Today we’d like to introduce you to Cherrymae Monrose.
Hi Cherrymae, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Photography has always been something I loved. I remember having my first photography class in middle school and instantly loved just picking up the camera and going around campus photographing details of the school, my classmates, school events, etc. I didn’t really think much of it at the time, and it was always just a hobby, but my sister, best friend, and husband helped turned that hobby into a business. They encouraged me to turn my passion into my career, and it’s honestly been the best decision I’ve ever done. What turned into a hobby turned into a full-time career, and it’s something I am so passionate about. It’s been quite the journey, and like every small business, it takes a lot of time and dedication to get your business out there. I’m so thankful for those that saw my work and trusted me to capture their special moments in life. From capturing family photos, weddings, maternity photos, deployments, engagements, elopements, etc., it’s been such an amazing experience to showcase the love and emotions through photography.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has been quite the journey, but I’ve loved every opportunity and struggle I’ve faced so far because it’s helped me grow as a business owner and personally. You learn as you go, and I’m learning something new every day.
You wear all hats when starting your business. And it’s definitely been a struggle trying to balance being a full-time mom and doing my business full-time. However, within the 10 months of starting my business, I figured out a balance (so I think haha). Family will always come first, and with my son just being one years old, I want him to see hard work and dedication. But I also want him to witness that balance is a key to success and see how present I am in his life. With my photography business, I always have to be on my phone, whether it be responding to inquiries, client text messages, emails, maintaining social media, etc. It can get overwhelming sometimes, but I’ve learned that stepping away from your phone is beneficial for anyone. I’ve also learned that saying yes to every opportunity isn’t ideal and can lead to burnout. This was probably the main struggle I faced since starting my business. I felt like I couldn’t turn anyone away, but I’ve learned in order to be more intentional with my clients, present in my family’s life, and have a balance with work and having a social life, I needed to manage the number of clients I took in each month and consider the amount of time it’d take for me to edit each album.
Every struggle is an opportunity for growth, so I’m thankful for the experience to learn and grow.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Cherrymae Photography is a photography service capturing weddings, elopements, family photos, and more. It is more of a journalist style of photography which is capturing the genuine moments and feelings as they are happening. Candid photos really help retell the story of the event or for any session, and I’m all about that!
I photograph to retell the story and provide an artistic approach to the final gallery. I love adding double exposures, which is one of my signature photos to include. The double-exposure photos not only sets me apart from other photographers, but I also love to be intentional and create a relationship with every client. Whether it’s to help plan the wedding, finding the right outfits or vendors, running around with the kids, or just hearing their story- I love taking the time to have a conversation with them. I also love when clients share that they’ve never done a photoshoot or that they might be awkward in front of the camera and have them look at their photos and think the complete opposite. I like to make sure my clients feel comfortable and just have fun during their time with me. I’m also proud of how far I’ve come in less than a year. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I know with time and dedication, I will get there.
What does success mean to you?
My definition of success is not just about achieving a goal or a dream. Success is learning from past failures and gaining the courage to try and try again. Success is not giving up even when others may mock you or doubt you. Success is the outcome of believing in yourself, hard work, determination, and motivation. Success is finding the courage to keep on going even during moments you want to give up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cherrymaephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherrymae.photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cherrymae.photography
