Meet Maggie Flynn Hillyer | Pet Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maggie Flynn Hillyer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maggie, every day, we think about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Starting at 4 years old, you would rarely see me without a camera in my hands. I’ve always loved everything about the artform, but it was just a hobby. It wasn’t until 2009 that I found the subject that inspired me to start spending serious time with my camera. When we adopted our second West Highland White Terrier, Aurora, we shared an instant bond and she quickly became the only thing I wanted to photograph. The feeling of joy and love that you can convey through a properly executed photo of a dog is unrivaled. I absolutely loved it, but it was always something fun I did for myself. I didn’t think of it as something I could pursue professionally until 2019, when our other Westie, Marshmallow, unexpectedly died of cancer. The pictures we had of him helped so much with getting through the pain of losing him, but these were far from quality photos. I wasn’t able to look back on the little things I loved so much about him; like his big, brown eyes and silly expressions.

A month later, I moved from Ohio to Georgia with my husband, who had enrolled at UGA School of Law. We adopted our mini parti poodle, Lady, a few months after that. The idea of Marshie’s Roar Pet Photography came to me at this point, as the joy I felt photographing Lady as she grew up was helping me cope with the pain I had been feeling for Marshie. I wasn’t going to let another one of my dogs lack necessary photographs and memories. It opened my eyes to the importance of this hobby and I wanted to give that gift to others. Not only did the work bring me great joy, but I knew that I would be providing a valuable service to my fellow pet lovers, both at times of joy and times of pain. Through both the highs and the lows of pet ownership, having quality photographs of a beloved pet is so important. I was very confident in my idea and put everything into pursuing it.

I already had a lot of the technical knowledge that comes with photography, but that wasn’t enough. After I knew what I wanted to do, all of my free time was spent in relevant classes, volunteering at shelters, practicing with Lady and neighbor’s pets, asking questions, learning more about business, becoming a part of relevant communities, building my website and creating business plans. After a year and a half of preparation, I finally felt ready to open up shop. I was running my business while also working a full-time job, so that meant working 8 extra hours after my 9-5 every day and spending weekends either in the studio or volunteering at shelters.

The specifics of my business came with time, as I think is the case with most small businesses. Your first year or so, you have to be understanding of the fact that things are going to constantly be shifting as you find your footing. In my case, I knew right off the bat that I wanted to work with simplicity and color. I knew I didn’t want to exclude fun portraits with custom sets, flowers, bubbles and costumes, but I wanted my main focus to be solid color and highlighting the features of the animals. With time, open mindedness and a basic blueprint of what I knew I wanted, I eventually discovered my own unique style.

I got to a place of confidence and comfort in my business by constantly experimenting, always learning and ensuring myself that I will never settle. Anyone can grow their idea into a business that they’re proud of. It just takes patience, hard work and passion.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
What sets Marshie’s Roar apart is my commitment to my clients. What matters to me more than anything else is that anyone who wants a quality photograph of their pet gets one. If someone’s dog isn’t doing well and they’re struggling to afford a session, I will do whatever I need to in order to ensure that they get quality photographs of their pet. If that means a session discounted at 80%, I’m more than happy to do that. I put my client’s needs at the forefront of everything and I’m proud of that aspect of my business.

Throughout my time working for other businesses, as well as my own, I’ve always been sure to remember one thing: your clients are so much more than just a number. I’ve watched businesses fail because they forget this important fact.

Running a successful business is really hard work. As you grow and start to run into new challenges, it’s easy to lose sight of why you started in the first place. My biggest piece of advice is to remember why you’re working so hard. Try and remember the beginning of your journey, what you’re doing this for and the impact you want to have on people. If you put your all into your craft, genuinely make an effort to have a positive impact on your clients and remember your roots, your work will speak for itself.

Throughout my journey, I’ve run into many challenges. It’s impossible to own a small business and not be constantly running into speed bumps. Despite that, I have confidence in my craft, genuine love for what I’m doing and a drive to make my clients happy. I have a lot worth pushing myself for, so I refuse to stop trying.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My mom and sister were just in town visiting a few weeks ago, so I do have a tried and true itinerary at the ready!

Their first night in, we kept things simple. We had delicious takeout from Dave’s Cosmic Subs in Decatur. Being from Cleveland, where Dave’s originated, it is such a treat that there’s a Dave’s down here! It’s like a little piece of home! We ended things with late night milkshakes. For these, Cook Out is our go to! Open until 4 AM, this is a great place to go for ice cream and hot food if you’re still up past midnight (which we definitely were)!

