Today we’d like to introduce you to Misty J Hoyt.
Misty, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a journalist, I quickly learned that everyone has something wonderful to share and found myself intrigued with getting to know new people and their stories. Not only could I, then in turn, share their story with others, but I also grew personally from each of those interviews and encounters.
When my husband Michael and I started our family, we both knew me staying at home with our children was the right choice. Like any new mother, I just couldn’t take enough pictures of my beautiful babies. Eventually it was time for me to start earning a small income. One thing led to another, and I found myself able to devote time to our children while working with a photographer on Saturdays. Just like as a journalist I fell in love with what was on the inside of people coming out, I began to realize that given some time behind my camera, I found each of my subjects just as beautiful on the outside, too. When it was time for me to get more of a full-time job, I decided doing photography on my own was the best option for my family and my happiness. I thrive on getting to know people, capturing images that reflect not just their smile, but their inner beauty and personality. I literally fall in love with my clients; and they fall in love with themselves. There is no doubt that I am doing exactly what God created me to do!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
With a very supportive husband, both financially and emotionally, it has been a fairly smooth road. Honestly, though, if our family would have had to rely on my income for the first decade of my business, we’d been living in the alley behind our home. It’s been a very slow progression.
My priority has always been the children. In the beginning, it was a hobby that paid for itself, then it was enough income to pay for private schooling, then bonus vacation money, today college funding and helping my husband with his retirement goals.
Now that we are empty nesters, however, I have more time and energy to spend on my business. And it is more fun than ever. It’s like nurturing and discipling a child, then watching the fruits of your (and their) labor pay off.
Just like there’s no time to relax if you want to present the world with moral, ethical and hard-working adults, growing and maintaining a business requires persistency, continuing education and staying ahead of the competition. In the end, it’s worth every ounce of energy. Of course, it really helps I love what I do! The bottom line is, being a solopreneur can be a road full of potholes; there are those days I feel like running away to Corporate America.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Photography by Misty – what should we know?
Photography by Misty’s business model has had to change quite a bit since smart phones started getting so smart. After going out on my own in 2003, I focused on children, families and high school seniors. Photography by Misty family and individual portrait sessions are focused on large wall portraiture. However, the bulk of my business is corporate headshots and events, and commercial work. I resisted in the beginning. It was my assumption it would be boring, but the bottom line is I just adore people whether they are dressed in white shirts and blue jeans (old-school family photography) or in a suit and tie.
What I am known for and what sets me apart are the same thing; people like how I thrive on others’ happiness, whether they are my clients, potential clients, friends or even complete strangers. If/when they eventually become clients, they love how I make them feel about themselves and ultimately how their potential clients want to be a part of what they have to offer.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Our community at St Mark Catholic School was instrumental in the first several years of Photography by Misty. They were some of my very first clients, and even though my children haven’t been students there is more than 5 years, many of our church/school family members still continue to call me for their professional and personal portraits. Michael, my husband of 24 years, has been my biggest supporter and occasionally my sounding board.
Then there’s those beautiful children of ours, who I have to thank for being, even though reluctant, models in the beginning. Although at this point my professional portfolio has consumed more than 45 TB of memory, giving me plenty of “models” to choose from, Rhylie and John Michael have become more-than-willing to strike a pose. Not only does our daughter Rhylie make for a beautiful subject, but she was also invaluable to my business when she was still at home. She inspired me with her ideas, was an honest, yet respectful critic and aided my business with her labor skills and opinions.
During the past several years, my entrepreneurial parents, and my networking and fellow business owners have served as great mentors, inspired me with knowledge and educated me by sharing their failures and successes. And then sometimes those mentors come from unexpected sources. During his first year of college, our son John Michael, now an entrepreneurial student at the University of Houston, stayed local, attending Collin College and immersing himself in work and a plethora of educational/entrepreneurial based activities the Dallas area has to offer. Although he thinks I am an inspiration to him, his enthusiasm in what he’s learned and shared with me, as well as what we’ve experienced together, has helped me grow and stay excited about my work.
Most recently, my friend/client and Mastermind Leader Leslie Hassler has helped me push myself to grow Photography by Misty to the next level. Although I am spending more money than ever to make money, it’s over-the-top exciting to see where Photography by Misty will go from here. I am eternally grateful for Leslie’s insight, wisdom and the motivation she provides.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1023 Springbrook Dr.,
Plano, TX 75075 - Website: http://www.PhotographyByMisty.com
- Phone: 214 235 3239
- Email: Misty@PhotographyByMisty.com
- Instagram: http://Instagram.com/mistyhoyt369
- Facebook: http://www.FaceBook.com/PhotographyByMisty.co
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Photos_by_Misty
- Other: https://www.alignable.com/plano-tx/photography-by-misty
https://www.google.com/search?q=photography+by+misty
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Image Credit:
Bill Brock with White Rock Films
Kristin Krae with K-Rae Images
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