Today we’d like to introduce you to Shemika Schatte.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
A few years ago I bought my first DSLR camera so I could capture the memories of my children on something other than my cell phone. I was always losing or breaking my phone and I would lose all the images that I captured of my family. So, I got a camera and fell in love it.
I started taking pictures of friends and family and that’s when a friend and I decided to do it together as a hobby. After about a year of doing it as a hobby, I was in love with photography and wanted to do it full time. From there, Aria Rose Photography was born.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Oh no! Not at all! Being a small business owner and getting your name out there is hard enough as it is, but try owning a new photography company and trying to make a name for yourself in a sea of other well-established photography companies! It’s hard and at times you can get discouraged. You start to question yourself and your business.
I think my biggest challenges so far has been learning to not compare myself or my work to another photographer’s and just finding my niche. There are so many “genres” of photography, so finding what I loved doing was a little challenging but I am finally figuring it out.
Another challenge has been trying to balance a business while also being a stay at home mom/wife. Being a mom and a wife is already a challenging full-time job, but add in owning and maintaining a small business and that makes everything ten times more challenging.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Aria Rose Photography – what should we know?
My business specializes in family and child photography and offers beautiful Fine Art Heirloom products for our clients to showcase in their home. When my clients book their session with me, I don’t just offer them beautiful images. My clients get a personalized experience that they will love. I am their personal photography concierge and help them through the entire process. Anything from deciding what to wear for their session, down to which Fine Art Heirloom would look best in their home.
One thing that I am most excited about, are my Fairy Tale and Imagination Sessions, which I will be rolling out this summer. I designed these sessions to bring back the imaginations in children. We live in a digital era, which means the TV, tablets and laptops do most of the imagination for our children. These sessions give children a chance to play and make believe that there is really a unicorn next to them or that they are really Snow White or a Pirate. I want to capture these memories of my client’s children before they outgrow their imaginations.
My Imagination and Fairy Tale Sessions are designed for children ages 1 to 10 years old. For most of these sessions, I provide the costumes as well as the props to go with the theme my clients choose for their children. The parents get to relax while I create a magical session for their child. It’s always so much fun to see the family’s faces when they come in for their Portrait Reveal and see their images for the first time. When I see the amazed looks on their faces, it gives me joy and makes me love my job even more.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh, definitely my husband. He has supported me and cheered me on since the day I told him that I wanted to do photography. He has never doubted my talents once. He never complains about me being gone almost every weekend to do sessions. He is just amazing.
Melissa Markle, my mentor, has taught me almost everything I know about photography, editing and how to properly run a business. She keeps my spirits up when things get hard and encourage me to do better. My chiropractor, Kristen Hosaka, has been amazing too. When I first started my business I did not have a place to meet my clients for consultations and Portrait Reveals. Kristen was kind enough to let me use her office to see clients on weekends until I could get my own office. That was super helpful for my business starting off.
My family and friends are amazing too. They continually support me, share my posts and images and they are all just so uplifting. They are some of my biggest cheerleaders and has played a huge role in my success. Honestly, if it wasn’t for their love and support, I don’t think I would be where I am today.
And of course God. I thank Him every single day for taking me on this journey. A journey that I never even imagined I would be on!
Pricing:
- Portrait Sessions (family, children, couple) $225
- Imagination Sessions $275+
- Fairy Tale Sessions $350+
Contact Info:
- Address: 124 South Main Street Ste #218, Burleson Tx 76028
- Website: www.ariarosephotography.com
- Phone: 817-877-7467
- Email: hello@ariarosephotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ariasrose_photography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ariasrose.photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
