Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Murphree.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started with photography professionally about three years ago, I had always loved cameras and taking pictures but never really took the time to learn how to do it properly until then. I wish I could say that I had a degree in photography but I went to the university of YouTube and blog posts for the most part to learn how to take a good picture. A lot of it was trial and error – but eventually after posting a lot of my work on Facebook people started reaching out to me for photo sessions.
I felt like it was the right thing for me to do – kind of the culmination of everything I had done and learned up to that point. In high school I took two years of AP Art, and learned composition, color, and design. In college I received a bachelor’s degree in English which taught me how to communicate well to many different levels of audiences. I also taught color guard at a local high school for six years which taught me movement and posing and how to shape the body (and also how to be a bit bossy without being too harsh). I worked in retail which taught me how to deal with “those customers” with kindness and patience, and I work in corporate which helps me to see which processes are most efficient and how to balance workloads and focus on goal setting.
Photography is where I am happiest, I love being outside, even in our 100 degree summer days taking pictures. No matter what mood I’m in a photo session always makes me happy. That’s how I know it’s the right thing for me to do.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahah no.
As a lot of small business owners most likely find out, they need a lot of help along the way. I had no idea what I needed to do to run a ‘legit’ business and most of it I learned from other photographers. Insurance, contracts, accountants, LLCs, oh my! It was tough but I really dedicated myself to doing it the right way – and that was a bumpy road.
I think other than that the biggest challenge I faced was “valuing” my own work. I don’t mean thinking it’s important, I mean setting a price tag on it. I am a googler. I search constantly for new ideas, new perspectives, and sometimes seeing the staggering talent that is out there is intimidating. I am on a number of photography forums, and constantly see the big names telling others to increase prices, value your work. Charging thousands of dollars for photo sessions. I legitimately struggle with that. I have a family, a house and three dogs. I work my tail off so that we live comfortably, but I couldn’t afford that price tag, so I can’t justify charging that to other families.
But everyone says I should. So… it’s a constant struggle.
Please tell us about Stephanie Murphree Photography.
I specialize in family and newborn photography – I do shoot other things but that is where my heart is. I love deep rich colors and genuine connections. I try to avoid the “olan Mills” look where everyone is smiling perfectly at the camera, and capture more of the real love that families have for each other.
My newborn sessions are simple – I try not to overload the images with colors and props, but instead focus on the baby. The little details like the fuzz on the top of their ears, the way their nails curl on their fingertips, or how that swirl of hair on the top of their heads looks just days after birth – those are the things you forget when they’re 3 years old and throwing a tantrum in target, or moreso when they get ready for prom or college (ugh – gut punch).
I want people to see what I see. Which sounds silly as a photographer – of course they’ll see what I see – but it’s more than that. I believe in the profound beauty of life in all its versions and its reality. That’s why my tagline is “Capturing your beautiful reality” because in the here and now whatever you are and however you are is beautiful, and it’s such an honor to capture that.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
The country.
When I was young we moved out to Rhome, TX and we lived on 10 acres in the middle of the country. We had a barn, goats, sheep, tractors, the whole deal. I LOVED it. I think my favorite part of living out there was taking a blanket out into the yard and laying down to look at all of the stars. And we had a goat named Fatty. He was hilarious. All of the videos you see online about cute little happy goats – that was him.
Pricing:
- Family Sessions $150 + tax
- Newborn Sessions $250 + tax
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stephaniemurphreephotography.com
- Phone: 817-715-9969
- Email: semurphree@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/stephaniemurphreephotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephaniemurphreephotography
Image Credit:
All Copyright Stephanie Murphree Photography, LLC
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