Today we’d like to introduce you to Hunter Lacey.
Hunter, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I would say the catalyst for my photography business began in Lima, Peru. I was interning for a nonprofit called Krochet Kids in Lima. Krochet Kids is a clothing company, but it is run based on an empowerment model – women living in impoverished areas are given opportunity to learn a new skill (knit/crochet/sew), take business classes, be mentored, and graduate from the program after 3 years to go on to start their own enterprise or work somewhere new. I became very close friends with our photojournalist intern while there, and she encouraged my budding love for photography.
Following my return from Peru, I worked for a marketing firm that does marketing solely for nonprofits and ministries. I worked in the digital department, and I loved it. But photography kept nagging at me almost as soon as I began working there. I ignored the calling I felt for a while because I loved the company I worked for, but by the new year, I began advertising myself for senior portraits.
Before I ran HF Photography, I took senior photos solely as a way to donate to Preemptive Love Coalition, an organization that aids refugees in Iraq and Syria. The entire spring, every shoot I did contributed 100% to their cause.
I decided to take photography full-time in May of this year, and I named it HF Photography, which meant becoming a business and trying to make a profit. My business model has not changed since I became official – 10% of the proceeds go towards Touch A Life Foundation which provides long-term, holistic care for children rescued from exploitation in Ghana.
I am the staff photographer for Dallas Doing Good, an organization that highlights passionate volunteers/staff at nonprofits around Dallas, and I am the photographer for a K-12 school here in Dallas. I also specialize in senior portraits and family portraits, as well as event photography.
This is where the story comes full-circle: my passion is to photograph social issues so I can promote awareness. There is a lot of darkness in the world, and people need to be aware of it, but there is a lot of light in the amazing people who want to fight the darkness. Both sides need to be addressed, and I hope to someday spend most of my time documenting the important work happening in our community and around the world! (While still being available for family + senior portraits, because those are just so much fun, and I can get really creative with them!)
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would definitely not describe it as a smooth road. It was very difficult to make a profit for the first few months. That was stressful, and discouraging. Although I had savings and help from my family when I needed it, I felt almost too motivated by money at times. Starting out, I definitely felt nervous before every photo job. And I doubted myself, allowing insecurities to take over even though I know that I am good at my job. Another difficulty was getting my name out there! Marketing is tough when you’re working solo. Word of mouth and self-promotion has been my best friend. I’m on month 6 now of owning my business, and I am just now starting to see a profit, and it is so rewarding! I now feel secure in my skills because I have had plenty of hours of shooting by now – and I’m only just getting started, so I can’t wait to see where I am a few years from now!
HF Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
HF Photography is a photography service that sets itself apart in that every photo job is giving back to a cause bigger than us. Every person that uses my photography business is providing Touch A Life Foundation the ability to provide care for children who have been rescued from exploitation in Ghana. I think it’s such a win-win – you get to have photos done, we get to become friends, and you get to give to an important cause!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, to me, is achieving my mission. My mission is to provide quality images that achieve a deeper purpose as well as to promote awareness around social issues and the people who are doing good. As long as I am doing those things, and I am growing more so I can do that on a bigger scale as the years go by, then I am experiencing success.
Pricing:
- 1 hour photo session (1 outfit, 1 location) – $200
- 1.5 hour photo session (2 outfits, 1 location) – $250
- 2 hour photo session (2 outfits, 2 locations) – $300
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hunterfolsom.com
- Phone: 2144789568
- Email: hunterfolsom@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/hunterfolsom
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hunterfolsomphoto/
- Twitter: twitter.com/hunterfolsom_
Image Credit:
Hunter Lacey
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