Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My senior year of high school, we finally got to take an elective and I chose Photography. I quickly fell in love with all aspects of it! The creativity, the posing, the lighting, the editing – but the biggest thing was making my subjects feel confident in their own skin. I found great joy in this. Growing up, my plan was always to become a teacher, since I loved kids, and I loved the idea of having my own classroom. But senior year is when everything changed. I knew I wanted to pursue photography, I just didn’t know the best route to success.
I was blessed to have my parents cover my college expenses, but unfortunately my dad would not allow me to major in photography, because he wasn’t sure I would be able to support myself in this career. Since I was self taught in photography, had the passion and the drive, and was already working in the field under a seasoned photographer in the area, instead, he encouraged me to major in something I could fall back on. I ended up majoring in Graphic Design. While I was in college, I continued accepting shoots, any chance I got! I shot everything from maternity, newborns, birth, seniors, sports, family portraits to weddings and engagements!
About 6 months prior to graduation is when it hit me – I was about to be out on my own, and I needed to decide what was next. I fully surrendered my life to God, and I began to pray for Him to show me where he wanted me to go from here. Shortly after that, I felt a call to move somewhere where I had no attachments, where I knew no one. I felt the need for growth, adventure, and to experience something outside of my comfort zone. I knew this would push and challenge me in ways that I had never been previously, so I started applying to photography jobs all over the country. This is when I came across a unique job listing on craigslist – a woman had built up her photography business with a focus on High School Seniors, but her husband got promoted at his job, which required them to move to California (where I am from!). She didn’t want to abandon her business, so she was looking for someone who could essentially take over and run her business as if she never left. I ended up applying, met her in Malibu for a mock shoot a few weeks later, and got the job!
I graduated with a bachelor of Arts degree in 2014. A week after my college graduation, I took a huge leap of faith, and moved halfway across the country from San Diego to Texas, to pursue my dream. We basically swapped states in the same week, and so it began! For the first time in my life, I felt like I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. Even though I was moving to a place I had never been, away from my family and friends, with nothing to my name, I had more peace and confidence that I ever had in my life. It was a peace that surpassed all understanding. I just knew it was all going to work out.
My very first senior session here in Texas ended with a long winded hug, a few tears, and a sincere “thank you”. This is when I discovered my “why”, and my passion for building relationships with these seniors. She shared how she had never felt more beautiful and confident in her own skin. A few years later I bumped into her, and she shared how there was a shift in her confidence that afternoon of her senior year, that shaped her for years to come.
As a photographer, I love the art of photography and the freedom for creativity. However, I take most pride in how we make our clients feel, because self-confidence is where real beauty truly begins! This is where I felt my calling was. I quickly fell in love with getting the opportunity to build relationships and connect with each of these girls, one on one.
I ended up running this business for 6 years. I learned an incredible amount of valuable lessons in this season. This allowed me to apply much of what I learned to finally opening my own business. In 2020, I got another nudge from the Lord. It was time. That is when Onyx and Ivory was born! I had so many new ideas I had been storing away, that I was never able to apply to the other business, so my creativity and ambition was overflowing at that point! However, the real credit belongs to God. I was not ready to take that leap in 2020 and to be totally honest, the timing felt terrible! I was 7 months pregnant with our first baby, it was the beginning of COVID and the world was shut down. But the Lord pushed me and gave me peace that surpassed all understanding, once again. When I finally took the leap, he blessed my business more than I could have ever imagined, doubling, then tripling in just those first 2 years, with continued growth ever since. I truly owe it all to Him, and would not be where I am without Him. His timing is always perfect!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The path towards growth and success will always have struggles along the way! I have accepted every hurdle and mistake as a learning lesson, and made adjustments to my business accordingly. I have learned SO much over the last 17 years, and I am still learning! I don’t believe I will ever stop learning, as the industry continues to evolve.
One of my biggest struggles was setting boundaries and learning to say no. I am a people pleaser so this was/is very hard for me. In late 2021 I reached a burnout that I have never experienced before. I had said yes to too many things, took on way too many shoots and was burning the candle at both ends. Running a business with a 1 year old on my hip, pregnant with my second baby, I thought I could do it all, and be everything for everyone. I had to learn to surrender again, mainly control this time. I was so fearful of outsourcing anything because Onyx and Ivory is such a personal brand that was built on relationship building. I didn’t want to risk losing that personal touch. It eventually got to a point where I had no choice. As much as I worked towards it and prayed for it, I was not ready for the rapid growth that we experienced with Onyx and Ivory. I was up until 3am nearly every night in order to meet all of my client deadlines and my body, mental health and family paid the price. I learned that if it costs you your peace, it is just not worth it! This is when I finally began to look into ways I could continue doing what I love most, while outsourcing some of my backend workflow. I hired an office manager, and this quite literally changed my life, and saved my sanity! It also allowed me to focus more on the client experience, implementing new ideas, and I finally got my creativity back! I also set a hard boundary on the number of shoots I took per week, and increased my pricing to reflect the demand. I realized this was something I should have done much sooner!
We’ve been impressed with Onyx and Ivory, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Onyx and Ivory is a photography company that is based out of Prosper, Texas. We specialize in high school and college senior portraits. With over 17 years of experience behind a camera, we are a trusted service who has turned clients into friends along the way!
We are most known for the experience we provide for our clients, from start to finish. Making people feel confident in their own skin brings me such joy! I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be a light and speak truth and life over these teens, at every photo session. I am passionate about sharing the gospel, building confidence in young men and women, and celebrating who God created them to be! Documenting and preserving life through portraiture is my creative outlet. my favorite part of this “job” is connecting with my clients, and I take most pride in how we make our clients feel.
Our Senior Model Program is also highly sought after, with our last opening bringing in over 70 applicants in just 1 week!
We also offer photography mentorships. This combines my two passions – teaching and photography! We recently launched our Onyx and Ivory Imagen AI editing profile as well, which has been another great resource for photographers.
What makes you happy?
To be totally honest, I think happiness is cheap. It’s fleeting and typically based on circumstances which are constantly changing, and a lot of the time out of our control. In 2014, I traded happiness for deep rooted joy. Once I fully surrendered my life to God, I learned what the difference was. Joy is rooted in God, who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Someone who loves us more than we could ever imagine, despite knowing every flaw. Someone who we can trust fully because he created us, knows us better than we know ourselves, and wants the best for us. Through him, I have received abundant joy and peace, no matter my circumstance, because I know that as long as I have faith in Him and his plan, everything will be ok. He has proven this to me time and time again throughout my life. I have watched him heal our daughter from a life threatening/life altering condition and make beauty from ashes. He has carried us through some of the darkest of days, and our joy remains. It brings me joy to use the gifts he’s given me to lift others up. It brings me joy to bless and serve others when I am able. It brings me joy to spend time with my family that God blessed me with. It brings me joy to raise the precious babies he has blessed us with, that I prayed for my whole life. Ultimately, gratitude and faith bring me joy!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.onyxandivory.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onyx.and.ivory/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onyxandivory/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/onyxandivory/
