Meet Serah Prince | Owner and Photographer at Magnolia Fire Photography

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

Hi Serah, what is the most important factor behind your success?
This is a question that is near and dear to my heart. I say that because the underlying one word answer is PEOPLE. Let me explain. When I moved to the area I knew NO ONE, as in not one single person. Minus my husband, who by the way is my favorite human ever! I knew it was important to grow my network and get to know people and become trusted by them.

We’ve all gotten the random friends requests immediately followed by a request to join a group, buy some cream or support that person somehow. I vowed to never be that person. I wanted people to be supported and cared for. So, when I joined groups, I made it my mission to learn who was in the group. Who was the best cookie maker? What realtors were people recommending? Who was supportive of others in the group? I got to know who those influencers were and started referring them as well. When I saw a post in the local moms group asking for the best place to take their toddlers on a hot afternoon, I immediately tagged @Prosper Playhouse and the owner. When someone asked about where to get popsicles that are natural with no added color or sugar, I tagged @The Pop Parlour in Frisco.
Soon, those business owners and influencers took notice that I was advocating and supporting them and started to tag @Magnolia Fire Photography whenever there was a request for a photographer in the area. Most of them had never worked with me personally, but they knew that my quality and brand was built around helping people become their best self whether that was in supporting their business or making them look amazing in their portraits.
The other way that I am continuing to become successful is through a networking group called Master Networks. This is a group that has the mission “to lead a movement of learning-based, service-oriented entrepreneurs and business leaders. Our commitment is to educate, equip, and empower our members so that they are inspired to create and design legacy beyond the business.” The people in the group have a passion for building their reputation and businesses by helping build as they climb.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets you apart from others? YIKES! This is a hard one. What sets Magnolia Fire Photography apart from the others like me? Well, I suppose that goes back to the old quote from Maya Angelou. She said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
One thing I try to always do is make people feel like they matter. I listen to them and meet with them before we meet for our sitting. I get to know the reason they want the images created and do my best to help them create that vision. But the truth be told, any good artist out there will do that as well (or should!)

What you are most proud of or excited about?
One thing I am super proud of and excited about is my mission to continually improve and grow. One way I am doing this this year is to attend Texas School of Professional Photography sponsored by the Professional Photographers Association (PPA). It is six days of the BEST photographic education in the world and offers classes to educate, inspire creativity and invigorate photographers by working side by side with top notch professionals and photographers who are learning too!

How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?
Anything worth doing is probably not easy. This hasn’t been easy. I am not a technically savvy person by fault. I don’t love learning about light meters, aperture or camera gear. What it has been worth it. Through the process I have learned that I am much more capable of things that I give myself credit for. I have learned that when someone asks you to recreate the Crowley’s family photo for their fireplace, you find a way and do it! I have learned that when you don’t communicate clearly, people can’t read your mind and things get hairy. I have learned that pushing the button is the easy part and it is the research and education that I have that sets me apart. I have also learned that this isn’t a competition between photographers and there is a client for everyone and not everyone is my ideal client anymore than I am their ideal photographer- and that’s ok!

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?
Actually… one of my besties IS coming to visit over Spring Break and this is our DFW Itinerary.

Medieval Times- We are so excited to check this place out. I wanted to go to one when I lived in GA and have been waiting to check it out till she gets here!

Fury Fun Center in Frisco- They offer Indoor Paintball, a RAGE room, End Grain Axe Throwing, a Splatter Paint room and will be doing GLOW IN THE DARK PAINTBALL! That sounds amazing!

Fort Worth Stockyards- Her kids love all things cowboy (including the Dallas Cowboys) and will love to check out the stockyards and take in a rodeo. Heck, I might even buy some new boots!

Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden- The tulips should be in bloom and I LOVE tulips!

If they were coming during baseball season, we would love to go to a Rangers game.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband is the reason Magnolia Fire Photography exists!

When we first got married, I was the Director of Human Resources for a large casino and Indian Pueblo in New Mexico. We decided to create some mini versions of ourselves and it was very important to me that our children didn’t spend their life learning from everyone but us. So, I quit my corporate big wig job to stay home with our crew!

I had a friend ask me to take their family photos. I had always loved photography as a hobby and even managed a studio years ago in college, but didn’t think it was something I would do full time. Long story short, the friend was beyond elated with their photos and one thing lead to another, which led to a full on panic attack! The trash talk in my head told me I could never be a business owner, that I wasn’t good enough to charge people for their portraits and that I didn’t have all the flashy gear to do this. My husband sat me down and listened to me cry and spew word vomit. Then he hugged me, asked if I was done and proceeded to question me if I loved what I created for my friend? He reminded me that every other business owner, photographer or person trying something new has those same thoughts and that I could either stay here on the sofa crying or pick up my camera and kick some butt (that’s not the word he used, but I’ll just say that for here!) So, I picked up my Canon EOS R with my 24-100 lens and shot 15,813 photos of nearly 250 families in the first year! I replaced my big wig corporate salary in one year and was able to spend countless more hours with our two boys.

Also, the other photographers I have met this year who have become mentors and friends! Tiffany Freischlag with @Timeless by Tiffany especially deserves a little credit. You inspire me to not only grow as a professional but also as a woman and mama! I love how to always accept new challenges and grow your business while keeping your focus on being a great mama and wife!

Website: www.magnoliafirephotography.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/magnoliafirephotography

Facebook: www.facebook.com/magnoliafirephotography

Other: Google: https://g.page/r/CbpwmPOy-kwdEB4/review

Image Credits
Photo Credit: @MagnoliaFirePhotography www.MagnoliaFirePhotography.com Serah’s Headshot Photo Credit: @CamilaWillPhotography www.camilawillphotography.com