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

Hi Mallory, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Since I was young I have always wanted to own my own business. My parents had a stationery store shortly after they got married and I loved the idea of this. As my husband and I began our wedding planning and events, I purchased a “nicer” camera to take pictures at each event with family and friends. Over the next year I began researching how to use my camera, and took a few courses and workshops in the area. I have always had a heart to work with kids and photographing newborns and families was a way for me to work with kids without being a teacher. My husband began his EMBA shortly after we got married which meant I had free time that I needed to fill. I knew long term building my own business would allow me to eventually stay home once we had a family. This was my creative outlet after working in the real estate world from 9-5 each day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I knew early on in my career I wanted to focus on family and newborn photography. I didn’t want my business to consume my weekends like the wedding industry. I was thinking long term and how I wanted my business when we had a family. For the first 7 years of my business, I worked full-time in commercial real estate and built my business at night and on the weekends. Was it easy? No, building your own business is never easy. You learn things daily along the way. How to handle situations, upset clients or just trying to stay on top of all the daily tasks and changes in marketing. We recently moved from Dallas to the west side of Fort Worth, this has been one of the biggest challenges for me. I am having to revisit pricing structures, rebuilding my business in a new market, refocusing my niche and being mama to 3 little boys. Though my focus for the past 10 years has been on newborn, families and heirloom portraits, I am slowly transitioning to more branding and interior while still keeping my newborns and heirloom portraits. My hope is to grow my weekday business and do less weekends. I have also recently added education and mentoring. I would love to work with new photographers and help them grow their businesses whether they are a new mom or working a 9-5 day job. I truly have a passion for teaching others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love Fort Worth. If my best friend was coming to visit, we would take a day to visit the Stockyards and Joe T Garcia’s, maybe walk around University to shop and grab coffee. We would then head out to Glen Rose and stay a few days at La Palmilla. Though I haven’t actually stayed there, it is on my list for this year! A fun little get away, we can explore Glen Rose and rest and relax by the pool.

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?
Over the years I have found a community of photographers and a mentor through several Mastermind Courses and Workshops that Sabrina Gebhardt Photography has offered. I mentored with her years ago, and continued to follow her participating in her Root to Rise Mastermind and finding a community of women across the US that continues to support and encourage me daily. Along with Sabrina, my husband and family have been a huge source of love, support and encouragement over the years. As photographers, it is important to find a community that you can touch base with, communicate with, bounce questions off of and cheer on from any distance!

Website: https://www.malloryshelton.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mallorypshelton/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallory-shelton-1a66664/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mallorysheltonphotography

Image Credits
Headshot by Amanda Mendenhall; additional photos by Mallory Shelton Photography (me)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.