We recently connected with Melanie Dexter and have shared our conversation below.
Melanie, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I was blessed to have parents and other adult mentors who taught me that I am valuable because of who I am, not because of what I do or what I achieve. As a small business owner and wedding photographer having confidence in myself and my work is extremely important. It’s essential to keeping my business going and to offering my clients a quality service; if I don’t believe in myself and my work, why should they? Over the past 10+ years as a photographer I’ve developed confidence through seeking outside education in my field, building community with other photographers, and most importantly figuring out my own photographic style. It took a few years to figure out who I wanted to be as a photographer, but once I did I was able to see the value in what I specifically have to offer clients, and that allowed me to connect more with my ideal clients.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I started my journey as a photographer over 10 years ago with my husband, Tyler. We found that we had a shared love for photography, and after an incredible experience with our own engagement and wedding photographers we decided to start a business as a husband/wife photography team so that we could do something we loved together. I now run our business and act as lead photographer for all our weddings and events, and Tyler continues to help as my second shooter. We love serving couples through a guided wedding experience and a bright and airy gallery that documents all the moments, small and big, of their special day. I just launched a brand new website and mini-rebrand for our business, Melanie & Tyler, and I’d love for you to check it out!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the three things that positively impacted the growth of my photography business were community networking, developing a consistent artistic style, and focusing on offering exception service to my clients. Building relationships with other photographers and wedding vendors is so important! Word of mouth referrals are invaluable, and the way you interact with other professionals in your field has a big impact on your business.
Developing a consistent artistic style, or finding your “niche” is extremely important as well. I really believe that if you try to do everything you can’t do it well. Figuring out what you want to focus on in your business is a big benefit to you and to your clients.
Lastly, remembering that my business is a service to others has made a big impact on its growth. The way I communicate with and treat my clients matters so much. Getting to know them on a personal level, communicating expectations, offering them guidance, and asking for feedback shows that I truly care about them and the experience I’m giving them.
How would you describe your ideal client?
We thrive serving couples who are looking for a bright & airy photography style with attention to detail and a pop of color. Our couples want guidance through every step of the process, from engagement session styling and location help, to posing and wedding day timeline and shot-list creation. Our brides and grooms value styled photographs of their carefully chosen wedding day details, making time for beautifully posed sunset portraits, as well as candid moments with friends and family.
Contact Info:
- Website: melanieandtyler.com
- Instagram: @melanieandtylerphoto
- Facebook: facebook.com/melanieandtyler
Image Credits
Melanie & Tyler
