Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Martin.
Hi Morgan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always felt a desire to express myself with art, but when you’re growing up in the public school system it is hard to do that freely. I was always told that certain areas of focus like math or science were the only way that I could get a good job and make a lot of money, as If making a lot of money is the only thing that matters in life. Of course, it is important to make enough money to be able to support yourself and live, but there are things so much more important in life that are never taught or even discussed in public schools. If I told teachers or peers that I wanted to focus on a career in arts of some sort, they would scoff or look down on me as if I was making a dumb choice. So I ignored that desire and wasted a lot of time trying to figure out what type of non-art career I wanted to pursue.
Finally, at some point, I just decided that I wasn’t going to waste my time searching for something that I knew wasn’t God’s path for me. I got my Associate in Arts degree and then took some time away from school because I felt like it just wasn’t right for me. When I let go of societal pressures and just trusted God to take the lead, my life changed for the better and I’ve felt so blessed ever since. From there, I fell in love with an amazing partner who has always supported whatever artistic venture I set out on. He helped me purchase my first camera and believed that I could do whatever I set my sights on. It’s taken me a few years, but I am now a full time photographer and have been able to help support my family financially which has been a huge goal of mine from the beginning of my photography journey. I focus mainly on shooting weddings because I am such a romantic, but I also shoot a lot of family and maternity sessions and I love every second of it. This career path has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. I’ve always been very shy and this job lets me meet new people and grow a lot as a person. People work hard every day at their jobs and I believe everyone has a calling to work in a specific field, but for me, there is something so rewarding about entrepreneurship because when you are the only one holding you accountable for the work you put in and the results you get, it can be harder to push yourself. When you do push yourself, it makes the results so much more rewarding.
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?
I would say the only struggle along the journey to where I am now was the time it took to learn about and become better at photography. Photographing weddings in particular is a very high pressure job. You can’t redo a wedding day, so there is literally no room for error. It took years of practicing, second shooting weddings and learning from other professionals before I felt comfortable enough to shoot them all on my own. It took me longer to get to the point of becoming a professional because a had two babies in between all of it, which was such a blessing. It just takes longer to focus on and establish a business when you are also a full time parent. Starting a family may have slowed down my business goals a little bit, but I wouldn’t trade the way it happened for anything!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a St. Louis area wedding photographer! I love photographing weddings because I consider myself to be very romantic. I love romance novels, movies, etc. and have always felt very centered around all things romance. That is why I specialize in photographing couples! I also do a lot of family and maternity sessions as well, which I enjoy so much. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage! My work really focuses on telling the couples story. I like for my work to bring out the couples personality and I always want the session to feel like a fun experience for them that reminds them of their love for each other and what got them to that moment in the first place. I want my business to stand out and be known for delivering nostalgic and sentimental imagery for couples who value authenticity.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think genuinely caring about couples that hire me is something that has helped me become successful in my work. I love to become real friends with my couples. I catch myself trying not to cry during those sentimental wedding day moments and become really invested in learning about their unique story. I put all of my energy into making sure that whatever I’m doing to serve them is something that is genuine and valuable.
Pricing:
- Wedding photography coverage starts at $2,700
Contact Info:
- Email: morganmartin@morganmartinphotography.com
- Website: www.morganmartinphotography.com
- Instagram: @morganmartinphotog
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/morganmartinphotography
Image Credits
Morgan Martin
