Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney De Roque.
Courtney, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have loved taking photos for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t till high school that I really started to think of it as a career. I took photography classes and just fell in love with capturing people and things, who and what they were in that very moment in time. So finally in my junior year, I really started thinking and doing my research and that’s when I decided I wanted to be a professional photographer. I started researching photography schools, and what all my options were.
Finally, I stumbled upon Hallmark Institute of Photography, and I just knew that’s where my heart and soul belonged, so I applied. Flash forward a few months, and I was accepted and next thing I know I was moving across the country as just a small, scared teenager to attend the photography school of my dreams. They taught us everything we could ever dream of, and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to go there before the school later shut down.
Hallmark is where I learned that I didn’t want to just be a photographer, I also learned exactly what kind of photography I wanted to specialize in once I graduated. Which brings me here today, almost five years later. I currently specialize in Maternity, birth, and newborns. I knew I always wanted to work with babies, and children I just never knew in what way till I found photography.
Getting to be there to document a new life coming into this world is hands down one of the most amazing things about my career. Then add in my repeat clients who keep coming back as their children grow up and watching them grow not only physically but mentally as well just warms my heart more than anything. Photography is more than a job for me; it’s a passion, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me and my business.
Has it been a smooth road?
As much as I would love to say yes because I truly love what I do I can’t. Choosing photography and this career was by far the easiest decision ever. However getting to where I am today has taken a lot go blood, sweat, and tears. Okay so maybe not a lot of blood, but sweat and tears yes.
The business side of things were and still are such a learning curve for me, and sometimes it was/is hard. Also dealing with the bullies out there who were constantly putting me down and telling me I couldn’t do this and that I would fail were hard at times, but they were also my motivation. Motivation to prove them wrong.
Then lastly there’s that dreaded little voice in the back of my head that sometimes would tell me maybe I wasn’t cut out for this, but all I can do it keep pushing and keep learning my craft and doing what I do best.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in maternity, birth and newborn photography. I love capturing everything from bump to baby. Watching families welcome a new bundle of joy into their lives is so special to me. Watching kids becoming big brothers/sisters and meeting their new sibling for the first time warms my heart.
I’m most proud of the fact that I always go above and beyond for my clients. Which I think is what sets me apart from others. My clients aren’t just my clients; they are like family to me, and I treat them as such.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely! I think anywhere you go is good for photography businesses because there are always going to be people wanting photos. After all, photos are how you pass down all those memories to future generations to come. For someone just starting out, I would tell them to never stop learning and growing.
Keep pushing forward no matter what because any dream is worth fighting for. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help, sure there will be people out there who might not want to help, but there will always be people who will. Photography is an expensive career a lot of people don’t realize that and also don’t be afraid to charge what you are worth!
Contact Info:
- Website: memorylaynephoto.com
- Email: memorylaynephotographs@yahoo.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/memorylaynephoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MemoryLaynePhotography
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