Experience Growth While Pursuing Your Passion with Michelle McDowell

Alright, so have you thought that pursuing your dreams right now where you are, it's too late? You don't have enough time.

This is not the time to do it.

Maybe you keep inching and starting and looking and getting ready to do something, but you end up not doing it. Or maybe you are in the middle of pursuing that passion and you're feeling like it's taking too long. Or maybe you feel like, is it worth it? Well, this episode is for you. I am so honored to feature one of my clients, Michelle McDowell, who is a branding and wedding photographer based out of Atlanta. In this conversation, we talk about her growth and understanding her worth, understanding why it's so important to her growing her business. She shares her journey to outsourcing and finding harmony and balance in her life and her business so that she can continue to pursue her passion. So if you're ready for learning a little bit about this, stay tuned and be sure to pay attention to us all the way through. We have a lot of fun and there's little birdies in her background, and it's so acropole that that would be because me and Michelle's relationship is so very much like that. So definitely stay tuned and be sure to let us know what you think about this episode. You're listening to the She's Crafted to Thrive podcast, and this is your host Nikita Williams. On this show, we're talking about what it's like to start, grow, and scale a business while living with chronic illness. You will hear from other creatives and CEOs as they share their stories and the lessons that led them to learn to lean more into what worked for them. You'll discover that success does not mean perfection, and fear, negative thoughts, and challenges are all a part of the journey, but there's always an abundance of wins. So stay tuned and you'll find the inspiration and tools you need to craft a life and business that thrives.

Hey there, beautiful.

I've got something for you. If you want to feel more ease and joy in your business without sacrificing prioritizing your health, energy, and creativity, but you feel like you've got to, you know, pay your dues first, or you're feeling sort of lost in your business, then you want to check out my mini course, 5 Days to Getting Crystal Clear in Your Creative Business. Created this course to help you remove the frustration that's blocking you from receiving exactly what you want and go from stuck to creating the business that you want with ease and joy. So visit thrive with nikita.com minicourse and use the code THRIVE to get it free. Again, that's thrivewithnikitawilliams.com/minicourse and use the code THRIVE to get it free. That's my special gift to my podcast tribe, so go off and thrive. All right, let's hop on into this new episode. Enjoy.

I am so excited to have Michelle on the show. She's one of my favorite clients. I mean, honestly, like, all of the ladies that I work with are like, I love you guys. But my husband knows when I'm on a call with you because he's like, Nikita, you laugh like the belly gut-wrenching laugh. Like, every time you're on a call with her, I know it's Michelle. And I'm like, yeah, because he's not listening, but he could just hear me laughing through the walls and doors. So anyway. Oh, okay.

Well, I appreciate that.

Welcome, welcome to the show. Please tell everyone who you are and what you do, where you're from.

Oh, so I am Michelle McDowell and my company is Michelle Davina Photography, and I am a branding and wedding photographer in the Atlanta area. I actually partner with creative entrepreneurs to help them to grow their business through killer visual content that vibes with their target audience. And I love to document love stories. So I love to work with quirky couples, fun-loving, just laid-back couples that, um, are easy and, uh, documenting their love story, their special day, and, um, making that memorable and starting a legacy for them, for their families to come. So that's pretty much what I do.

And you're really good at both.

You're really good.

I love it. I, I also— everyone knows who listens to the show, I love photographers, so I kind of live vicariously through you guys a lot. I'm like, I'll be sitting there like, um, that was a good angle that she got, that was good, like, that was really good. So what did— what made you decide to become a photographer? What was the thing that brought you down this path?

So I bought a camera, I bought a Canon camera in my early years, in my early 20s, It was a film camera. And I always loved to take pictures. So I bought this, like, big camera I didn't really know anything about. But I just thought it was cool looking. And I was like, oh, yeah, this is the camera. And so I started taking pictures, just, you know, as a hobby or whatever. And then my camera was stolen, like, years later when I moved to Atlanta. I am— I'm originally born and partially raised in New York. In New York, but then I've also lived in Florida and Pennsylvania, as well as Georgia. So Georgia, this is like my second time living here. But my camera was actually stolen while I was living here in Georgia.

Of all the places. I know.

Somebody broke into my car. Me and a friend of mine went out one night, and I had my camera in the back seat down below with some literature. And, uh, Somebody broke into my car and stole all of it, the literature, the camera. I was just so heartbroken. So they end up finding my bag of literature in a dumpster. Somebody called me, but never recovered the camera. And then so— and I can't remember what year that was. But in the early 2000s, a friend of mine bought a camera for me. It was a digital camera. And so that was my first encounter with digital.. And I just fell in love with the fact that you could change the ISO all, you know, all in a blink of an eye.

Mm-hmm.

Because, you know, you have to really buy the, the camera film, 200 speed, 400 speed, et cetera, et cetera. So here you could just change it. You could just change that film speed in, in a blink, you know?

Mm-hmm.

So that's kind of how I got on the path of photography. And then a friend of mine was getting married and she knew I had a love of pictures and she asked me to do her wedding. And so I was like, oh, oh, oh, yeah, that sounds pretty good. So I went, and she hired somebody else too. Because she said, at the end, she said, well, you didn't seem like you were very confident. And I was like, wow. From that point on, I was like, Michelle, you can't show it. You can't show that you're not confident. So that was a learning experience. But it was a good one. I was able to enjoy that day or really feel like I was part of the event. With my friend getting married. And it, I don't know, it's just something about weddings that is just so blissful. You know, everybody's so happy. It's a happy time. And usually everybody is happy. There's no, you know, kafusso going on. And that's kind of how I got started. And then another friend of mine, she knew that I liked photography too. And she sent me a photographer's site and I was like, whoa, that was like a game changer for me. So I, it was like inspiration.

Wow. I didn't know all that. First of all, I'm still mad at that. You were living in New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and through all them places you had a camera until you came to Atlanta and it was stolen.

Right.

So messed up.

I know, right? Out of all the places.

So when you were doing film photography, were you kind of like just doing it as a hobby and for fun, or was it something that you was learning?

Yeah, mostly for fun. I would have conventions that I would go to and I would take pictures there. And yeah, just basically a hobby just to capture memories, you know? And I knew I didn't want one of those little box cameras that you could buy at Walgreens for $6.99 or something like that. I wanted something that I could actually hold and really try to hone in on skills, you know? Try to better myself as a photographer.

I feel that photographers who have a film background in some way, shape, or form, whether they dabbled in it or did it like for real, for real hardcore, have an advantage over those who started with digital photography? Because film photography, you have to be very, like, specific. Like, you have to know what you're doing. You also can't be afraid to be in people's faces. You have to be closer. You kind of have to be a little bit more assertive when you're a film photographer than you are with a digital camera. So do you think that's helped you, like, now as a digital photographer in a way?

Well, I will say that being a photographer for me has made me, I think, a little bit more assertive because I realized quickly that people, especially when it comes to weddings, you have to kind of be that ringmaster too, especially when I was doing it without planners. You know, I was kind of helping, you know, the DIY brides and trying to make sure things stay on track and, you know, in a timely fashion. And you just have to, like, you got to put bass in your voice sometimes with these bridal parties and say, hey, look, you know, or apologize in advance. Hey, I'm going to tell you right now, I'm so sorry. But, you know, and then proceed on. I've kind of learned my own little style. And then with my personality, I think that— I think that people like me. If I'm saying something or have to do something, I always try to couple it with you know, kindness and making sure I'm not rude or, you know, come off nasty or something like that. Yeah. So I just try to keep that in mind.

Well, that's a fact I did not know about you with the film photography. That is— see, I told you before the show, I was like, I always learn new stuff when I have you guys on the show. So what inspires you, like, in general, to be a wedding— to do wedding photography, to be your own entrepreneur? To do what you do?

What inspires me? There's a lot. I could almost say really anything and everything inspires me. I mean, there's people that inspire me. Travel inspires me, especially old ruins of different, you know, parts of the country. I love to travel. Of course, you know, COVID got us all on lockdown. But now things are opening up. I hope to travel again soon.

We'll see.

But art inspires me. Color inspires me a lot. I love, like, bright colors. I love the pinks, and the reds, and the yellows. But yeah, I think a lot of things inspire me. Even just flowers inspire me. Or something that I've read inspires me. So lots of things.

Food. I'm sorry.

I mean, yeah, food can inspire me, girl.

Food inspires most of us in some way, shape, or form.

Yes, a beautiful plated food.

Oh my goodness.

Yeah. Oh, and it's smelling good too.

I love it. I love it. So that inspiration, like, it sounds like all the things that you enjoy, the brightness of life, really.

Yeah.

Does that like play into how you are as a photographer? Like, how so?

How does it play into me being a photographer? Because I think when I experience different aspects of life that inspire me. Like when I'm with a client, even the movement of my clients can inspire me. Like I get really animated and really verbal. And I also want to make my clients feel very comfortable. And I want us to feel like we're kind of almost old friends. Like, you know, hey, we're just hanging out, having a good time. But it gives me kind of like I don't know, that vitality that I enjoy so much when I'm with clients. And then especially if we can feed off that each other, you know, bouncing it back, you know. I do have some clients where, you know, it might take a little bit more zhuzhun. But in any case, I try to— I just try to be really lively and jovial with my clients. And if there's something that I see, if we're walking or we're— we're, you know, doing a shoot of some sort, whether it's their wedding day or their, um, engagement session, even just the surroundings can inspire me to really help them to kind of pull them and bring them out of their own little cocoon that they may be in. But yeah, I think, I hope I answered the question.

Yeah, you did. I think what you're saying is that you use the things that you're inspired by to really help your clients just open up with you when they're in front of the camera so they can feel comfortable. So yeah, that's Really cool. So I want to know a little bit more nitty-gritty. Y'all sit straight up face right now. Um, have you experienced any hurdles like through this journey? Because there are some, right? There are some as an entrepreneur, especially as a creative entrepreneur. What have been some hurdles or fears that you've experienced as an entrepreneur? Um, you mentioned it a little bit before, just kind of like stepping into that confidence. But what are some of those things for you?

Well, one thing is like my value, uh, I think was a hurdle I needed to get over, or at least embrace that I do have value, my worth. Uh, the death of my mother was a big hurdle for me. Even though she's been deceased for, oh, 20 years now, it's still, you know, it's a void that you just can't shake. So— and because we were very, very close. She was like my best friend. So I miss her dearly. And hurdles— I've had some physical— you know, I was in an accident probably about 3 years ago, going on 3 years now. And they hit me head on. And so, like, I have a herniated disc. So I have back pain issues that I have to deal with. On pretty much a daily basis. And, um, and then I have a detached vitreous.

I don't know what that is. You said that like I would know.

I know, I think the name is so cool, but I love that you love the name of it. So the detached vitreous is in my eye. Uh, one day I was in the kitchen and I started to see these black spots, and I thought it was a a rodent of some sort. I was like, oh, wait a minute, something's in my kitchen. But then I was like, wait, whoa. So I wasn't sure what was happening with my eye. And I made an appointment to the eye doctor. And sure enough, when he looked at it, he says, oh, you have a detached vitreous. So it is a jelly-like substance that's attached to the retina. And because I'm high risk for retina tear, I have to be careful because I I'm not exactly sure. I can't remember what the vitreous function is, but it's attached to the retina. And it can attach itself back to the retina. But for the most part, I call her a she. She hangs out, and she kind of floats around in my eye. I can see her sometimes. But my brain— it's so amazing how we're made. Because my brain— my doctor was telling me, after a while, your brain will get accustomed to her. So I call her a her, right? So she won't even be bothered by her. But I initially was very bothered by her. And I had to— I couldn't exercise because I love to exercise and I couldn't exercise because straining causes— you could do a little bit more further damage. So I had to be careful. I couldn't do any running. I was just like, oh, this is a bummer for like 2 weeks until they wanted to see how the vitreous is going to react. So anyway, I just have to be mindful of it and careful not to do too much, otherwise I could— because if I get a retina tear, the next step is blindness, you know. And so I have to be very careful.

How does that affect you and what you do? Because I mean, so it—

I mean, I can still see. It's like almost like a— you know how people say they have floaters? She's like a— she reminds me of like a little jellyfish. Because it's like— or it's like getting a smear on your— do you wear glasses?

Mm-hmm.

Okay, so it's almost like a smear that you get on your glasses, um, that, you know, but she'll just be dancing around in there, you know. And I just think it's so funny you're describing this right now. Yes, me and her just like, uh, but so far she's been behaving and it, you know, it just She kind of just, yeah, she kind of just moves around from time to time.

So, so how does that affect your approach to how you want to show up with your business and with your clients and being very intentional and all those different things? Does that affect like what you decide to do, how often you do it, all of that kind of stuff? Does it play into that?

Not really, because I never, I never stopped to think of it like, oh, oh, well, I have this vitreous, so should I not do— I kind of just go with my life. Yeah. As if, hey, whatever's going to happen, going to happen. I mean, I just try to be mindful of not doing too much to myself because— and sometimes I forget, especially with the back issue because I do lug around a lot of equipment and it's heavy. And so I don't really feel it right then and there when I'm in the moment because I think the adrenaline's going and I'm on a time schedule and I'm trying to make sure I get all these shots and all the good stuff. So it's only— it's most of the time is after I finished a wedding or an engagement that I'm like, oh, I'm tired. Or I feel it the next day. Like I shot a wedding Monday and I felt it the next day. So yeah. And then, you know, just I'm getting older. I am where my parent, you know, was. And it's so funny to me because I was like, wow, as old as I have gotten in this society, I didn't think it would— I just didn't see myself in this situation. So growing old in this, you know, it's not fun a lot of times, especially if you have to deal with different things.

Different pains. So is that part of the reason why you have your own business? So that at some point you have more flexibility.

Yeah. And I think too, um, I just— I want to be my own boss. I, I used to talk to this, um, psychologist and she explained like the different stages we go through as we get older. So I'm at the stage now where I, I'm not really trying to conform to anybody's, you know, way. I want to do my own thing. And maybe that's because I came from an era where we did it, you know, a certain way all the time, right? Um, but now it's like, you know, I'm gonna break out, you know. So even though I do have, you know, a day job, my passion and my drive is my photography. And so that's what I'm working toward now, to make it the permanent thing.

So tell me more about how that— did any of those things you just shared factor into why you decided to finally invest in a coach?

Yes, um, because even though I thought like I could do this, I know I can do this, but, uh, it wasn't on my own, it wasn't really getting me as far as I would have liked. So I've been shooting for a while now, and, um, and probably too because I, I Maybe I wasn't fully committed to it until the last couple of years now. I was like, I'm done. I'm ready. I just want to do my own thing. So I, being in different types of groups, Facebook groups or associations, one of the things that was said was having a coach is something essential for entrepreneurs. And so I was like, yeah, right. I was like, y'all just— so the more I heard, or the more I listened, the more I heard. So I said, well, let me give it a go. Let me just see, you know, because I can't, I can't do any worse than what I'm doing now, you know what I mean? So why not? And so I think I met you in another group on Instagram. And then you were doing some complimentary consultations of some sort, I think it was. And I booked a session with you. And so from there it was like, wow, okay, I think I would like to give this a go. You know, I think I wanted to uplevel my business, so I figured if I had a coach that can help me do that, all the more, you know, woohoo! You know what I mean? It's like it would be a win-win. And I have come to find out that the more you network with other people, the more you can learn. That has been a big thing for me. I've learned a lot by my networking with other people.

What do you think has been the most surprising and most beneficial part of working with a coach? And AKA, if y'all don't know, I'm her coach. But I'm just saying. Yes, y'all.

Nikita is my coach, honey. Oh, I tell you, she be putting me through it, y'all, but in a good way, in a good way. Uh, what was the question? Oh Lord, I'm so sorry.

It's okay. I was asking what has been the most surprising aspects of, you know, working with a coach for you and your business or personally, and what has like been some of the results you feel like you have gotten to that you may not have gotten to as soon as you've, you know, before.

Well, OK. I can't remember all of that. But I'm just going to tell you, what I have found working with you has really helped me to shift the mindset. Like I mentioned before, you know, my value, my worth. You have really helped me to see and to hone in on knowing what that is, you know, and really verbalizing that. In a way that my clients, you know, understand. And so I think too, just that courage that you need, that push that you need. I hate to admit this, but I do like to be challenged. Now I'm gonna let you know that I may kick and scream, and I mean, she will. And I need for you to be okay with that because that's the way I process, and that's That helps me to get through it. I know it sounds crazy, but it doesn't make sense.

It is complete sense. Like, psychologically, it makes complete sense.

Okay, good. So that's— I know, but I do, I, I do love the challenge. So you have challenged me in some ways when thinking about stuff. I'm like, what? And then it's like I've had, you know, quite a bit of aha moments, especially when you send me that, that questionnaire every, every time we do a a call, I'm like, Lord. And then the kicker question is, how are you going to keep yourself accountable? I'm like, girl, I got you.

What are you talking about?

You're my accountability partner here. But, um, yeah, I love the way that you challenge me. And then I think too, um, you get me because, you know, I don't know if I'm the quirkiest or the weirdest, if you will, but You're you.

You're you. There's no workies or anything. You're your own unique, awesome self.

Okay, thank you. It's so kind of you. But, uh, yeah, I like, um, I like to, to be challenged, even though I may fuss about it. I still, I like it. It's coming from a good place anyway. So I think the mindset change and then just helping me to see what I can attain. Like, why can't you? You know what I mean? That, uh, I think having or being by myself trying to figure that piece out, like, why can't I? You know, sometimes you, you need that external person to help you. Because even though my husband, you know, he'll say, well, that's what I told you anyway, you know.

But it's different when it comes from family, and it's also different when you decide for yourself, right? Like, it might be a challenge for me to be like, what about this, what about that? But when you can take that and you accept it on your own versus it being something that hubby said or something that I said, it's a different experience.

Definitely, definitely. It's— yeah, it's a different experience for sure. And I just— I've enjoyed, um, the coaching sessions that we've had. So yeah, it's been, it's been a really good experience for me. Yeah, I would recommend it to anybody. You know, if you don't have a coach, you need to get a coach.

Yeah.

And one that, you know, that understands you and your nuances and idiosyncrasies or whatever.

I think it's important. Coaching is kind of like— I always tell people coaching is like find a therapist because there's lots of therapists out there, but not every therapist is for you. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I have been in calls with clients, potential clients, and being like, yeah, this ain't a good fit. I love you. I think good for you, but I'll give you to somebody I think might be a good fit. Send you that way, and that's okay because there's enough business for everybody. But it's really trying to find a place that's good for you. And, and my clients, like you, mindset is a huge piece of it. And then I have some clients that come to me with thinking what they need is, I need to get to $20K in the next 6 months. And it's like, but your mind ain't right to get you to $20K. Oh yeah, we can't get there until your mind right, until you've done the work behind that.

I gotta get my mind right.

Right, you got to get into that. And so that's what I, um, I love that you're doing. Because what was— and that one of the questions I asked you was like, what was surprising? So when— what were your expectations with coaching versus what has happened with coaching?

Oh, I don't know. Expectations that I might have had before— I know I had some because I didn't have, you know, I didn't have a coach prior.

Right.

Maybe I thought the experience would kind of be passive.

I really—

that's a good question because I'm really not sure. I just thought, well, maybe they just want all my money.

Sorry. Oh my gosh.

I'm like, what am I really going to get for this? But what I've learned is you made me think about things that I hadn't thought of. And I think that is what I really appreciate a lot, a lot. Because sometimes for myself, and I don't know how other people might view this, but I'm trying to think of all the things. But you know what? You can't think of all the things. You're not going to think of all the things. Because that's only what your mind and brain thinks about. But for somebody else, especially if they've had other clients who might have, who might have a similar background of some sort, you know, they can really have a large input and give you insight onto something, into some things you might not have thought about, which is what has happened in our sessions.

Yeah, I think one of those things that I have found for not just you but clients in general, it's this, it's going back to that, what is, what do I charge? What is my price? And I feel like, you know, a lot of times the women I work with come to me with the goal of increasing their prices, with the thought of increasing their prices, but they're like, I'm not there yet. And, you know, most of you guys have been doing business for a while, so it's kind of like, well, when are you ready?

When, when is the perfect I know, quote unquote, perfect time to do that.

And I feel like that's one of the things that I— and I'm, I'm guilty of it too. Like, I'm not even, you know, I'm guilty of it too until I worked with a coach to be like, well, really, you— how long do you— how long do you need to be the dollar store? Like, how long? Like, how long does that need to be? Like, do you want to graduate or do you want to stay there? I mean, it's okay either way.

If you are okay with being the dollar store, be the dollar store. That's your thing.

But if your goal is our based on this thing of wanting to get to this another place. If you want to be anthropology, you can't stay at the dollar store, right?

Oh my goodness, you sure cannot. Um, that is so true. And I think, um, I was just thinking about like with us, I'm— as you mentioned, elevating yourself to the next level. I think if you want to aspire to do better, you definitely need a coach. A coach— and again, it has to be, you know, suited of course for you, But, um, yeah, I would, I would do this again if somebody said, oh, would you write? Yes, I would. Yes, I most certainly would, because it has been beneficial. It has been very beneficial. And I just, I really, um, I appreciate all those aha moments that I've had. Like, because you're like, you'll ask me a question like, well, why can't you? And I'm like, I don't know why I can't. That's something to think about, you know.

Um, those are my favorite moments in every— in all of my coaching. Anytime there's like that break of, huh, or when you come back in the next session, it's like, so I was thinking, yeah, and I'm like, oh really, that's amazing, okay, let's go, let's do this. So yeah, I love it too, I love it too. So what has helped you find some harmony? And you're about— because you do have a day job, you have a day job where you're working full-time, you have a family, you have a business where you're actually serving two different kind of clients, wedding and branding. So how do you find the balance? I hate using that word too much. I like to say harmony when it comes to all this. How are you finding the, the synergy, harmony with all of those things?

Oh, that's a good question. So I do start my days pretty early because I'm an early riser. Um, I, like I mentioned before, I do love to work out. That gives me that, um, you know, that centered kind of feeling. Like, two things I got to do when I wake up, I got to make my bed and I got to work out. So among other things, but the working out piece really helps me to get my day started off to a good start. And working from home since this pandemic has really helped tremendously because it has allowed me some flexibility. So I kind of toggle, but what I do do is I kind of set parameters where I'm going to be shutting down. Like, my photography can be almost 24/7 if I allow it to be. But I've come to recognize that I do need to put some boundaries. Because my husband used to have a nickname. He used to say, oh, are you going to be with your other man tonight? And I'm like, OK, I sense some kind of, you know, in there. You know, I said, oh, Big Mac? You talking about Big Mac? Yeah, I got a date with him tonight. So that was— kind of like the running joke, you know, you're going to be with your other man. So that was kind of a hint to me that I need to turn it off after a certain time. So I try to— first of all, I try to set my plan out for the week of the things I have to do. So I make a weekly list of the things that I need to get done. And my cutoff is at a certain time, usually before my husband gets home. I will turn it off between like 6, 6-ish, 6:30, 7 probably at the latest. Um, and that is basically kind of like some, um, sometimes it's administrative work and sometimes it's editing work, but I try to keep that at a minimum. So when I'm at times when I'm finished with my day job, I will get right immediately on my love and focus on that for a few hours. And then I'm done. And in between that, I will do my cooking dinner or washing clothes and stuff like that. But I try to— the weekends are definitely family time. And unless I— if I don't have a shoot, of course, we're doing something as a family. And then I also have a volunteer ministry that I um, participate in on the weekends, and sometimes during the week in the evenings, um, I will do that as well. But I always, ever since that comment my husband had made, I always, yeah, I had to assess some things. And, um, I also, you know, have put in some other things in place to help me to really manage the business. Like, well, like my software management system for clients Um, I use 17 Hats. Some people use HoneyBook. I just happened— I don't know, I was at a convention and, uh, 17 Hats was offering, you know, a special, and I had heard some good things about it. So I said, well, let me try it, and I just stuck with it. And then, um, I hired a virtual assistant who is indispensable. I love her.

She—

I met her in our 17 Hats Facebook group. I was actually trying to do workflow myself, but I met her and she, she actually tried to get me to fill out one of her forms and I was like, yeah, okay, but I never did. And then she came back and followed up with me and I was like, okay, let me, let me talk to this little lady. So I filled it out, you know, very ambiguously. I was like, I don't know really what I want to do, but I'll take your call, you know, we'll set up something. So we did, and I liked her when I met her. I was like, wow, you're so And then she was just telling me, you know, a lot of things that I could do. And she was so on point. I mean, she would, after our call, she would even send me an email saying what we talked about and, you know, next steps. And this is what you're going to do. This is what I'm going to do. I was like, okay, she's a keeper. So, uh, yeah, Danielle is my VA and, um, she's really helped me put my workflows into place so that I can be you know, more efficient and more polished and effective with dealing with clients and really, you know, helping to train your clients. I now— I see the importance because these are things that I've heard of at workshops and stuff, like workflow. I'm like, workflow? Uh-uh, nobody got time. Yes, you better get a workflow.

