Meet Monica Carlson | Lifestyle Family Photographer

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

Hi Monica, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I became a stay at home mom when my 15 year old was born. I loved being home with my kids but found that I was a bit bored. Photography became my hobby and I tried to immerse my self in learning as much as I could online. I loved capturing my kids at play but knew my photos were not very good. I bought a DSLR and really committed to learning how to use in manual and how to edit. I took on a daily project of photographing my kids and would post them on social media. Overtime friends started asking me to photograph their kids and family. I honestly did not think I was good enough or ready. I also had three small kids at home and my husband traveled for work…I just didn’t think I could manage a business on top of that. In 2016, I applied and was accepted as a Click Pro Elite. The process to be accepted is rigorous and long. Being accepted really made me feel I had the technical knowledge to give clients consistent images that they would also love. In fall of that year, when my youngest went to kindergarten, I got my business license and all my other ducks in a row. I finally felt like I had the time and knowledge to pour myself into creating images for others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I really like to capture people as they are. I want the images I am taking to reflect who they are as a family in this given time. This is not to say that I do not give my clients any directions because I do! I try to get to know my clients before session via a questionnaire and then I build on this by talking a lot during the session. I control the light, location, tell them where to stand and maybe give them a game to play or ask them a funny question. Then I like to sit back and watch things unfold. I hope that by the end of the session, they feel like, “Wow that was fun!” I love getting to know my clients, setting them at ease and helping them realize family photos don’t have to be torture.

The part of my business I am very proud of in my School Portraits. I have been rejected so many times. From flat out NO! not interested to complete silence. I have persisted and over time this portion has slowly grown and grown. My first school has been with me for three years! This past year I have added a few more and I couldn’t be more excited. It brings me so much joy spending time with little ones. I take a modern approach to school photos. No cheesy smiles or strange backgrounds. The photos will be simple and classic. I interact with the kids in a way that allows them to relax & be themselves. From there I can capture different emotions: happiness, laughter, timidness, seriousness, etc. Bringing out their personalities whether its silly, shy, or sassy is my ultimate goal.

I have learned two things from my business…the sting of hearing no is temporary. Believe in yourself, press on and ultimately you will hear yes. Also create boundaries…its easy to fall into saying yes to everything. Especially when you are just starting out and maybe working mostly with friends. Every session request, is not going to make your heart sing or be a good fit. Its ok to say no to those. Clients are going to ask you for things that don’t make sense for you or your business plan. There is always a polite way to say this is not going to work for me. Its hard to do but learning this skill will help you stay in business in the long run.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If friends are in town with kids, we would take them to Zoo Atlanta and/or the aquarium. Either place really gives visitors a fun look at the city of Atlanta. Our family really enjoys the outdoors and seasonally we visit different farms to go fruit picking. In September we head up to Ellijay to BJ Reece to pick Apples, in June we head over to Jaemor Farm to pick peaches, and in May we head to Washington Farms to pick strawberries. We also really like to go hiking. Amnicola Falls is a gorgeous one! After the hike, you will need something to eat ! I would recommend heading over to the cute town square in Dahlonega. There you will Gustavo’s delicious home made pizza. For a nice dinner, we like to head over to Avalon. On Fridays they have live bands playing in their open space and in the winter they have a outdoor ice skating rink. Our two favorite spots are Rumi’s or Superica. Don’t forget to grab ice cream at Jenni’s too!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband and kids are my biggest supporters. They know that this business means the world to me and are always willing to help me in anyway they can. My family inspires my photography and with out them there would be no Monica Carlson Photography. I also want to give a shout out to the Click Community as I have learned so much from them both on the forum and in classes. My local photography friends are the absolute best community! I am lucky to have a group of photog buddies who prioritize friendship over competition. There are so many I could thank but here are a few that come to mind right away: Tiffany Kelly, Melissa Gibson, Rebekah Gregg, Adrienne Louise….these ladies always make themselves available to answer questions, give advice, location scout, give referrals. etc. I am so lucky to have them as friends!

Website: www.monicacarlsonphotography.com

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

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