Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Devyn Moore. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Devyn with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I like to think that my work ethic has always come from within, I would at one point have considered myself to be intrinsically motivated or had been up until recently. I was never the type who had to be told to get their school work and/or work done, I simply made certain things pertaining to work non-negotiable. When I had my daughter in 2020, I felt that shift a bit. My purpose or my reason “why” moved from being intrinsically motivated or being able to do things by myself and for myself, to being for my daughter. As a parent, every choice that we make effects our children, positive or negative. My ideals behind work ethic are no different, I always knew I wanted to be as present as possible in my child’s life and it really hit home when I saw something one day that said along the lines of “you are replaceable in almost every aspect of your life, except for your home”. My work ethic did not shift all at once, but rather slowly over time, it is still continuing to shift as my business has continued to grow.
I also feel like while I always thought I was intrinsically motivated and worked hard, that it would “all be worth it in the end”, but that has shifted too. In the work that I do, it has reminded me that slowing down and enjoying the moment is equally as important as the end result. Ultimately, I work hard to make my daughter proud and to provide her with resources and tools in life to be sure that she has access to any and every opportunity or avenue she wants to explore. I work hard to be sure that the clients I work with are satisfied with their service and that I raise the bar for their expectations of other professionals they may encounter. I work hard because I truly believe that the work I do is both important and necessary to those that I work with and to maintain the level of connection that I have with my clients. I never forget how much of an honor it is to be welcomed into someones life to capture their most precious memories time and time again.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
In short hand, I am a photographer. I had been a hobbyist photographer for about a decade (probably more) before I chose to take the plunge and start my business doing so. I would classify myself as a creative person in that my creative brain works MUCH harder than the analytical side of my brain. When I became a mother, I got to be creative with my own daughter, to capture her memories in the way that I wanted to and to make our own memories while doing so. When I realized I could create that for others, I fell in love with the art of photography. Although photography is an art form in itself, I found that I am so much more than that in my business. I strive to capture beautiful memories of my clients, but I also strive to create an amazing experience and a deeper connection with them. I have many clients who have become some of my greatest friends and for that, I am forever thankful for my business and the connections it has provided me with. I have a background in early childhood education as well as social work and I feel as though I get to combine so many things that I love into my business. Running a business is no easy feat, there are so many aspects that the everyday client is unaware of, but at the end of it all I am nothing but thankful for those who invite me into their lives time and time again to capture their most precious memories.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Some of the qualities and skills that I feel have been impactful on my journey would be determination, willingness to learn, and compassion. I was determined to make photography and my business successful, I worked (still do) the long nights, take in all of the information I possibly can, and never forget my “why” I started in the first place, even when it can be incredibly easy to overlook. As a social worker, you often hear the term “lifelong learner” which is something that has stuck with me and likely will for the rest of my life. I like to think I maintain an open mind always, I love learning and I always have. I love learning about new cultures and experiences. This love for learning is a staple in my business because I never allow myself to shift into the mindset that I know everything, I can always learn more to progress myself and my business and ultimately give my clients a better experience overall. Compassion is something else that has been so important for me in my business, I maintain the thought process that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated, that is no different in my business practices. I offer nothing but compassion and caring to my clients and offer to help and assist in ways that may not be “industry standard” for photographers but it goes a long way.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
A challenge that I face in both my personal and professional life is drawing boundaries for myself. It is something I have been and continue to work on all the time. I ultimately just want people to be satisfied with the service that I offer but I do my best to go beyond that because it is important to me as a person. I struggle with putting myself on the back burner in order to make those around me happy which can be both positive and negative. I am attempting to overcome this obstacle by drawing personal boundaries at times when they are necessary.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rayeofsunphotography.com/
- Instagram: @rayeofsunphoto
- Facebook: Raye of Sun Photography
Image Credits
Raye of Sun Photography
