Today we’d like to introduce you to Winnie Nyatome.
Hi Winnie , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Of course! My story is about a girl who just wanted to sleep in. Yes, you heard me! I started my photography business because I wanted to sleep in and set my own hours. In 2018 beginning of 2019 I borrowed a camera from a friend, asked my husband to model for me and took photos of him. That was the first time I ever picked up a camera! I hated them and didn’t touch a camera for three months.
But a friend on Facebook had seen my attempt at being a photographer and asked me to do her wedding and that she will pay me $300 or $500. I was sold haha, but I told her I didn’t know what I was doing, but that I will do my best. That was enough for her and I was hired. Her wedding was in May, I had a few months and decided to do as many sessions as possible so I can at least give her decent photos.
The money I made from the sessions (where I was charging $30), was enough to buy a new lens and used it for the wedding. That wedding changed my life, and showed me I can do anything if a put a little bit of effort.
In 2020 I decided to give photography my full energy and went full time, and I have never looked back since. I absolutely love being a photographer and connecting with my clients.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If I was to pinpoint a struggle, I would say it’s facing those slow seasons my first few years in business. I hadn’t created a safety net for myself yet, I did often wonder if I was going to make it. There is nothing smooth about owning a business, there are a lot of mental twists and turns to overcome and stay on task.
Overtime, I did come to realize that I just needed to stay consistent and that every month I was making some kind of income, and I knew that one day it would be twice that amount.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Hi,
My name is Winnie and I am a wedding and lifestyle photographer in Texas located in East Texas. I specialize in celebrating people and focusing on capturing and creating images that myself and my client love. I photograph weddings all the way to newborn photos. I just love all the sweet moments we get to celebrate in life and I’m lucky I get to witness it first hand.
I am so proud of my growth throughout the years and for taking a chance and for trusting myself to own a business. There were many nights I wondered if I will have enough money this month, but never once did I think about quitting. Being a photographer is different and it is a dream job.
How do you think about happiness?
A lot of things in this world make me happy. I am lucky and truly grateful that I get many moments throughout the year to experience full happiness. Spring, summer and fall makes me very happy! I love all the different things we get to do during those seasons. Going dancing with friends makes me very happy and just overall having a good time.
Cooking a really delicious meal for my husband and loved ones makes me really happy. All these things make me happy because they’re centered around my own life and I just love it.
There are a lot of things that make me happy but overall, being able to sleep in, create and have my own job, have lots of time with my family, and eat all of the good food that East Texas has to offer is what makes me the happiest.
Pricing:
- $250-$450 for sessions
- $2000-$3500 for weddings
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wnw-photography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wnw_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WNWphotos
Image Credits
I am a photographer and I took all those photos
