Today we’d like to introduce you to Sunde’ Hilliard.
Hi Sunde’, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Let’s see… the origin story of how Sunde’ Marie Imagery came to be has roots that go back to probably middle and high school. I always carried disposable cameras in my bag, and every extracurricular activity I was a part of always got some coverage. Band, cheerleading, NJROTC, student council, dance companies…you name it, I have photos of it. (I was a busy kid lol) I had a knack for snapping at the right moment to catch reactions, pivotal moments, or a special memory. My favorite thing to hear people say was, “When did you take that?!”
Once I enrolled in college, I realized I could take classes to improve my photography skills. The downside was the only photography professor at the university had tenure and was basically there to collect a check. I managed to get a B in the classes, but still have no idea how I managed that one. I was a campus photographer for the school newspaper so maybe that was it? Who knows…
Fast forward to after graduation and moving to ATL, I started working for a portrait studio, trying to break into the creative industry. Nope, that didn’t work. I was there five years and not only had the worst job I’d ever had but also felt like a number as opposed to a valued employee. Nothing I did was ever enough; the sales numbers were never where they were supposed to be (even though the higher-ups never based anything off of demographics), and I was overworked and WAY underpaid. Getting laid off made me want to do cartwheels all the way out the door! The only good part about working there was figuring out what NOT to do in a photography business. By the time the company shut down, I had a couple of clients I had stolen from my job (even though they only came to the studio on days I was working, they didn’t trust anyone else, lol), a logo, business cards, and the skeleton of a website. I figured I could do bad by myself!
The beginning was obviously rocky, but it eventually blossomed into taking photography classes that actually taught me something, obtaining an internship with celebrity photographer Derek Blanks, which was SO helpful, networking with other photographers and businesses who showed me how to perfect my craft and make money from it, and finally being able to make a name for myself. And here I am!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like any other business, the first few years are trying and can feel like you’re being dropped into the unknown, but it basically shaped me into the creative/business owner that I am today. The unfortunate thing about my profession is that it isn’t always consistent. There could be months where I’m busy beyond busy, and then the following month(s), I can’t even give a free session away. During the lowest months, I’ve threatened to sell all my equipment and go back to a 9-5, which wouldn’t be ideal, but at least my finances would be intact… but every time I think I’m going to pull the plug on my passion, a new opportunity comes through for me to keep going and grind it out. I’m a firm believer in things happen for a reason and that God doesn’t make mistakes. Every experience I’ve had so far has set me up to be better advanced in my career.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Sunde’ Marie Imagery specializes in corporate event photography, portraits, and lifestyle/business branding photography. I love being able to capture my clients’ greatness and highlight positive traits that they may not have known they have. I’ve had clients that never had a professional photoshoot before working with me, and at the end of the session, the common feedback is that they had fun, felt very relaxed, and nothing felt forced or pushed them too far out of their comfort zone (unless that was the purpose). I like to have consultations with clients first to see what their vision is for their session and then give them an experience to exceed their expectation. I feel most valued when I see the images that I’ve taken are being used for something important, for example a business profile photo, an album cover, marketing materials, etc. I’m most proud of the fact that everything I’ve worked towards in my career is reflected in my work. My visuals continue to get better, my business mind has gotten sharper, and my network is growing based off the images that I have provided. It makes me feel so accomplished!
Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Repeat business and referrals are the best way to support me! I’m always looking to expand my network with other businesses (small and/or corporate) and creatives who need visuals!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sundemarie.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sundemarieimagery
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sunde-hilliard-21ba5a53
Image Credits
Raimon Norris
Sunde’ Marie Imagery
