Meet Peyton Pickett | Wedding and Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Peyton, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As a photographer, I’d say about 90% of my job is done from home. Between editing, posting on social media, and drafting marketing emails and ads (just to name a few), my work life balance is really delicate and, at times, hard to keep even. Being a stay-at-home mom to a toddler also just throws an extra dash of chaos into my day, so it can really be tough to draw that boundary between work and play. With so much of my job being to scour social media for leads, it’s so easy to just sit staring at my phone for 12 hours a day – and to be honest, I’m still kind of figuring out the perfect balance. My word of advice to anyone struggling to hold that boundary when working from home would be to treat your job like it’s a 9-5. Designate a time to start and end your day, dedicate a workspace away from distractions, and do your best to stick to that. It’s easier said than done, but has been helpful for me!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I kind of fell into photography on accident – I knew I wanted a career in a creative field and just decided to try out different things until I found what worked for me. I signed up for my first photography class and instantly fell in love, and now I’m lucky enough that I was able to turn my passion into a full-time career. It has definitely been a struggle to get to where I am, and I’d be lying if I said the struggle wasn’t continuous – but I know it’s totally worth all the hard work. As I’ve navigated the way into self-employment (and mostly self-taught, at that), I’ve discovered that in order to be really successful, it really is all about the trial and error. To be successful in a creative field, especially, you can’t be afraid to fail. I have taken some photos that are really…not my best work, to say the least. However, I know that with every failed shot, that’s another chance to learn and grow and really hone my skills. As for my brand, I want to always make sure that it comes across that I’m open and welcoming to any and everyone. As a wedding and boudoir photographer especially, I feel it’s so important to make sure that no matter who you are or where you come from, any shoot with me is a safe space where you can feel loved, welcomed, and beautiful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I grew up closer to Dallas and now live closer to Denton, so I have some favorite spots all over the metroplex. One of my favorite spots in Denton is the roof on LSA on The Square – if you haven’t tried the margarita flight, you’re truly missing out. Head out there in the evening and make sure you stay for their nightly sunset toast. In Dallas, one of my favorite spots has to be Ellen’s. Their brunch is to die for, and the location is right in the perfect spot to grab some food and then tour any of the cool museums Dallas has to offer.

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?
I wouldn’t be able to do half the things I do without the help of my assistant, Crystal. As I’m there behind the camera, she’s always a step behind me acting as my videographer, social media queen, and the ultimate hype woman for my clients. I also have to dedicate so much of my success to my husband, Justin, who’s always been my biggest supporter and never once complains about my late nights and weekends spent away from home.

Website: www.photographybypeyton.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/photographyby.peyton or www.instagram.com/boudoirbypeyton

Facebook: www.facebook.com/photographybypeyton

Other: If you’re on TikTok, follow me @PhotographyByPeyton