Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Johnson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Hayley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I realized my love for photography in 2010 when I traveled to Zambia with Habitat for Humanity. I knew it was going to be the trip of a lifetime so I broke down and bought one of those expensive cameras. It took an all-day class for me to figure out all of the fancy buttons.
I took over a thousand photos on that trip and fell in love with the art of photography. I continued taking classes and offering photo sessions to anyone willing to give me a chance, and my passion grew. Three years later, I left my career at Habitat for Humanity’s corporate office, and Hayley Jo Photography began.
Today, I love to capture the personality of my clients with naturally lit photos that are bright, clean, classic, and fun. I pride myself on variety, client individuality, and capturing honest, candid emotion. I’m entering into my 5th year of business in 2018 and excited to roll out lots of new things including a new blog series highlighting adoptive families.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I feel very fortunate to have built a strong client base stemming from word of mouth, referrals, and social media. My greatest challenges so far though, have been balancing life as a mom and a business owner. I’ve decided to do photography on a part-time basis which means turning away business when it’s hard. It’s easy to compare myself to others who are in different life stages or have been in business longer than I have. I feel like I’m still learning what my capacity is and where my personal limits are.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Hayley Jo Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
I run a portrait photography business specializing in maternity, newborn, child, and family photography. Most of my clients opt into a “newborn plan” where they are booking 2-4 sessions up front. I’ll capture them around 30-34 weeks pregnant, in the two weeks after their baby is born, and then again once or twice within baby’s first year. The majority of my newborn sessions are held in the client’s home which keeps it new and interesting to me – every client’s home has a unique personality and has a different natural lighting. It’s always a good challenge to find that “good light” while showcasing my client’s in the space where they feel like themselves the most. I pride myself on variety, client individuality, and capturing honest, candid emotion. As a mother myself, I understand working with infants and children requires patience…so I try to keep things fun and relaxed. My first instruction to parents is to not tell their kids to stand up straight and say, “cheeeeeeese”. I want kids to be themselves and I’m usually able to ask enough silly questions to get those natural smiles.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I will say I have completely lucked out with some rock start clients. I’ve heard horror stories from other photographers and feel like I’ve somehow managed to side step the entitled folks out there (knock on wood). I attribute much of my success so far to my support system (my husband and family) and my faith. I firmly believe God gives each of us unique talents and we are called to make the world better by pursuing those passions.
Pricing:
- Single Session Booking Fee: $250
- Multi-Session Newborn Plans begin at: $450
- Digital/Print Packages are purchased separately and begin at $650
Contact Info:
- Address: 174 CARROLL ST. SE
ATLANTA, GA 30312 - Website: http://www.hayleyjophotography.com
- Phone: 7707146724
- Email: hayley@hayleyjophotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayleyjophotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hayleyjophotography/
Image Credit:
Hayley Jo Photography
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