Meet Melinda Humphries | Owner & Photographer

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

Hi Melinda, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
“The success of my business has always been dependant on meeting the needs of my clients. Sitting in the hallway of my childhood home, I constructed my first business at the age of six years old. I loved to sell little things I made. My focus as a young girl was to see the joy of the people buying them; I wanted them to receive something that they truly loved. I also received the same joy after starting my first small photography business as a teen. My focus as I grew older narrowed in on how could I best serve my customers through photography. After years of focusing on my clients and what seemed most important to them, one thing really jumped out to me. This was the growing need for a comfortable and authentic photography experience. After spending years focusing on how to truly make my clients feel at ease in front of my camera, I noticed moments began to happen more organically. I found out that my clients kept coming back to me for pictures because the way I made them feel. When I made my clients feel good the pictures always turned out good. I poured myself into evolving this experince to be the best one I could make. I know many people go through anxiety when in front of the camera and I have always wanted to alleviate any feeling of uncertainty in the process. I believe that focusing on my clients and their needs has always been the reason for my business successes. ”

Please tell us more about your career. 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?
“I’m most proud of my ability to be very versatile and flexibility in what I do. I started out my photography business as a wedding photographer and thought it was most important that I specialize in only one genre. I spent countless hours on the ground of Barns n Noble flipping through magazines to study poses, lighting, and angles. With no formal education I taught myself everything about weddings and how to achieve images that the bride and groom would love. During this time, I photographed couples at some of the most beautiful venues in Atlanta, Georgia. Soon after becoming a preferred vendor at some of these stunning locations my husband and I decided to move to San Diego. This is where I began to pivot my business and start to gain experience in other genres of photography. In the years following, I worked to then become professional in posing and photographing families. I quickly started to then receive business in not only engagements and weddings but then families. After feeling grounded, we made the decision to move across the country again to Florida. This is where I learned my flexibility and versatility. I knew that if I wanted to continue growing my business in a whole new area again I needed to work harder than ever before and create a business that stood out. Restarting and beginning my business over and over helped me gain the ability to not go against the flow but work with it. After our final move back to San Diego,  it took about a year to get business going again. During this growing period, I studied others’ work in branding and fashion photography and educated myself as much as I could. I knew this was my next step in where I wanted to take my business. Now, two years after moving back I feel more excited than ever to be working with many different genres of photography and I’m truly enjoying it all.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
“We would start our trip with a local favorite in Carlsbad, Cafe Elysa with some of the best cheese danishes I’ve ever had. Then we would head over to Torrey Pines Glider point and watch the hang gliders jump off the cliffs near blacks beach. For an afternoon pick me up, we would drive down to Hillcrest to one of the cutest coffee shops, Better Buzz, and have their delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte (love a good afternoon coffee). Later we would hand out at Sunset cliffs and enjoy a light hike and the gorgeous views. The following day we would spend the day at the beach in Coronado,  eat at the Henry for dinner and have their best truffle fries. The following days we would hang out in downtown, eat at Queenstown Public for some of the best fruity cocktails and later walk over to Salt and Straw in Little Italy for some over the top amazing Ice cream. We would then take to the boardwalk in Pacific Beach on rollar skates and eat at my favorite breakfast place, Breakfast Republic. To finish off the time we would rent kyacks and paddleboards and cruise around Shelter Island while enjoying the beautiful views in San Diego.”

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, my husband has always been the cheerleader of my dreams and passions as a photographer. We married the same year I started as a professional almost 10 years ago, and we’ve been hand and hand through it all. After three cross country moves in 5 years, restarting my business in Georgia, Florida, and California, he has been my rock. He’s been the best dad to our sons and loves them so well when I’m out on photoshoots. Many of my successes are because of him and the encouragement he brings. I also wanted to give a shoutout to all the wonderful photographer educators out there. When I first started this adventure many years ago, I gained much wisdom and education through people like Jasmine Star that offered their knowledge freely with passion and love.”

Website: www.pura.vision
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pura.visionphoto and www.instagram.com/pura.visionbranding
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puravisionphoto