Meet Michele Noma | Lead Photographer + Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michele Noma and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michele, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Through a series of events, i believe my steps were orchestrated and the business of school photography chose me. The school photos started as a volunteer project to raise money for a school; it was my idea to hold photo sessions to raise money for the project. And I wasn’t the one taking photos – it was another mom who we had recruited at my children’s preschool who took the photos. It was during this project that I self-taught/learned how to design & budget for a photo shoot, creatively direct a shoot, organize student data for picture identification purposes, how to edit photos, and how to use proofing software.

In the midst of this project – because we were rocking this picture thing! – another mom at the school, who I will call “Lucy,” said to me, “Why don’t we learn how to take photos and do this for real?” I laughed at her – like a BIG laugh! “That’s the craziest idea I’ve ever heard – I can’t learn to use a camera!” Then, not long after this, my husband was gifted a camera by his family for Christmas. It became obvious what I needed to do!

Lucy and I enrolled in a class together to learn how to use DSLR cameras at the Spruill Arts Center in Dunwoody. We had a wonderful experience there learning from veteran photographer Ann Clancy. She was the best teacher! She was honest in her criticism of our work but very supportive in getting us to where we wanted to go.

In trying to hone my school photography skills, I discovered a photographer in Savannah, Michelle Lynn Morris. She is the author of “The Unpacked Catalogue.” Her style and artistry spoke volumes to me, and about two weeks after finishing our DSLR class I received a newsletter from Michelle with the subject line, “Now Open for Mentorships.”

Lucy and I spent a weekend attending a portfolio-building mentorship with Michelle in Savannah at the end of May 2016. By June 2016, my children’s new school was looking for a school photographer! Seriously! I can’t make this up! I suggested to Lucy that we submit our portfolio for consideration. The stars aligned one more time and to our great surprise we got the gig! Our first big school photo gig. A school of 800. It was scary…but very exciting! It was such a thrill to be doing it “for real.”

Sadly, Lucy and I are no longer business partners. But today, with the help of an associate photographer and two assistants, Oak Tree shoots anywhere between 2,000-3,000 students each season. I’ve also branched into other types of photography like professional headshots, and headshots for actors and kid actors.

I continue to run my business on the same principles on which it was started: offering great school photos for a fraction of fine art photography costs, giving back to community schools through sponsorship & donations, and pouring good, positive energy into every child & school we enter in.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As I said earlier, my steps were orchestrated to move forward into this business. I couldn’t see what lied ahead, but if could have, I may not have put one foot in front of the other to begin the journey. I’d be lying if I said there weren’t warnings! At the end of our mentorship in Savannah, Michelle Morris said to us – I’ll never forget – “This isn’t going to be easy.” And then when we were hired for our first big gig (at the school of 800), the Head of School said to us, “Are you ready for this? Are you ready for the parents here? You’re going to have to have a thick skin.” Lucy and I paused, looked at each other, smiled back, “We’re ready.”

Michelle was right. And so was the Head of School. Being a business owner doesn’t mean everything is always coming up roses! It hasn’t been easy, and I’ve had to have a thick skin! I’ve had to learn that it’s important to listen to customer feedback – both positive and negative, but to not let it define who I am. I’ve learned that, “No” is a complete sentence, That if you don’t have work and home life balance, you have nothing. And I’ve learned that my time is valuable and worthy, and that no one will protect it for me like I can and will. I’ve also learned that hard times in business aren’t forever, to keep my eye on the big picture, and sometimes it takes making a difficult decision to keep your peace.

Why would a school choose us? The quality of work and level of service Oak Tree offers sets it apart from other school photography companies! We deliver professionally captured and edited photos to customers. Our products are competitively priced in the market, and we offer complimentary edits to photos after purchase if the customer requests them. Also, we love kids – and they love us! Additionally, our photographers and assistants are background checked and fingerprinted, so schools can feel good about inviting us into their spaces, and parents can feel good about us working with their kids.

Oak Tree Photography was named after oak trees because of their symbolism: stability, love and committment, strength, and knowledge and wisdom. Being the owner of Oak Tree Photography has certainly taught me lessons in all of those areas.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I don’t think a week is long enough to see all that Atlanta has to offer – ha! I LOVE Atlanta! It has something for everyone!

I take them to see a concert or a game at the State Farm Arena. We’d eat at all of the best restaurants along Buford Highway. We’d take a two-day trip to Lake. Hartwell to spend some time playing & relaxing on the water. Go to Stone Mountain and/or Arabia Mountain for a hike and photo ops! Take them to Ponce City Market for a little urban fun. And, if time permitted, maybe take them over to Peachtree-Dekalb Airport for a quick airplane tour of the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I give thanks to God above who allows me to wake up every day and graces me with a fresh start.

Thank you to my husband and my kids who have loved me through the hardest times and best of times of my business.

A huge shoutout to my former business partner, “Lucy,” for pushing me out of my comfort zone to try something daring and new. I never would have stepped into this role if it hadn’t been for her suggestion to learn how to use a camera and “do this for real.”

A huge shoutout to my current hard-working associate photographer/assistant/friend, Jane Porter. We’ve had a lot of fun working together for over five year. But running a business isn’t easy, and on the hardest days her strengths, support, and perspective have pulled me & Oak Tree through.

To all of the children who grace us with their sweet smiles and hugs year after year – I do this for you, too. We love you, and love watching you grow!

To all of the teachers and principals who trust me and my crew to return to their schools every year – we see you, and your love and committment to the students in your classes and school.

To the families that love our work and support our business – we appreciate you and couldn’t have made it eight years without you!!!

Website: www.michelenoma.com

Image Credits
Photo of Michele Noma – Photo Credit: Rebekah Chavez Wynne of https://wynnephotography.com All other photos – Photo Credit: Michele Noma for Oak Tree Photography