Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Provan.
Michelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Photography has always been a passion in my life. It started when I was a little girl and used to play with my mom’s Nikon camera. I started my own business once I began to see the results I wanted from my photos. I had a lot of help from Anna Smith Photography in Dallas, Texas. She is a childhood friend of mine. Anna was always a huge help when it came to problems I was having or how to improve my work. She has been a fantastic mentor to me.
Has it been a smooth road?
I was not a business major. Both my undergraduate and graduate degrees were liberal arts degrees, so I was not familiar nor prepared for how much goes into creating your own business. Being a photographer isn’t as easy as it looks. You are a sales representative, marketer, web designer, blogger, editor, financial planner and more. You truly are a jack of all trades.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Joy James Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I love the variety that photography brings. I get to capture people’s most intimate and exciting moments. What set me apart from most photographers is photographing and specializing in educational photography. Photographing kids is not simple, especially when you have a large group of them. There is a lot of anticipation that goes into educational photography.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I am an Austin native. Which if you haven’t been to Austin, you are missing out. I do still say, “Y’all,” and I would never abandon my Texas roots, but I will say, the second I moved to Chicago, I fell in love. I felt complete, and I realized what a city girl I am.
Chicago has some rough winters. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the bone-chilling winter weather–oh, and that lake effect! It is a killer. The summers though make up for all of the cold. Chicago comes alive in the summer, and it is phenomenal to capture it all.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joyjamesphotography.com
- Phone: 312-800-3336
- Email: joyjamesphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/joyjamesphotography
