Episode 73 Pivoting from Wedding Photographer to Branding Coaching Entrepreneurs with Janelle Chung

Zaakirah Muhammad

Welcome to another episode of the See Life Different podcast. The See Life Different podcast is for women, by women, and we talk to women of purpose, who are overcoming adversity with resilience who are entrepreneurs, and they are telling their story, confidently. So today we have the one and only Janelle Chung; brand photographer and a brand coach to service based entrepreneurs specifically to make sure that they position themselves as the go to expert in their field and leverage visibility online, so she's helped women to get clear on your brand story which includes getting clear on your messaging that includes helping them to market their business in their target audience so yeah coaching, how to coach and show you coaching women writing coach photographers coaching, women, she's also a wife and a mom and a Miami resident and I'm Born in Florida, Miami, she lived there so I'm asking about that so hi how are you?

Janelle Chung

I'm good how are you? thank you so much for having me on

Zaakirah Muhammad

Good I'm so glad that you're here, and I just love the fact that we connected at impact weekend. Yeah, the fact that you also are so passionate about branding and photography. So, tell us how you got into that.

Janelle Chung

Wow, okay, so I have always loved photography I was always that girl that had, you know the portable cameras that whenever I went out my friends because depend on me cuz I most likely had the camera on hand, so I, you know, transitioned into photography when I moved to Atlanta. And, oh wow, um, that was 2011 So that's when we first moved Yeah, so I had been doing photography part time in 2011 and I worked with other photographers I, you know, shot weddings portraits, you name it, I Was Your Girl. And then, um, then I focused mainly on weddings I was a wedding photographer for about four years. And ever since then I loved it and it wasn't until I started having, you know, my kids that we decided to move back down from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, and I decided to pivot. So that's where I, you know shifted from weddings, all the way to more portraits and brand photography. So that's kind of where I am right now.

Zaakirah Muhammad

So, you know, you said we so you said you have a has been in case yes telling that story.

Janelle Chung

Okay, well I married my college sweetheart in 2010. And we have a girl, she's my oldest Her name was Malia and I have a young little boy who just turned two a March so my little family.

Zaakirah Muhammad

I love it I love it. And so now what do you feel was the turning point for you. Once you realize you've been everybody's you've been the go to photographer for others, but then I'm sure at some point there was some kind of burnout. I've been at work. I liked it but I don't like it so what was that turning point for you.

Janelle Chung

I think for me is when, after I had my son, I, you know, weddings, take a lot of time. And even though we moved from Atlanta to Florida. My market was still in Atlanta, it is still in Atlanta, I do have a lot of, you know, families, I've worked with in the past, and you know I'm so grateful for because I had been in Atlanta for so long that even though I moved, I was still shooting weddings in Atlanta and I think after I had my son, and you know the traveling back and forth is, you know, took away from my weekend took away from my family and I kind of felt myself getting there where I was torn between serving my clients and serving my family, and making sure the balance is there. So that's why I decided to No, just, you know, pause, and pause the weddings, and of course a Coronavirus kind of helped with that decision as well too. Because traveling at that time was just, I can't do too much of it anymore. And, you know, you know, want to respect myself, my family, making sure that they're that they're not exposed to any parts of the Coronavirus, so I just wanted to limit my traveling as much. And you know I felt myself burning out quickly, so that's why I pivoted from weddings to branding.

Zaakirah Muhammad

I love it. Now, I think this is a great segue into. We all need help at some point, but who or what did you feel, were those tools about people that helped you to really almost seamlessly pivot.

Janelle Chung

Wow. Let's see. Well I know there's not really one person that helps me get there. You know it's my family, my family is really the main driver for me to pivot, um, it's ultimately of course my decision. But I think for me it's just at that moment it was my family, and I wanted to be closer to my family, I didn't want to, you know, split my weekends away because traveling, of course, takes like a full week and you leave Friday, come back Monday and like, you know, everything is back to normal, but I missed that quality time so really it was my family that was that driving force for me to, you know, properly make that pivot. I love it.

Zaakirah Muhammad

Now how did you get into coaching other photographers, which one came by coaching other entrepreneurs or coaching other photographers and how did you get into this?

Janelle Chung

That's a good question. Um, so it was really entrepreneurs, so I, you know, being a photographer for so many years I think this year is coming up to wows coming up to 10 years. Um, that I, you know, as an entrepreneur, I kind of had an understanding as far as what it is to be a good business person, um, and, you know the ins and outs of photography, but I think for me, what instead of just focusing on photographers I was mainly focusing on the entrepreneur itself because, um, you know, entrepreneurs were coming to me to take their photos and of course you know I want to meet their expectations in terms of how do you want these photos, you need to have a strategy behind these photos are you gonna use them for your website are you planning to use them just for Instagram or Facebook. You know what kind of vibe. Are you trying to give off to those coming on your page are you trying to look really professional or are you just trying to show more of a laid back vibe. So the strategy behind it was for some people that came to me that all were kind of missing so I decided to kind of coach him into. Okay so this is what you need to do to execute your vision. Do you have this in place, no okay so we need to go ahead and focus on this where I really loved the interaction I was getting with other entrepreneurs, it was something that kind of lit a fire in me. I've always been a person that loves conversation I'm a fun bubbly person so it was kind of came out naturally as I was talking with other entrepreneurs and getting themselves, visually prepared for their photos when they had their session with me where I just felt like, I just want to provide that service to others in terms of coaching them to get them on the right foot so whether you be new or you have an idea, or you have a business but just don't know how to properly execute yourself on social media or online. I felt like I could do a good service to those that are going out on this field so that's why I offered it to entrepreneurs and not just photographers,

Zaakirah Muhammad

okay, I love that, and it's super important, especially now that we're in 2021 and women are going to take over the world, when entrepreneurs have inside out. I mean it's so faint Yeah, yeah. Yeah, now Let's get a little deep into it. Talk about a time where you are, kind of, you everyone goes through that moment where you're trying to figure out what is it that you really want to do, like you're doing it, and then you probably lost track, and then you had to get back to it so let's talk about that time where you knew you had to get back to who you know I really wanted to say,

Janelle Chung

Oh, wow, okay. Um, I think it had to do about around the time where I was still shooting weddings, and, you know, as a photographer do have like some limited control in terms of the day and how the timeline works because, you know, you want to be able to serve your client, they have an expectation in mind but because of the grandiose scheme of things, so the grand scheme of things, um, in terms of the wedding day can be very overwhelming. I myself love to talk so you know I love working with wedding planners to kind of make sure we're on the same page but you know there's times where I want to be able to provide more than just, you know, pretty pictures or, you know, just, you know, beautiful shots of your details or your dress for the day and I just felt like I was still missing something even though I was still having great communication with my clients, and the brides and grooms. I felt like there was something missing. You know, I was missing something. And so, when COVID hit last year. You know I just definitely wanted to, you know, of course all the sessions took a halt, you can't do much, you can't go anywhere. People don't know what's happening. And you don't know how that virus is going to impact to you so of course everything kind of went to a standstill and I just felt like I did want to. I still wanted to communicate with people and clients and so that's why I took up coaching, so that I could still provide value to those that you know still want to come and work with me on a one on one basis so I think I've kind of found my way back and actually having those nice conversations with people, getting them on the right track in terms of coaching for their business. And then to see their results at the end of the day is gratifying. I love seeing that, to see that I'm making an impact in a different way, but still somehow related to photography because not only are my clients just my photography clients but they are also my coaching clients so they kind of intertwine the two. And I think people like to come to someone that could coach them and still get your visuals down pat. So I think that's kind of where I'm like okay I found my groove, you know, I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to serve so.

Zaakirah Muhammad

And you did mention the word impact and I think now's a good time to briefly. Probably also give her her valid my earliest of impact weekend and go to impact how was impact weekend for you.

Janelle Chung

It was great. That's how we really connected, um, it was nice to come across and be and virtually cuz I wasn't there in person, virtually, it was nice to see other women of color, like me, be in a room with Maya, who is a phenomenal leader, you know she has definitely I've been following her for some time prior to attending so it's actually, I felt empowered, being in that room that virtual room with everybody and then seeing those that are actually present on site, you know, be as excited as we were I honestly felt like I was there. Even though I was virtual I still felt like I was there so I felt the message I felt like I wasn't left out. So I mean, it was a phenomenal event and for anybody that's questioning whether or not they should attend if there's an opportunity for you to go again sometime this year for next year. Definitely, definitely go. The connections is just, you know, something that we all need because entrepreneurship can be extremely lonely at times, and it's actually nice to know that there are women like you, that may be going through the trenches at times to see the excellence and seeing people make profit goals, it's just phenomenal. So, um, you know, it's nice to see us win and be in rooms where we're welcomed, and so I definitely highly recommend people to go to impact weekend. Yeah,

Zaakirah Muhammad

and for me I took away well in my free time I tend to add you have been following my believes in 2015 We were both kind of figuring out the blogging thing so we were both in like a lot of the same Facebook group. And then I think I just was attracted to how her creative brain as well as the only the creative like me. But then I took away at impact weekend, I tend to virtually. Just seeing this as other photographers that look like that. Right, yeah, because we know just how male dominated it is and how dominated by other ethnicities, and so for me I was super taken away I'm blown away by a few female photographers that are like vlogging in their papers and leaving an impact and make an income. So what yeah, what are some of your favorite either the ones who were celebrated our impact weekend or not but some of your favorite black female photographers.

Janelle Chung

One of my favorites is Terri Baskin. She is great, I loved her. I absolutely love how she shoots her weddings, it's clean, it's flawless and her work is phenomenal. So she was definitely one of my favorites when I was still shooting weddings I mean she's still my favorite. She's still shooting weddings. Um So Terri Baskin is good, and she's my store or so I gotta, I gotta shatter out. Um, let's see another favorite in like my circle is, of course Mecca Gamble, she's one of my favorites as well too. Um, she when she pivoted to branding. Her work is just phenomenal. So that's somebody I also admire as well. Um, and I, there's just so many, I don't really like you know, have followed favorites but there's just so many off the top of my head that I absolutely love and adore and their work is just phenomenal. So you know I just, I love how people see ways to shoot, different types of, you know, sessions with people and their eye is different than mine so I just like to see what they what they pick up on, so it's just you know, everybody's just awesome.

Zaakirah Muhammad

And I'm all about collaboration over competition as well I mean even though, you and I are both brand photography, they're very important that we're better than each other, you know, exactly, you know, I mean it's I thought a name, and I think, I mean mentioned, I feel like there's a different breed of photography that happened to come through the mire program because I want to definitely give flowers to Rhea Whitney is great. Yeah, amazing, but I think it's so interesting because now Maya teach you that how to really just tell our own stories, right. So what I started seeing that on social media, like I actually connect with her a lot more than I thought I did. Then I met her, Natarsha. Yeah, I'm just seeing her glow up as well, of more coaching than photographing, and to me that's inspiring you know because I have to love people. So, you know it, of course you know if it's a wedding if it's a corporate headshot, you can only. You only have five minutes to say hi or interact with people but if people come to you, what a brand. Whole repackaging event. Right, yeah allows you to kind of, like you say, have that fire lit within you and light the fire within them to really first Sure. Yeah. Now, this is a fun question.

Janelle Chung

Okay,

Zaakirah Muhammad

You love to watch Netflix and of course a lot of us, especially in 2020 did you kind of pick up on a lot more Netflix and other TV shows right now that you feel like is your favorite?

Janelle Chung

The Crown, girl, The Crown. If you have not caught on yet. The crown is my favorite. It is like, I have never Googled anything so much, and watching a show the Crown has just been phenomenal, um, you know, of course, if you're not familiar with it the crown is more like you know the history of Queen Elizabeth and how she rose to be queen, and everybody else kind of how the dynamic of the family and then of course you know the whole Oprah Winfrey, and Harry and Megan interview, of course heightened everything up after the fact I'm waiting on a new season to start but, um, y'all. If you have not seen the Crown just get into it, I've made it through. How many seasons so quickly because I was just so intrigued I was so intrigued so I'm definitely the Crown has been my ultimate favorite

Zaakirah Muhammad

piggyback off of a kind of what was similar a similar theme, but I really did enjoy watching Bridgeton.