Yeah, you got to make time to make that workflow one time. Exactly. Do it over and over again.

Yes, it makes Makes sense. So it has really— I had one client says, oh, you're so professional. I love your emails. I'm like, girl, yes, come on, workflow, come on with it. So yes, workflows have, have really helped tremendously. And then I had a rebranding of myself with my website, and I hired someone to, to do the design, to do the copyright, and to really, you know, uplevel my game. And just keeping myself immersed in my craft with other workshops, events. I really do— I love photography because it is such— and I'm trying to figure out, OK, you love this so much. What is it about it that you love? And I think what it is is that I am freezing a moment that will not be repeated. Even if you do it again, it's not going to be repeated the same way. It's just— It's a moment in somebody's life, in history, that won't be repeated. And to capture that, to freeze that— I don't want to say memorialize that, but, you know, I don't know, that just does something to me, right?

It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

And it's like, wow, you know. I know my clients, I love when they, you know, love their images. Now, there are some that I never hear from, but I was like, you know what, I can't worry about that, Michelle. They don't say they hate it. Then maybe they love it, you know. So, and then I'm gonna hear later, you know, yeah, I was like, okay, well, you could have told me that, you know. But I don't worry about it anymore, you know.

Well, I think what you just said is a lot. I mean, it's— to run a business, I think there's a lot of fear in letting go. There's a lot of fear and like giving someone responsibility in your business. Um, One of my favorite questions to ask clients who have a hard time with that is like, do you imagine still being the person that does every single aspect in your business 5 years from now?

I hope not.

It's really hard, and especially if you're wanting to make a consistent income, it's really hard to be the only one. It's really hard.

You gotta outsource.

Yeah. So I love that you shared that because that was gonna be a question where some tools and tricks, and you just shared them anyway. I love that.

Yeah, girl.

What in— like, who are women that inspire you specifically? I know your mom is one of them, but who are some—

Yeah, she was. You know, I would say the first— well, there's a photographer who is— I just loved her. Somebody sent her to me. They said, I think you would love this photographer. And she was right.

She—

I don't know if you've ever heard of Jessica Claire. Yeah, she passed away about 2 years ago, I think, almost. Going on? I met her in New York. She was doing a workshop. That was the first workshop that I had ever attended, and, um, I really— I was blown away by her, her approach to photography, the very, um, kind of like lifestyle, you know. She was a wedding photographer, and, um, I just really liked her approach. And then through her, I met, um, uh, Liana Lehman. She lives here in Atlanta. She's a wedding— I don't know if she still does what— I don't, I don't know. But, um, she was another female that was inspiring to me. And then, um, there are other, you know, inspiring women. Um, I'm always inspired, you know, by the female photographers because I think photography was mostly probably a male-dominated, um, field. It was for a long time. And so, you know, you have a lot of women in the game now.

Mm-hmm.

Got— there's— oh, I love Terry Baskin. I love her approach to photography. She has gorgeous, gorgeous work. And Jasmine Starr, she's another one. Angie McPherson. These are women that were or are inspiring to me in the game of photography. And even, you know, like, there are some people that are not in photography that are inspiring, like chefs to me.

Well, they're artists. They're— they are kind of like doing it in a different way. Yeah, they're like taking something and you're never gonna see that look like necessarily that way on the plate again. You gonna eat it and devour it. They're very artistic. Yeah.

Yes, I love it. Those are some of the ladies off the top of my head. Um, that inspired me.

That's really cool.

Um, I know I didn't know that about Jessica Claire, but I can see how you— I can see that because you shoot not like her, but in a similar way. You have a very similar vibe to her, um, with your photography, which is really, really cool.

She was amazing.

Um, so if you were to tell some creative woman who's listening to this podcast who's questioning her value, her ability, her confidence, what would be one piece of advice that you would give her?

Ooh.

