Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiray.
Hi Desiray, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was 11 years old my grandmother bought me a tiny little blue film camera that I carried EVERYWHERE. I still remember the excitement waiting for the prints to be ready for pickup. Soon I had a whole shoe box full of wonderful memories. In high school, I took Photography and print making and loved the dark room.
I found myself in the Radiology department soon after graduation, taking a different form of pictures. I still took regular pictures but not as enthusiastic as I once was. That was until I had my first child and decided I would be the one to take all of his monthly pictures. I accepted the challenge and rekindled my love for photography and after a few years I started taking pictures of others. I started my business just last year. I really find joy in creating genuine smiles and finding happiness within others.
I would say my niche is Family Photography, but really it is people. I love capturing life and all of the exciting moments we have in it. I want to be the photographer my clients stop and say, we have to call Desiray for this, simply because they trust me capturing their treasured memories.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Hahaha, is anything ever smooth? The best things usually aren’t. Photography business is not a cut and dry, one size fits all. You have different pricing, packages, number of images, and add ons and everyone does it differently. My best friend had helped me build a website on WordPress. They did, and it was very nice, but I quickly found that I like to be more hands on and I could not understand how to work the site to save my life. It was a little hard for me to learn to say something just wasn’t for me without feeling guilty.
Then trying to learn online presents, what exactly that means and what SEO is and how it can actually benefit me. I have really been trying to get into it since the beginning of the year and it has taken 5 months to finally see where it is helping. But I can actually see it, yay, so I’m going to keep pushing. I also highly recommend anyone starting a business to look into it prior.
Currently, I still work full time, I am the soccer coaches wife, and love playing in our garden with our three little monsters. My goal is to eventually build this up to a full time business and show our children that you can do whatever you want to in this life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Just A Vibe Photography?
I am a Family Photographer based out of Gloucester, VA. I specialize in capturing real, honest, genuine smiles. I am down to earth and help guide my clients to flattering positions that they feel confident with, while knowing what to do with their hands. I use natural light with my sessions and my editing style is a more lite natural approach with an occasional rustic appeal.
I also love taking Dramatic Sports Portraits. These I bring the strobe lights, smoke and colored gels. I craft each one of these to fit the Athlete and the star they are. I take my time to make sure they really shine!
Whatever type of session I end up doing. I take my time in it because I want this to be something my clients want to pull out year after year and remember this chapter in life.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I am honestly not a city person at all. I am not a fan of houses on top of houses and traffic just because people are out and about. I reside in Gloucester County and I love the peace and quiet and having some privacy. The small town community just brings such an amazing feeling of home and everyone really comes together.
Pricing:
- 20-30 minutes starting at $150 great for those who want a quick session to update their photo frames.
- 45-1 hour starting at $250 great for Senior Portraits, Maternity Session, or those extended families
- In home newborn sessions start at $300
- Dramatic Sports Sessions start at $250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.justavibephotography.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/justavibe_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1bjSSVVzgA/?mibextid=wwXIfr
