strategy. It’s connected me to so many amazing women entrepreneurs and opened my eye to a lifestyle that’s aligned with who I authentically am.
Late August Studio is created to bring to life brand stories through impactful media.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I always believe in kindness as cliche as it sounds. I believe that in the photography and content creation world, showing up to set and working with people you may have never met before, you want to have your best foot forward. Leaving people after working together feeling seen and appreciated is always my priority. You don’t know where connections can lead and showing up as your best self will only take you farther.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Success doesn’t look like what you pictured, or linear. Why I’ve built success is through the consistency to show up for my business every day. I always thought success was a direct path, but sometimes you take two steps back to have leaps forward. You need to celebrate your small wins because when you get the days of backpedaling you know that you’re confident to move past the initial contrast in your way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @lateaugust.studio @natalieborton_