Check Out Melissa Scargall’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Scargall

Hi Melissa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Where I’d say my story starts is when I became a Mother and knew I felt a need to capture and document (as most) everything that I could. From keepsakes to photography I knew I wanted to keep all the details in my memory. It made perfect sense to me to buy an expensive camera and start learning how to use my new gear to document my own family. This has grown into me now documenting many families and is honestly a dream job that I didn’t even know I wanted. Funny how when life works out that way sometimes.

I started working as a photographer for a hospital newborn photography company. This was my first paid job as a photographer and I loved it. I was able to stay busy as a new photographer while also learning great client communications, pricing, newborn hospital training and more which still helps me to this day. I also attended school during this time where I would learn the basics of photography. This helped me transition to where I am today a Photographer for my own business where I get to be as creative as I want to be.

Over the past decade I have been practicing and perfecting my own personal Art of Photography where I capture these tiny details and moments in time for family and friends. Honeybee Creatives is the name of my small business. Long story short “Melissa is the abbreviated Middle Latin form of the Greek word melissóphyllon, which means ‘bee leaf’. The name comes from the Greek word mélissa or mélitta meaning bee itself derived from meli meaning honey.” and many more reasons to love the name Honey..Honeybee Creatives with Melissa Scargall became my new branding.

My focus today is on Lifestyle Family Photography and I am based in Metro Detroit Michigan.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Imposter Syndrome. Not nearly as often as when I first started photography would I get this feeling of like are you sure your are a photographer? Where as now I will confidently tell you what I do and share my work with out feeling judged. What I can say is I have always had a supportive partner and family that it makes any hard days easier. Im also not one to not toot my own horn when I think I am doing something right or got the perfect shot at a session.

If you were to ask me this question years ago I would probably have a different outlook to my own work. Struggles to create shots that I could see however, I was not capable of recreating yet because I needed to grow and learn more. It was the beginnings of photography for me and I will say I tried my best every time and embraced the learning curves. I am happy to be so much more confident today in what I am doing now with photography and business.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Lifestyle Photographer specializing in Fresh48 and Family Photography.

Currently I am most proud of my Pinterest page…Im not sure if that is weird or not but it has taken a lot of time to create. I have been updating it with my recent sessions and anyone who loves to organize knows what an incredible feeling this is. Sharing sessions from newborn, family, engagement, wedding, best friend sessions, first birthdays, lifestyle sessions at home I honestly think I have done a little bit everything. This is also so special to me because I can see how hard I have worked over the past years and am proud of myself.

Working on my social pages has never been an issue keeping up with I feel like I stay rather organized. However, my website has been lacking for sometime. I have put in a lot of hard work lately to keep it updated so new clients have the best idea of what to expect from a session with me.

I recently started blogging my monthly newsletters this is new thing for my business. Letting everyone be in the know has been helpful to my business over the past 6 months I’ve started blogging. I am looking forward to trying my best at keeping up with monthly newsletters hopefully added in more fun blog stories in the future. (blog listed on website)

It has been an extra exciting year in general, extra busy, extra blessed with how many memories I have had the pleasure to capture for families.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
As a creator I feel like I am constantly putting myself out there to try and gain a following which will turn into more leads for clients.

A risk I’d say my family took would be moving to Oklahoma for 2 years. This meant generating new clients in a new area where I did not know many people. This was a risk for my business however, a great family lesson where we all learned and leaned into Oklahoma lifestyles. I wouldn’t change that risk for the world I loved living there and am hoping to go back soon as the clients I have met there are important to me as well. Now, we are living back in Michigan where I am able to stay much more busy and be apart of clients lives here that I find equally as special.

Risks are important at the end of the day putting yourself in an uncomfortable positions usually helps grow you in some way.

Future Risks, travel elopement photography…I am so looking forward to the day I take that leap and am able to confidently travel to a destination wedding.

Pricing:

• Photography starts at $200.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://honeybeecreatives.wixsite.com/honeybeecreatives
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissascargallphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelEHoneyBees/
• Other: https://pin.it/5Ei6cNohj