Today we’d like to introduce you to Noelia Cornell.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was always the annoying friend with a camera at all gatherings and events. It was only a point and shoot camera that I used, but I loved capturing everyone’s emotions and adventures while we were together. Fast forward to me getting married and expecting our first baby, my husband decided he needed a hobby and picked up a DSLR camera on his way home from work one evening. I have always been a curious person, and while I had never used a DSLR camera, I decided to just play around with it while my husband went to work the next day. By the end of the month, my husband decided I was better at photography than he was and to just keep the camera, so I did!
Our daughter was born a few months after, and I used my new camera to take some photos of her at the hospital after she was born, I was hooked! I so wanted those sleepy baby shots I kept seeing all over Pinterest, but I had no formal training in newborn photography, and no props to use. A couple of weeks later, a friend reached out asking if her friend, who was a photographer, could use my baby as her model as she wanted to get into newborn photography. I excitedly accepted. It was a dream come true! I was so excited to get newborn photos of my baby. Unfortunately, this photographer, while good at portrait photography, just didn’t have any formal training in newborn photography, and it wasn’t something I had even thought about asking either. I was so upset, to this day I can’t even look at the five images we got back because it makes me so sad that I don’t have quality newborn images of my first born. It’s still something I truly regret, but I guess I am making up for it now!
After the ordeal, I decided that something needed to change. I wanted to capture memories, I wanted to be able to look back at the images of my daughter and remember what it was in that moment. I didn’t want blurry photos, I wanted high quality images that I could be proud of. I ended up taking photography classes at a local college, and soon after decided to specialize in newborn photography! I didn’t want parents to miss out on those opportunities, because babies grow so fast! They will never be that little again.
I took a couple of online workshops as well as a lot of online training in order to get where I am today. I have the most amazing clients, and a supportive family to guide me through this journey. It’s been a blast watching my newborn clients come in as babies and often see them every three months for their milestone sessions, here and there for their family sessions, and then a year later for their cake smash sessions! I love watching families grow, and I am so happy that I am able to be part of their journey through photography.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think just like any business, it is never easy. There were time when I really felt like I wanted to give up, but I kept on going.
I think the hardest part for me has been able to balance work and my family time. I love my job, and sometimes I end up taking more than I should and put my family time in the back burner. This has been a tremendous struggle for me. I have finally taken time to really put my family first and have been able to accomplish a lot more!
Another big struggle is the market, like any other business would say. Photography is a really saturated market, but that is okay, because that means there is going to be a photographer out there for everyone! It is also an opportunity to set myself apart from other photographers.
Overall, I think my journey has been a good learning experience, as well as something I will never take for granted.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in Maternity, Newborn, and Children photography. Each of my sessions are completely personalized to each client’s needs and wants.
My maternity clients have exclusive access to my collection of gorgeous maternity gowns and flower crowns to wear for their sessions. It makes this amazing time for them even more special to be able to dress up, get pampered, and feel beautiful for their portraits.
My newborn clients get a completely personalized session from top to bottom. I include custom props, outfits, and accessories to match a theme or color scheme of their choice. Each detail is carefully thought out to make each session special. I also encourage each client to bring something from home that is special to them. I’ve had parents bring rosaries, great grandpa’s hat, baseball bats, necklaces, jerseys, and more. These items have made each session so special, and I love hearing the stories behind each item they bring.
My milestone and children sessions include outfits for baby as well as props to compliment the look. For my Cake Smash sessions it even includes a cake from my favorite bakery, Kara’s Bake Shoppe! I love watching my newborn clients grow every time they come in for a milestone session.
I am so proud of the memories I have been able to capture for my clients, all the memories that we now share hold a special place in my heart. I love watching my clients’ happy faces every time I am able to get their cranky baby fast asleep and posed, I love hearing them cheer behind me when their shy 9 month old is smiling and looking at the camera, and I love laughing with them when their one year old is taking a huge bite out of their smash cake! These are memories I will forever cherish.
Being able to offer a personalized session to each of my clients is what sets me apart. I am able to mold each session to their needs, and offer them a variety of props and accessories to complement each session. My clients also love the fact that I offer maternity gowns for their sessions, it is one less thing they need to worry about! Another thing that sets me apart, aside from my skills, is my personality. I am a very cheerful and patient person, I will get you laughing and relaxed in no time! My clients love that their sessions are always so laid back, cheerful, and fun. I believe that sessions should be fun and not stressful, and I am able to get the most amazing shots when everyone is having fun!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think the DFW area is such a great place for any kind of business. This area is so big and full of people who have different needs and wants. It would be very easy starting a business here and become successful, you just need to know how to market yourself in order to attract the clients you want!
Pricing:
- Maternity Sessions – starting at $225 plus tax
- Newborn Sessions – $500 plus tax
- Cake Smash Sessions – $350 plus tax
- Family Portraits – starting at $225 plus tax
Contact Info:
- Website: www.purpleliliesphotography.com
- Phone: (940)595-8686
- Email: purple.lilies@outlook.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/purple.lilies
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/purpleliliesphotography
Image Credit:
Purple Lilies Photography
Texas Sweet Photography
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