Meet Marcella Lanier

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcella Lanier.

Hi Marcella, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Growing up, I was always the one in my family with a camera. Taking pictures of everything and everyone, but oddly I didn’t grow up wanting to be a photographer. But there I was, an adult, wife, and mom. Investing in everyone except myself. I needed something. Something that was all mine, an outlet of some sort. Definitely, something positive that would bring joy to me and those around me. Still… lightning had yet to strike until I was on vacation and going through old photos. I’m talking thousands and thousands of pictures! The smile and joy it brought me to relive those memories were strong enough to plant a seed. After much thought and realizing that I needed a positive outlet; something I could call my own, I discussed it with my husband, received his full support, purchased my 1st DSLR (Nikon D5600 kit), and started capturing moments almost immediately!

Marcella Colette Photography was born. After practice and a few workshops/conferences, I became confident enough to officially register my business in June 2020. I’ve photographed high school seniors, college grads, anniversaries, engagements, maternity, boudoir, milestone birthdays, and more; both on location and in-studio. I would have to say that my current favorites are the boudoir – for its keen ability to empower women and heighten their awareness of how beautiful they truly are, and couples – because I love witnessing the love between two people! It was not easy getting noticed in such a heavily saturated market. Even after several years, the task is still not an easy one, but it is more comfortable and has certainly been rewarding. I’ve since upgraded my skill set and truly enjoy shooting with my Sony A7iii.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. At first, the struggle was balancing my roles as a wife, mom, and FT corporate employee while making time for myself and photography (with all it includes). Then the struggle became getting my work out there enough for people to become familiar with me and my craft.

This one is still sort of a struggle because I am not a social media person! I’m that individual that posts every once and a while. That can be detrimental to a business considering just about everyone does everything online, these days, and through social media platforms. Thank goodness for good old fashion word of mouth!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Marcella Colette Photography is a portrait photography company based in Charlotte, NC, and serving surrounding areas.

We help our clients celebrate life, love, and accomplishments with a 5-star portrait experience that includes a seamless booking process, quality services, and luxury products.

We specialize in creating a great experience for our clients. Not just taking photos. We enjoy making the process fun while building a genuine connection.

I’m proud that I can comfortably run my business the way I see fit. No urges or needs to conform to what everyone else has done or currently does. That’s their business, and this one is mine.

I am who I am. What you get from Marcella Colette is encouragement, honesty, hard work, and a bit of humor because that’s me at my core. I don’t change who I am for the sake of business/money. I love what I do and WHO I AM. I believe that sets me apart from many in this industry.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Staying true to myself and my beliefs. Investing just as much into my clients, as they invest into my business.

Pricing:

• Portrait sessions start at 325 plus tax
• Portrait collections range from 590 – 1995
• Booth rentals range from 400 – 775

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marcellacolette.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcellacolettephotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcellacolette

Image Credits
@ArielPerry and Marcella Colette Photography