Today we’d like to introduce you to Day Inouye.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been taking photos for as long as I can remember. In high school, I was always the one telling the group where we should take a picture and what the best poses would be. Fast forward to when I joined the infamous Book of Faces (Facebook) back in the day….I could NEVER just post a random photo. It had to be perfect. It had to be THE photo. Something that would get people’s attention and certainly it had to be NOTHING like what everyone else was posting! I’ve always taken lots of time on my photos – even something as simple as a selfie or a pair of shoes. Whatever I put out there to the world, with my name attached, a lot of thought went into it…..even the caption. Ha! I literally would spend an hour or more, figuring out the best caption or doing research to help inspire the best caption. Madness.
From there, I began getting compliments on the posts I made and someone asked if I could take some photos of them for fun. So, I did. The more I took photos “for fun,” the more my family and friends would say, “dude, you should do this for money!” I thought they were absolutely insane, thinking NO ONE is going to pay me for this!
Before I knew it, my husband bought me a fancy, “big girl” camera for my birthday one year. I was like whaaaaaa?! I don’t deserve this! But he believed in me – he really wanted me to pursue this and see what could happen. I am grateful for his confidence in me.
So, over the next couple of years, I started taking photos of everyone. I offered free sessions to anyone and their mama! I needed the experience. I never thought I was good enough, so the more practice I got, the more comfortable I became. Eventually, I got to the point where I didn’t feel so bad receiving valuable, green paper for my services. Haha Because let me tell ya, I really, really sucked in the beginning! I feel so bad thinking back on all those poor people who let me experiment on them. I was a mad scientist! But thank you to everyone who let me practice on them! 🙂
Great, 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?
The journey to start my own business has not been an easy one. For starters, I’m a wife and a mother. Finding the right work/life balance can be challenging. Especially when I put my mind on something, I really give it my all – I’m focused and I don’t quit until it’s exactly what I want it to be. That could be stressful at times when it came to all the hours I spent editing and trying to make time to spend with my family.
Secondly, learning everything I needed to know about photography and what factors can make or break the quality of a photo was a true brain-overloading experience. I was used to picking up a camera or my phone at this point, and just clicking the button. Now I had this camera that did everything except fold my laundry. I had to figure this thing out as well. I also connected with a few other photographers who were very generous and invited me to second shoot on their own photoshoots. I just wanted to learn. I was like SpongeDay SquarePants, trying to soak up everything I could.
Lastly, there’s self-doubt. I’ve often considered quitting because I didn’t feel good enough. Now that we have Instagram, there’s soooo much to see. I would follow other photographers to feel inspired and be connected to others with the same interests as mine. But after a while, I started to compare myself and evaluate how I measure up to them. Omg, the mind is a powerful tool. Luckily, I have an awesome support group that continues to encourage me – that keeps me going.
The best advice I can give is to NEVER STOP LEARNING. Stay open-minded and don’t be afraid to take risks. Don’t be afraid to fail. If you’re truly passionate about it, keep going.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Day Inouye Photography – what should we know?
I specialize in lifestyle photography. That means, let’s just be real and figure out how we can make this truly reflect who you are and what life is really like. For example, I do all of my newborn sessions in the client’s home. I capture parents loving on their new nugget in the comfort of their own bed. I capture a new father trying to figure out how to swaddle or dad changing baby’s diaper and getting peed on (haha – it’s happened!). I capture mom in the baby’s room, in the rocking chair singing baby a lullaby to get her to sleep, while dad is peeking in from the doorway. It’s really sweet. Those are the images that really tug on your heart and I focus on that. I primarily shoot families, engagements, maternity, and I’ve done a few weddings.
As a photographer (and in general), I’m always seeking my next adventure – who’s next and what can we do that I (we) haven’t done before. I’m like, let’s shoot on top of a mountain! Or hey, what do you think about shooting your engagement photos at a bookstore or an old, vintage shop. I am proudly outside of the box and I love taking risks. As I say that, I’m kinda laughing to myself because that truly is my reputation. I just like my clients to be wild and free. I encourage my clients to never think twice. In fact, don’t think at all! Just do it. Just….be. That’s what I like to capture – moments, true authentic moments. Not scripted unnatural poses. When my clients look back at their photos, I want them to say, “Omg, remember that? That’s when you farted and we couldn’t stop laughing!”
I’m staying true to that….forever!
I also love it when my clients turn into new friends. That’s the best part! I try to make my clients feel as comfortable as possible and I want their time with me to be an experience that they’ll talk about for months.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Connecting with other photographers has been helpful for me – knowledge-sharing and hearing about their experiences and obstacles – there’s always something new to learn. There are lots of photographers who are also mothers and having that support is valuable to me. You find that you’re not in this alone, they have some of the same work/life balance struggles as you do as well. Social media has been a great tool for me to find and connect with other photographers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dayinouyephotography.com/
- Phone: 678 / 900 / 2993
- Email: dayinouye.photography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dayinouyephotography_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timecapturexo/
Image Credit:
Personal family photo – Rachel Pourchier
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