Meet Lannie Stabile

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lannie Stabile. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lannie, 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?

You might see me howling with laughter at a crowded party, jumping excitedly from group to group, and good-naturedly teasing a guest to photograph an unguarded smile, but, believe it or not, I’m an introvert.

Back in the day, teachers were all, “Lannie is a pleasure to have in class but needs to speak up more.” I was shy, and I preferred reading $2.00 bags of library books over socializing. At 16, I was given an opportunity to attend Summer Quest at Eastern Michigan University. It was a two week theatre camp. The idea absolutely terrified me. I went anyway. No, my parents didn’t force me. My teacher didn’t give me some stirring speech. Strangely, I somehow had the self-awareness to recognize I needed to break out of my shell, and 14 days with amateur actors seemed like just the thing.

It worked! At the conclusion of camp, I’d played a non-speaking part in someone else’s personal narrative. The following summer—yes, I went again—I had emerged enough to write and star in my own piece. By the third summer—yes, AGAIN—I was in so many things, a few had to be cut.

Without a doubt, I attribute today’s confidence and self-esteem to what comes down to only six short weeks of theatre camp. I made friends. I sang showtunes. I did improv. I had fun. And I would totally do all of those things now.

But you better believe when I get home, I’ll need to recharge my social battery. Like a proper introvert.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I started Party Fly Photography to help busy party-planning moms capture the moment, so they can live in it guilt-free. Since then, the business has grown into broader event photography. I’ve covered birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, book launches, corporate parties, ribbon cuttings, networking events, and more!

According to my wife, I’m a “loosey goosey, Hawaiian shirt wearing, living in the moment photographer.” And, actually, that does sum Party Fly Photography up pretty well. I have fun doing what I do.

In June, Party Fly will be celebrating its first anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony/birthday party! There’s going to be raffles, yard games, photo ops, refreshments, and a tasty food truck. I’m excited and thankful that Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce and so many local businesses are coming together to make it possible. It’s important to celebrate wins, however big and small, and a small business surviving the first year is definitely something to celebrate.

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?

Networking. Courage. Resiliency.

Every week, people amaze me with how generous they are with their time, energy, and words. Perfect strangers give me compliments on my photos. Folks I’ve only talked with online are sharing and liking my posts again and again. Local business owners are saying MY name in crowded rooms. I know this didn’t happen by chance. I’ve worked hard to cultivate not only a compassionate, creative, fun-loving brand, but I try to build relationships everywhere I go.

Anyone who starts a business from scratch is a brave person indeed. But it doesn’t end there. You need the courage to admit you don’t know the answer to everything. You need the courage to ask for help. You need the courage to make mistakes and learn from them.

You need the courage to fail over and over and over and over. That’s also where the resiliency comes in.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My mother always said, “Just ask. What’s the worst they can say? ‘No?'”

What if I show up to a public event and take photos to test a new technique? What’s the worst they can say? “No?”

What if I ask this company to make custom balloons and tablecloths for me in trade for some branding photos? What’s the worst they can say? “No?”

What if I increase my prices? What’s the worst they can say? “No?”

I don’t think Party Fly would be a fraction of what it is if I never asked myself this. This question is applicable in every day situations too, not just business. You never know what’s possible until you ask.

Thanks for the great advice, Mom.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://partyflyphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partyflyphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558605764346#