The next day started bright and early at The Peachtree Cafe. Always delicious! We decided to get the main event in their visit checked off the list on the first day – WHALE SHARKS! A local favorite, it is always a treat to see out of towner’s faces light up as they stare in awe at the incredible residents of the Georgia Aquarium. From our famed whale sharks to our incredible hammerheads, any visitors of the peach state have to be sure to make a stop here.

After a few hours in the Aquarium, we walked over to the Coca-Cola Museum. As Coke is headquartered here, this is always such a cool thing to share with visitors. Everyone’s got their favorite Coke product, so being able to see where that comes from is a lot of fun. The highlight of the Coke Museum, that’s always a big hit with first timers, is the tasting room! At the end of your time in the museum, you have the chance to sample flavors from all around the world. When you walk into the room it’s almost overwhelming how many flavors there are for you to try!

The aquarium, Coke museum and Centennial Park are all in the same area, so after those we walked through Centennial Park and hopped aboard the ferris wheel! This is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of the city. They don’t call it Hot-lanta for nothing though, so be sure to get your tickets online ahead of time. Being able to avoid the line is a huge convenience.

Once we were finished in the park, we made our way over to lunch at Cafe Intermezzo. Not only was the food absolutely incredible, but this restaurant transports you to 17th century Europe the second you walk in the door. Gorgeously decorated, you can’t help but feel like you’re the one on vacation when you’re in here!

After lunch, we made our way over to Ponce City Market and the Beltline. Whether you’re an out-of-towner or not, this is a great Atlanta staple that’s so enjoyable to spend time at. The Beltline connects to Piedmont Park, a beautiful city park that gives you a great view of the skyline. It’s also a great place to see dogs, as this is a super pretty place for walks! Ponce City Market is one of the many stops along the Beltline. This massive building houses a food hall, interesting shops and an amazing rooftop bar! Anyone can find something for themselves to enjoy at this cool Market.

We finished the night with our favorite dinner place – Thai Taste. This Loganville restaurant is definitely worth the drive if you’re looking for the best Thai food you’ve ever had. Hands down – THE BEST!

Throughout the rest of my mom and sister’s time here, we enjoyed other great Atlanta eats like Strange Tacos in Lawrenceville. Definitely one of our most frequented spots to eat. We also spent a night at Medieval Times! No matter your age, it’s pretty tough not to leave here smiling.

Atlanta is such a great place to visit. Any time we have guests, we pack in full day after full day. There’s no shortage of amazing food or fun things to see and do!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Despite being a busy law school student, my husband, Rob, has always been extremely involved in Marshie’s Roar. At the beginning, when most of my free time was spent at local animal shelters, he always went out of his way to ensure that he was right there with me. Even after a 10+ hour day at school, he’d hop in the car the second he got home and accompany me to wherever it was I was going.

It never stopped there either.

He has always put in the extra time to become a part of the community and learn as much as he could about what I was doing. Even if finals were fast approaching, he’d discretely study early in the morning, just so he could make the time to be the one to hand out business cards and tell people about my services at local events.

Behind the scenes, no matter how discouraged or unsure I felt, he always assured me that I would achieve my goals. He’s been my positive, uplifting support throughout every step of this process. I’m forever grateful for all he’s done for me and I know I couldn’t have made it through my countless speed bumps if I didn’t have him.

My family has also been a constant source of encouragement for me; always my loudest cheerleaders. Whether driving 8 hours to attend an event I’m hosting, telling anyone who will listen all about my business or thoroughly believing in my ideas (no matter how crazy they might sound at first), they’ve always had my back. My dad, mom, Sammy, Abby and Joey have always been incredibly supportive of anything I’ve wanted to do. There really are no other people like them.

Without my husband and my family constantly encouraging me, this would’ve been a much bumpier ride. The support I get from them makes me feel like I can do absolutely anything.

Lastly, MY DOGS! Marshmallow, Aurora and Lady have not only endlessly inspired me, but they have always been there for me when I needed them. Marshmallow was always right there to kiss away our tears. He had a great heart. Aurora has always been my #1 comfort. Growing up, she was always both my safe place and my happiness. Lady is living, breathing joy. If you need a smile or want to laugh, she’ll get you there. She’s a huge support to me, whether I’m down or just needing someone to goof off with.

I feel so lucky to be where I am and I know I couldn’t be there without this bunch.

Website: https://marshiesroar.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marshiesroar/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marshies-roar

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marshiesroar

Image Credits
Marshie’s Roar Pet Photography