If she's— I think I would tell her, don't stop. Here I am. I hate to even admit this, but I will be a senior next month. I'll be officially a senior citizen next month. I started late, I think. I call myself a late bloomer in life on a lot of different levels. But just don't give up, especially if you're passionate about it. OK, you don't— you may not necessarily have the confidence. You may not necessarily feel like you have the know-how. But with hard work and persistence, you can get there. And then, you know, people talk about give yourself some grace. Yeah, you do have to give yourself some grace. We live in a society where we're being pulled in so many different directions. We just have so many things coming at us. But if you are a true person that wants to have her own business as an entrepreneur, I would say don't, don't give up, no matter what age you are. Look, you know, there are a lot of us in this game, um, different stages of life, and it's okay.

It's okay.

I really actually want to keep working until I cannot work anymore. That's just my feeling. Yeah, I'd like to kick back, you know, but I still want to keep working. That's just— I don't know, that's kind of like what's in me. I— right now, I don't— I don't see myself stopping unless something were to happen that made me, you know, stop. Even with this vitreous and this hernia, uh-uh, honey. We might take it a little bit slower. But I'm coming. You know, I just want to keep going. I just, you know, as long as I'm able to, I would like to keep going. And I would just encourage anybody, it's OK that you don't know it all. You're never going to know it all. You just continue to have the passion and the desire to want to learn. Then you'll get better. And I know, like, for me, that was— that's kind of like— my struggle too, you know. I don't know everything, but I still want to continue to learn. So I feel like having that mindset will help me to continue on, and I would encourage anybody to do the same if that's, you know, what you want to do.

I love that. I love that you said that. And y'all know that's a big thing for Michelle, to stay on something that's going to be recorded and be put out to everybody.

God, yes.

Um, what, what I feel like you're saying is that the mindset to embrace on this journey is a growth one, like to always be willing to learn and grow and know that you can't— like you said, you're not going to know everything and that you are going to need help to learn and to get to the next step and see things from a different perspective, and it's okay. So I love that you shared that, and thank you for sharing it. Oh, you're welcome.

Thank you. Thank you for allowing me to speak it in this space, even though I hope I don't, you know, go back and be like, oh Lord, why did I say that?

Girl, no, that was really good because I think everybody needs to hear it. Um, I had Julie Paisley on the show a couple— oh my gosh, it's almost been a year— who's another photographer. Um, and she's been in the game for a very long time, and she said some things too. I think me, the younger generation, if you will, It's nice to hear that because there are a lot, unfortunately, I feel like in that, that is in your generation of people who they aren't okay with saying something like that. They aren't okay with being like, you know what, you don't have to, it's okay actually to change your mind. If you want to change your mind, you can change it and you will be fine. Like, I just really love that you guys have been embracing that. So to wrap it up though, tell us how we can find you on social media, how people can work with you, anything cool and exciting anything happening that they should know about?

Wow, yes. So my, um, my Instagram handle is Michelle with two L's underscore Davina, which is D-A-V as in Victor, I-N-A, underscore photo. And then my website is michelledavinaphotography.com. I'm not really on Twitter, so yeah, uh, Instagram and Facebook is Michelle Davina Photography as well. And so yes, I have a call with my coach tomorrow, so I'll be telling her about a bunch of stuff. Oh wow, I don't know what she's gonna say when I tell her what I gotta tell her, but, um, it'll be interesting. But yes, if you would like to work with me, I am actually, um, like I said, a branding and wedding photographer. So if you have any branding needs or initiatives that you're working on that you would like to explore I do discovery calls, and I'm going to be coming up with a, a service for that, uh, creative business person, business owner, that they may be, uh, they will probably like. It's going to be for the seasoned creative that knows, and they just need to, they just need to go. They just need a refresh. They just need a a restart button. So we'll see, um, more to come on that, but I need to talk to my coach first. I want to run it by her and get her input so I can, you know, have all angles covered.

Well, I'm sure whatever you're going to be doing in the near future and what you're doing now, you can just follow her on her Instagram. It will be in the show notes, so you can definitely check it out, get to the link and all of that stuff, and Show Michelle some love.

Yes, and thank you for being here. Thank you for having me. I really appreciate this opportunity to talk to you and to just share with your audience, you know, from my perspective. So this has really been cool. I've enjoyed it.

All right, y'all, that's a wrap. Thank you for listening, and I hope this conversation inspired you. Be sure to visit craftedtothrive.com to check out our show notes Connect with our guests and grab some of those goodies. Join us for the next episode. And in the meantime, remember, yes, yes, yes, you are crafted to thrive.