We recently connected with Sharisse Rowan and have shared our conversation below.
Sharisse, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I developed my confidence and self-esteem from my belief in God. Knowing He loves me gives me a strong sense of self worth that no-one else can give. I have a loving family who supports me in my business. I put them first always and that has made a lot of my business decisions for me.
When I think too much about what other people think, my confidence and self-esteem weakens so I try not to. This is something that I learned from my big brother when I was in middle school and high school. He would tell me not to worry about what other people think, only what God thinks. This was magical for me because I learned over time to block out all of the obtrusive thoughts that we experience when we are overly concerned about what others think of us.
When I first became a photographer I worried a lot about what my friend up the street thought. She had been a photographer for 7 years and was had a very successful business. It was very discouraging when I compared myself to her. I also worried that she would think I was trying to take her clients or ideas from her. It really held me back. But, with the help of a mentor and remembering what I had learned from my brother, I was about to tune this out and build my business even stronger.
I love being a photographer and as long as I work it around my family life, it is very fulfilling!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have been married for 20 years and have 4 kids ages 12-19. I’ve been a photographer for 8 years. I mostly do branding and headshot sessions with entrepreneurs and small business owners. About 5 years ago there were very few personal brand photographers. It was a new niche that came about because of the way Instagram and other social media apps have become so essential in building a business.
My clients are realtors, aestheticians, lawyers, dentists, doctors offices, personal trainers, loan officers, companies and many more professions. I meet with them on zoom and we do a planning session with information that they filled out in my questionnaire. I design a session plan and that is what we follow for their branding session. On session day my makeup artist gets them polished up and we take photos of them doing their craft, holding props, sitting at a desk, working with clients, whatever it is that we plan out for the session. Then I go to work editing the images to make them ready for their website and social media. I deliver them in an online gallery for immediate digital download.
Usually by the end we are really good friends and they are always happy with their images. If they by chance have any concerns I do everything to make modifications. I have clients who have a membership plan with me. So we do their photo sessions every month, every other month or every 6 months.
My editing style is true color, natural, timeless and polished.
Something my clients like is that I edit the background of some of their images to be their brand colors or a nice texture like brick or while molding. I do many of the sessions in my home studio. I love this because I do have to drive long distance or pay a high overhead for a store front studio.
Because of the success I’ve experienced booking sessions consistently year round, even during slow season, I am launching a coaching program September 12th! I’m really excited about it because I will be able to mentor less experienced photographers like I was mentored and I can pass on the many things I’ve learned about building a successful branding photography business locally with small businesses in my area. I will teach my students how to have a healthy mindset to avoid self sabotage, how to market to local entrepreneurs and businesses, collaborating to build your business, how to handle inquiry phone calls, how to set up a home studio, pose clients, edit images, utilizing digital backgrounds, giving an amazing client experience, setting up memberships, email sequences and much more. It’s going to be amazing!!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think that I have big ideas that I love to pursue. Sometimes my ideas don’t pan out but I have a passion for dreaming big and working hard to make it happen. I’m not much of a realist. I think being a realist helps avoid pitfalls but too much of it prevents growth and dreaming big.
Another area is that I like working for myself and creating a wonderful client experience for my clients. I bend over backwards for them. I have had to learn where to draw the line though. I definitely draw the line when I need to but I try very hard to meet their needs the best I can. This has paid off with lots of 5 star Google reviews which helps with the algorithm for sure!
When I’m excited about something I don’t give up very easily. I just keep trying until it works. I head the phrase once, “Make it work, then make it better”. I like that a lot because I’m not very thorough with paperwork so I have to have room to make mistakes.
My advice to others is to constantly work on your mindset because it can raise you up or sabotage everything! Having helpful mentors to be there for you is very important!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I’ve had several mentors who have helped me. As a child it was some of my older brothers. In college it was some leaders and friends. As a photographer it has been other photographers who have several years of experience and have coaching programs that have taught me different pieces of the puzzle. Most importantly it has been friends and leaders within my church and God himself who had been there for me through it all!
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: @sharisserowanphotography.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sharisserowanphotography.com
- Yelp: Sharisse Rowan Photography
Image Credits
By Sharisse Rowan Photography
