Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Manley
Hi Travis, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
While working full-time, I graduated from Tennessee Tech University with a Management Information Systems degree. It was a challenge, but absolutely worth it and definitely a character-builder. I learned time management, organization, and improved my people skills while doing so. I was working in a corporate office for 11 years for an established logistics company and had met a lot of really fascinating people along the way. After graduation, I really wanted to put my degree to use so I pursued an opportunity with a small software company. It was definitely a risk transitioning from a large, stable environment to take a chance on the potential of a start up software company. After much prayer and seeking advice, I decided to make the jump. I learned quickly that the ebbs and flows of a start-up were very different than an established company. I still work for the software company, and we have been through multiple CEOs, Investors, and Leadership. That brings us to the year 2020. Once the Covid pandemic was in full-swing, I decided I needed a backup plan in case something happened with my full-time job.
Growing up I always had an interest in photography and video but never pursued any opportunities. I always seemed to have a basic camera or video recorder around capturing anything and everything. I enjoyed it, but didn’t realize I could actually make some money doing something that I was passionate about. I also worked in a photo lab when I moved away to college, but didn’t realize all of the photography fundamentals that I learned while working there. My wife and my family kept encouraging me to invest in a professional camera and I finally heeded their advice. I figured it was something I could do outdoors which would give me a break from my full-time desk job and if I wasn’t successful making money, I would have a nice camera I could use to capture travel or whatever I found interesting as a free hobby.
My first session was a small family session of some of our best friends and I decided to create some social media accounts and post the results. I received positive feedback so decided to seek out some freelance opportunities in order to build my portfolio. This continued and the positive feedback continued so I kept shooting sessions and started actually making money with my new hobby. 4 years later, I usually stay booked through most of year and have been able to narrow down my niche to Weddings, Couples, and Senior Portrait Sessions. I found that narrowing down to a speciality really takes the stress off of running a business. You can focus on providing consistency and continual improvement in your product instead of trying to be all things to everyone. I absolutely love what I do and have met some amazing people along the way.
I have had multiple Senior Portraits published in various magazines which is something I never imagined while deciding to pursue this dream. We have the absolute BEST clients and it is such a blessing to work with them. We definitely couldn’t do it without them!
Lastly, one of my favorite parts of this “side hustle-turned-business” is getting to travel to capture lifelong memories for clients. Capturing my first beach wedding was a lifetime memory and I look forward to our next adventure!
I was able to use my people, business, and technical skills learned during time in college to create a successful small business!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting my own photography business has mostly been a smooth ride. As with most situations, getting the business off the ground when starting has been the most challenging part. The lessons and trials I went through while working and taking college classes have paid off so much and will stay with me permanently. Owning a small business requires being a CEO, learning marketing and sales, learning about taxes, being a social media expert, along with my other roles including running the day-to-day operations.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Matthew Travis Photography?
Matthew Travis Photography specializes in Weddings, Senior Portraits, and Couples photo sessions. We love our clients and absolutely love capturing their special wedding day or capturing a time lapse of their Senior year whether it be high school or college. We are licensed, insured, experienced, and love what we do!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The technology trend has been rapidly changing for several years. Obviously, smart phones have great cameras, but there will always be a quality difference when a seasoned professional is using a high-tech professional camera instead of a smart phone. We strive to bring an experience with each session which is something that technology simply cannot replace! We have traveled to various parts of the U.S. to capture Weddings and Senior Sessions and hope to travel overseas within the next few years to capture someone’s special day!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.matthewtravisphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewtravisphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatthewTravisPhotography
