Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sunde Hilliard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sunde, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you manage your own social media?

I manage my own social media but it has its ups and downs. The pros are definitely that I can change anything I want at any time and that I feel I can put my own personal flair (music, hashtags, captions, etc.) on posts to make them more appealing to my audience. But the cons…….. I am actually at a point where I HATE SOCIAL MEDIA! I have never liked the fact that we are in the times of seeing is believing, perception is everything, and that if you don’t post it, it never happened. Keeping up with it can be a hassle and, I’ll admit, I’ve gone weeks without posting anything because I was either too busy doing other things or it just wasn’t at the forefront of my mind. I understand that posting content is a part of my business, but it is definitely the part that I dislike the most. I would love to hire someone to manage the task for me, however I think that I’m the only one that can represent my business the way I would like it to be represented.

Sunde, 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?

Photography has always been a part of my life. My mother often reminds me of stories of me as a very young child taking her camera and saying “Me do!” and insisting she let me press the button. From there it blossomed into attending and participating in school events and extracurricular activities while carrying 3 and 4 disposable cameras at a time (remember those? lol) I didn’t want to miss ANYTHING! I’m so grateful for those photos now because the memories they bring back are so meaningful! Once I got to college I was able to take photography courses and transfer into digital photography. I was hooked. I knew that was what I wanted to make my career.

After college I worked for a portrait studio which was honestly not in the direction I wanted to move but I figured I needed some sort of professional experience. This was hands down the most stressful job I have ever had in my life but it taught me some valuable lessons about the do’s and dont’s of the photography business…mostly dont’s, but still necessary. It pushed me to realize I could do this on my own. The company eventually went through a company wide layoff which I was a part of and I was able to start my entrepreneurial journey.

I started of shooting everything for years (portraits, family photos, children’s events, weddings, headshots, sports, etc.) just to get a feel for what I was doing. Looking back on it now, that was absolutely insane lol… but at least I tried it! I have since learned to narrow things down and now only specialize in lifestyle photography, event coverage, and corporate needs. Work smarter not harder right?

I am most proud of the growth that I’ve seen in my work and in my business endeavors and it means so much more when people that have followed my progress are able to see it too. I pride myself in learning from others in the industry and applying it to my own brand. “My biggest flex” is having repeat clients and referrals that allow me to not have to market as much as I used to. I do my best to make my clients comfortable before we start (even the nervous ones) just with regular conversation to put any sort of jitters at bay. I understand lighting equipment can be intimidating! By the end of the session, they have great images, feel accomplished, beautiful or handsome, and maybe a little cocky, but in a good way! When I ask if they had fun, the answer is always yes and it’s the most rewarding feeling for me.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My photography journey has not been all bright lights and smiles… I have definitely had months of decline into little or no business, slow seasons, and more tears than I could ever imagine just from feeling so defeated. I remember there was a time in 2020 during the pandemic of course where nothing was moving. I couldn’t PAY anyone to do a shoot. My finances were low and I was really questioning if photography was for me or if I needed to make some moves into a different profession. I was willing to sell all of my equipment and wrap it up, but something in me said “hold on just a little longer.” As much as I wanted to quit, I kept that sliver of hope and it paid off. By the end of the year, I was able to land my first celebrity session and print publication, including the magazine cover and article photos, via referral from a previous client. God was so good! I couldn’t help but to cry because I had literally felt like I hit rock bottom and my career was over. From that point forward I was able to plan business strategies to never get that low again and also self motivating practices to get me through those gloomy moments.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

My best source of new clients is and always will be referrals. I love meeting new people and networking with business owners but sometimes a simple introduction doesn’t always seal the deal. I know that word of mouth is the best way to relay information, good or bad. The clients that I have worked with are, more often than not, friends or business associates with previous clients that I’ve had. I’m so thankful that I can make enough of a good impression to keep my brand held in a positive light.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sundemarieimagery
• Website: www.sundemarie.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunde-hilliard-21ba5a53/
• Twitter: @Sundemari3

Image Credits
Photos taken by Sunde’ Marie Imagery