Support The Locals

Sweet Sophia

My schedule is beyond booked. I wake up at 5:30am during the school year, get myself dressed, grab a cup of coffee and than wrangle the four kids that need to be up and ready for the day. Take them to school, workout, and then really get ready for my day.

In between snuggles, whines, and housework I am editing, calling clients, returning e-mails. On rare days when my hubby is off/home (he travels a lot for work) I sneak away for several hours to do editing in a kid free zone (aka Starbucks or Panera). After picking up all of my children I head home to start dinner and our afternoon/night time routine.

Throughout this day I have gotten maybe 10 photographs edited. Maybe returned half an e-mail, and possibly completed a Christmas mini marketing file. When I'm at home it's almost completely impossible to focus solely on work because my little's need tending too (no regrets there).

After dinner, baths, prayer time, and bed time I grab more coffee after completing a load of laundry and edit. I work on both house work and editing/business related work until 2am (or later, darn insomnia) and than have to re-do the entire routine.

This does NOT include time away for photo shoots, ministry related events/meetings, and most of my weekends are spent photographing or volunteering. 

I'm a small business owner, mother, guardian, wife and friend.....and it sucks trying to get people to take me seriously.

When I started this business four months ago I did it because I love photography. I love offering a service to someone and they can keep that final product, forever. I haven't worked in four years and here I was throwing myself in hardcore to a business and passion adventure that would take so much time in between everything else I was already involved in. I don't regret it. I'm just surprised at the amount of people that do not see what I do as a "real living" or a real "career."

So, for those who aren't small business owners (because, I can't believe it still, that is what I am) lets talk a few points on what we are and aren't and what you probably shouldn't say.

1. Please do not dis-include me in the working field because I work for myself. 

So many times I will be in a group of woman, mainly working moms, who will be complaining about their situations. I often here, "You just don't know how hard it is to juggle everything. I work 40 hours a week, have two kids, and a house to keep orderly."

Um. Last time I checked I'm doing the same thing.

Just because I sign my own paycheck and can work my schedule 100% around my children doesn't mean I am any less of a working mom. I work really hard. I take everything I do seriously and give 100%. I know the struggle of having to juggle and balance it all. Not just that but I also know the struggle of having a spouse who travels 75% of the time for work. I do it alone, a lot, and I don't complain about it. I just....get it done.

2. Please don't discount me because I don't make a certain amount of money each month, or because I do volunteer and model work. 

60% of my work currently is either non-paid or volunteer work. Why? Well one it's because I'm new. The photography industry is a fast paced, high stress, high competitor field. I can google photographers in Charlotte and no for certain my name will not be on any of the front pages. My business is grown through word of mouth, lots of social media, and lots of hard work.

It sucks to pay out more for your business than you put in; but it's still just that, a business. I still am working. I still am pushing product out, and I'm constantly growing.

3. PLEASE do not ask me for free product.

Volunteering at Freedom House

Unless I offer it to you as a free service or volunteer opportunity I'm not going to just give you a free photo shoot. The first month I started my pricing was $50 for an hour shoot. You'd be surprised at HOW MANY people tried to bring me down to barely nothing. The gas, time editing, and prop supplies is worth much more than $50. I am not going to be taken advantage of just because I'm nice.

4. Support locally owned businesses because it creates community, creativity in community, and creates jobs.

Yes, if you support your locally owned business (whether they are photography businesses, florist, coffee shops, etc) you are supporting the opportunity for growth in your own backyard. Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

If I were to have the support and financial profit in my own community I could hire on assistants, photographers, and grow. Without the communities, friends, and family support I could not do this.

5. Local business owners GIVE more. 

Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses. Why? I truly believe it's because we know the importance of non-profit organizations and have had to work much harder to have what we do because it wasn't just handed to us. If you want to see volunteer organizations and non-profits grow, than support your local small business owner.

6. Speak encouragement into your local business owner. 

Even if you were never to use my services sharing a photo on your timeline on facebook, re-posting an instagram photo, or even just "liking" and "commenting" on a photo will encourage my business pages to grow and connect me to potential clients. You may not need a certain service but you can be the person that provides income from another source. Don't discount a simple click of a button.

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Overall don't knock our spirits. We are hard working people, with possibly high profitable businesses and we want the same opportunity as large businesses. We want the opportunity to grow not only our communities but our creativity and bring a uniqueness and closeness to our communities that might not otherwise happen if large companies come in and take over. We need a good mix of both for growth and just want to be accepted.

Being a local, think locally first!

Meet the Model: Michael

Michael, Michael, Michael. This is often what I'm thinking in my head while I am on a modeling shoot with this amazing model. I met Michael back in the Spring when I instantly connected with his amazing mother, Patty. I first noticed his potential in modeling at his mothers cancer shaving party. He had a certain look I was going for especially as a more "serious" model and had a gorgeous face. He can pull off both the "clean shaving" look and also the scruffy look which makes each of our shoot possibilities endless.

Michael is also one of my most difficult models. He would be the first of all of them to grab my camera and start snapping pictures of random things or myself. My shoots with him seem to take double the time - but we always end up with extremely awesome and successful photographs.