Janelle Chung

yeah I can't get into that though, I don't know why I can't get into, I don't know if I sat long enough,

Zaakirah Muhammad

isn't what it is, offer more than Yeah, like drama history. Yeah, well I feel like it is kind of on a little bit history, because it's by the great Shonda Rhimes, and she is good at pulling real stories and adding that fantasy twist to it so yeah I love it. You know I love celebrating other other women who are creative, you know, just seeing other creative women, You know, do things.

Janelle Chung

She's cool I mean I have to sit, actually I do have to sit and actually get into it because I keep hearing amazing things and then I heard the main character, the prince is not coming back and it's like, well, what's the point. So, yeah, I just got to figure it out. I just got to watch more of it to see if I really really enjoy it but yeah, eventually.

Zaakirah Muhammad

Now the great part where people are like, I really like to know I want to work with her. Now how can people, what could be what I was able to do you have a service.

Janelle Chung

Okay, so the services that I offer is brand for photography is brand photography, and I do portraits at certain times of the year. Um, so of course you know fall I do offer if not, if you're a couple we do couple portraits, And if you are interested in family photos and I offer it certain times of the year but mainly right now my main focus is brand photography. The other side of things is brand coaching. So if you are a new or experienced service, service based entrepreneur and you're looking to, to enhance your presence online so if you have an online business and you market yourself via any social media platform, or even have a website online and you're looking to enhance your visibility online. This is a great opportunity to work with me, so that we can establish your brand foundations, you know get clear on your messaging. Look at your offerings to see where you stand, and then come up with a content strategy to make sure that you are in line with your messaging to attract your ideal audience, your right clients who are willing to work with you. So, um, that's the other aspect of how you can work with me and we do this virtually, we don't have to meet one on one, you know, we are talking one on one, virtually, and we're able to establish a marketing plan that that that best suits you and your business so that you could become more visible online meeting with your target clients so those are the two ways that you could work with me either brand photography or coaching, um, and we could definitely make this work.

Zaakirah Muhammad

Now where can we, what's the website.

Janelle Chung

So you could look more into my work you could check out more of my work at WWW.janellecphotography.com And we could connect also on Instagram my Instagram handle is Janellecphoto, and I do have a freebie available for those that are wanting to get more information on branding and how to create a strategic and profitable brand. I do have a freebie for you and your listeners. So if you go to janellecphotography.COM/podcast, you could go ahead and click the link so you can go ahead and grab that free guide on how to build a strategic and profitable brand.

Zaakirah Muhammad

I love it I love it. And so, just to rewind a little bit it's only brand do you do wedding portraits, do you do elopement still?

Janelle Chung

no I am pausing weddings and elopements So this year I'm not really in that wedding atmosphere I just, you know, sent off my last wedding album. And so right now I am just solely focusing on portraits and brand photography right now but wedding is taking a pause at the moment.

Zaakirah Muhammad

Okay, perfect. And then the last question that I tend to ask most of the guests is what do you want your legacy to be?

Janelle Chung

I want my legacy to be a rich one. I want to leave my family, with, you know, tons of memories. Tons of, you know, portraits of me as a photographer, it's hard to take your own photo. As a photographer, but you are I'm happy to take everybody out, but I can't get myself together so I'm the legacy I want to leave my family is, you know, a rich legacy full of memories. Fun laughter photos. Of course a financial legacy behind all of that, you know, I'm not doing this just to do this as fun. This is something I'm truly passionate about but at the same time, I am wanting to be fulfilling for myself and my family. Um, so yeah I mean that that's kind of where I, you know off the top of my head where I would love my legacy to be as a fun fulfilling rich one where, you know I'm truly dedicated to those that come to me, I want to serve, continue to serve my clients, serve my future clients, and you know still be a bomb, mom and wife

Zaakirah Muhammad

I could do that, for being here on the See Life Different Podcast.

Janelle Chung

I appreciate the invite, thank you so much you are doing phenomenal and I'm happy to be a guest today, I really appreciate it.