We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Samantha McRoy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, thanks for joining us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I definitely wis I had started my business sooner! I feel like this is a loaded question though, because if I would have started earlier I wouldn’t have, nor did I have the support I have today. My success would have looked a lot different.

I truly started my business about 2 years ago, however I have had interest in photography since high school. I asked for a camera I could learn on as a graduation gift, and received a point-and-shoot film camera. I played with it a bit, but soon bought my first DSLR camera so I could adjust settings. In 2015 I bought a camera you could change lenses! This is when I started photographing my friends and families engagements, weddings, maternity, and family photos. During that time my closest friends and family encouraged me, but I personally didn’t feel I was that great.

In 2020 I had my second child and was feeling overwhelmed. I had sought out therapy and this is when things changed. My therapist asked me in one of our first sessions if I had any hobbies, so I mentioned I liked to take photos. She asked why I don’t pursue it, and I said “I’m afraid of failure”. She pressed on asking what was I doing now and how do I know if I failed if I hadn’t even tried. I felt shook. How had I allowed myself to fail by not even trying?!! A month later I was accepted into a mastermind for photographers where I learned so much about myself, how to run a successful photography business, and formed a really awesome community of 24 other photographers that I still talk to regularly.

When I started Samantha McRoy Photography, LLC I was a mom of a 2 year old and newborn, COVID just shut things down, and I had been a dental hygienist for 8 years. Starting something new was very scary. The first camera I bought was when I started hygiene school and I had every intention of starting a photography business, but I lacked the courage for myself and the community. Asking another photographer to help you learn was like asking a magician all their secrets! I think my success then would have really fell on my confidence and dedication, whereas starting it later I felt that encouragement and drive more. Paired with the community of other photographers who cheered me on and kept me with reasonable expectations, I know my business benefited greatly.

Looking back it is easy to say I want to start earlier, but I think the wait was worth it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Samantha McRoy of Samantha McRoy Photography, LLC out of St, Louis, Mo. I am completely in love with my family! We spend most of our free time together, but halloween/fall activities are our favorite! We love to tent camp and hike. I am a chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, cloth diaper obsessed, and dental nerd!

I really started this passion being asked by family and friends who saw a talent I didn’t. I just loved taking the pictures! I started with couples, but after snapping a few families I felt deeply about capturing all those fleeting moments. As moms we want time to slow down, or hold on a little longer. Photography has allowed me to preserve those memories, and although it may not be felt physically through touch, those memories should be felt emotionally. That is my goal for every session, a physical copy of a detail you may have otherwise forgot, allowing the memory to flood you with loving fondness of who you were as a family in that season of life.

I am most proud of being a mother. Being a mother has allowed me to become an emotive photographer. Having my children made me want to be better. Experiencing motherhood gave me an appreciation for what photographs truly means. Most of us want photos because we look our best, at the perfect weight, or have perfect children who sit and smile. However, our most treasured possessions are messy, chaotic, loud, and full of big personalities. You will want to remember this and that is why I try to focus on those moments.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I have had to unlearn a lot of things! Patience is an ongoing lesson!! The most impactful was hearing my mentor say there’s enough room for all of us and we don’t have to be everyone’s photographer. I struggled with knowing there are tons of really great photographers at all price ranges, artistic eyes, editing styles, and passions, but I have a place at the table. Community over competition.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I funded my business initially with a tax return. I took that tax return and invested in a mentorship for my business. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mcroyphotography.com
• Instagram: @samanthamcroyphotography https://www.instagram.com/samanthamcroyphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMcRoyphoto

Image Credits
Samantha McRoy Photography, LLC