Check out some of Michael's answers:

1. Have you ever modeled before working with Meg Martino Photography?

A little. I had people that would ask me to do a shoot here or there. 

2. Were you surprised that you were asked to model with me? What were you expecting?

I was a little surprised and I'm not sure what I was expecting. Weirdness, because you are weird. 

3. What has been the most challenging experience? 

Meeting your expectations. 

4. What have you learned from modeling? Would you recommend someone else model, even just for fun, if they were asked?

Yes, I would recommend it and I learned to just have fun with it. Meg is fun. And life is short. No need to be serious all the time. I feel like when people are so serious all the time life becomes boring. 

5. What has been your favorite experience/shoot with Meg?

Definitely the night shooting. I'm looking forward to more of that. The colors are so bright and it's my style for sure. 

Michael has since become one of my best friends. He's a great model and is open to new ideas and creative props and locations. He's also an amazing tattoo artist (if you are interested in his information for work please private message me on my facebook page).

I have high expectations for Michael and look forward to what the future holds as far as his modeling and the portraits take both of us. I use him for a lot of creative face shots and plan to add more creative ideas to our shoots.

I'm also grateful for the few shots that Michael has capture of me by being just himself. He's one of the most genuine people I've met. He doesn't always show his sensitive side but it's there and it's one of the things I love most about him. Make sure you hit him up with a comment or two on how awesome he is and check out his full portrait rolls over on the Meg Martino Photography facebook page. You will be sure to enjoy them!

Meet the Model: Ben

I am doing a new series here on the business blog called "Meet the Model." I am hoping to grow my model rotation to 10 people; I currently have five (one new one!). I hope to introduce them each to you and share some of their experiences so that you don't think I just drag people around telling them what to do....well, I sort of do that.

I met Ben a long time ago through our church. He was an instant friend. He comes to all our family functions and just loves on the littles and on our family. As I ventured into photography I knew from the beginning that I wanted him as one of my regular models. Ben has such a pretty boy face and style; but I also know after working with him that he can be edgy when he wants too.

Our very first shoot in June was very much like this. Very preppy and light. I had not worked a lot with male models at that point (they are my favorite to work with now, so easy and carefree) and so Ben was an original guinea pig on me learning to style men.

As Ben and I's friendship has grown and our partnership as a model/photographer I've learned his style, his likes and dislikes via colors, etc. When you are a photographer and you have a regular model you don't want to just have them show up. It's a team effort. I now prefer to style all of my models a few days before a shoot and Ben was super gracious in letting me style him in our second shoot that we will mention in a moment.

Our second shoot was in August. I took a mini break in July to do some events/weddings as well as catch up on editing. I also took some time this week to talk to Ben about his experiences. Check it out:

1. Have you ever modeled before working with Meg?

No. Working with Meg was my first official modeling gig.

2. Where you surprised that you were asked to model? What were you expecting from a photo shoot?

I had always thought it would be cool to try modeling but never actually pursued an opportunity to do it, so I was slightly surprised when Meg asked me. 

3. What has been your most challenging experience?

The most challenging thing so far as been perfecting my "hard" face ha ha

4. What have you learned from modeling? Would you recommend someone else to model, even if just for fun? 

I think I've learned best that I should stay on this side of the camera, ha ha. I really enjoy watching Meg's creativity come to life and helping make that happen. To me it's a lot of fun being out there laughing, trying out different ideas and watching it all come together to an amazing final product. I would absolutely recommend others to model with her or model in general. 

5. What has been your favorite/most fun experience with Meg?

I think my most fun experience so far with Meg had to be this last shoot. We laughed a lot, had so much fun, and I felt much more comfortable with the modeling aspect than I did the first time. 



Overall, Benjy has absolutely nailed his part as a model. He is a very strong model giving me both glimpses of seriousness and laughter. One of the things I appreciate about Ben is his willingness to accept my personality and silliness. When we are on a shoot that can take 4-5 hours he is light and fun the entire time; even as I'm bossing him around. He's very open to trying new artistic poses and has one of the most genuine spirits I've ever encountered.

He also has an understanding that he is not allowed to model for anyone else....ever.

Look for Ben's next spread the end of September. We are doing a fun and unique night time shoot that will be sure to knock your socks off!

Enjoy these few photos of Ben too! :)

Happy Four Months

Wow. I'm here. It's here. Four months into this wild, crazy, adventurous story of becoming a photographer. A legit photographer. The kind that actually makes, ((gulp)), money. But that's not just it. There is a certain high I get when I take a good photograph. There is a high that I get when I work with a model, and I'm posing them and they feel good about themselves because even though they may not feel like they are good looking or attractive, they see the photograph and they see themselves in a new life.

That's just it. I can take good photographs all day. But it's the people behind the lens that makes those photographs come to life. Not kidding. I don't just say that to be humble, I say that because it's true. My subjects, the people I get to meet, they are wonderful. They make my job so fun, even in the stressful times.

So here we are. Here I am. Four months since I've started this business and I've never been happier. There have been so many bumps in the road. So many scary moments and times where I wanted to give up. I wanted to share just a few short snippets of what I've learned on this journey of following my dream. That's what I am doing and you can do it too.

Lesson 1: Don't doubt yourself.

The minute I hit "go" on my facebook page for Meg Martino Photography I started to doubt. "My work isn't good enough. Look at the coloring. I can't do this. It's too much." Stop. Just stop. If you don't push yourself, IF YOU don't encourage yourself, no one else will.

I had people tell me that what I was doing wasn't a "real job." That because I wasn't bringing in a certain amount of money on a regular basis (yet) that I needed to get a full-time job. I needed to do "my part" in bringing in an income for my family. This was my dream and I was doubting what I could be with it, what I could do, because of others opinions.

Don't doubt. Push yourself. You will need to grow, but growth is part of the process.

Lesson 2: Pass it along

Don't hoard your knowledge. I'm always taking interns. Currently Grace, my baby sister/baby bear of our family, is my intern. If I were to die tomorrow could my legacy go on? Could the knowledge and ideas in my head be put into action? If not, you aren't doing your part as a leader.

Lesson 3: Step outside of your comfort zone

I am so comfortable behind the camera. Like I said earlier, I get this feeling. I feel so happy, so content. I see the world differently. I see colors differently. I feel free. NO one judges me behind the camera. No one laughs at me, no one asks me to be different. They see me as an artist, as a working woman, as a mom, as an independent and beautifully creative woman.

But sometimes, we have to step out of our comfort zone. I had to do this when I got out from behind the lens and stepped in front of it. I have to grow.

Lesson 4: Be unique. Create your own style. Be You.

Why do I photograph people of all ages, races, and sizes? Because I don't want to be the same. Sorry, not sorry, to say that the "fake" look doesn't appeal to me. I don't just want woman who are skinny with perfect breasts and butts. I don't want just men with perfectly shaved beards and a six pack. I want real. I want life. I want relate ability.

I have my own style. I have my own ideas and my own thoughts and because I don't want to be a photographer who just snaps portraits, I will create and develop my own style. Do the same for you. Whatever you are doing right now, whatever dream you are pursuing, be you.

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So where is Meg Martino Photography at right now? I'm working on two big projects. One is a creative piece where I will re-create at least a dozen of the Grimm Fairy Tales. Throughout the fall and even into the winter I will photograph different models in these stories adding my own personal style.

I'm also now doing Humans Of Charlotte. This is a spin off the famous Humans of New York and will feature dozens of stories each week of people in and around the Charlotte area. Why? Because I love people. I have no fear and I'm bold and I want to use my talents.

Follow me? Come with me? This journey rocks.

Their Back!

The Jackson brothers....are back. Add in the princesses of the family and BOOM you got an amazing family, brother, maternity shoot.

With James going off to college and me needing photographs of all four boys together I had to get them together quickly to do photographs. I'm never sure what craziness I'm going to get with them. I don't think they can be serious for more than five seconds, which is always good, because I'm never serious for more than five seconds and if I am, it's not good.

With this crew you can always find someone doing something crazy. I seriously have to go through five or six photographs before I can get to one that's not too crazy too post. In the few shoots that I've done with these boys and Aleena I've learned so much about their personalities.

Sweet Tyler never wants to smile for me. I'm constantly watching for a chance to snap a photograph quickly when he does smile. They are rare but beautiful. This black and white (above) is one of my favorite group photos of all time because sweet Ty is SMILING. And smiling good. My life's work is complete.

Dan is a poser. Seriously, this guy is ready for me to photograph him at any minute. He's great with directions too. Him and Aleena are expecting a little girl (any day!) and so we coupled this shoot with their maternity shoot. The shots we got are out of this world gorgeous. The love between them two is indescribable. I can only capture a minute portion of it.

Aleena is naturally beautiful. And that hair. Can someone please tell me how I can get beautiful hair like that? She came in feeling a bit insecure (what 40 weeks pregnant woman wouldn't?) but you can tell through her pictures that she is loved; feels that love and is beautiful.

James is one of my regular models (as is Michael). He knows that he's going to be asked to do model like poses and always comes with a good attitude. Him and Michael are also the biggest goofs of the bunch. James kept to his word though and was pretty serious the entire shoot when I needed him to be. Well...sometimes. (When he's not climbing into trees).

And Michael. Lastly, Michael. Michael is one of my main male models for my company. I have a list of models I keep on hand to keep my portfolio fresh. Michael is very good at letting me try artsy photographs on him; but he is the biggest goof of them all. He's also the big brother and will help me get everyone serious when I need to get business done so we can move on. I know our shoots are always double the length in time because they love to have fun.

At the end of the day as crazy as these boys and this family is they are incredible. They are one of my favorite families to shoot because they aren't afraid to just be themselves in front of the camera. They aren't afraid of people seeing their craziness; they embrace it. That's what we need more in front of our cameras. People who are comfortable. As always you can find the full album on the facebook page. Click here to go straight there.