Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernadette Markey.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Bernadette. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been taking photos. It started with one of those disk cameras famous in the 80s. I would head outside to take images of just about anything: my dog, the brook beside my house; any object my 12 year old brain found interesting. In high school I took a photography class which was challenging for me because I couldn’t get the film on the reel. I had to rely on someone else to do it for me. But despite this, I realized that photography is magic and I loved seeing my images come to life in the darkroom.
While working as a live-in nanny in Wellesley, I documented the fun and silly times the kids and I shared together whether we trekked into the city, walked on the Brook Path or just chilled out at home. When I had my first child in 2003, I couldn’t put my camera down! Every sweet smile and milestone begged to be documented.
In 2008, I submitted a group of images to RAW, which was a Boston.com community for amateur photographers. They selected my images to critique and the feedback was promising. Not only did this happen, but Teresa Hanafin from the Globe contacted me to ask if the Globe’s “g” magazine could publish one of the critiqued images! This was a pivotal moment. My feelings toward photography began to shift, but more babies came and I put launching a business on the back burner. But in 2011 after my third baby was born, I launched Bernadette Markey Photography because I knew that I could translate my love for photography into a profitable business while mothering my littles.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest obstacle I have faced is ME. The pull of motherhood and entrepreneurship is a well-known conundrum. Can I be a good mother AND business owner? Can I produce beautiful images that my clients love, and provide excellent client services, all while making my kids feel loved and cared for? At the risk of sounding cliché, it’s a balancing act, but I feel that this dynamic is working. How? I set business hours for myself so that my kids feel that I’m present. I also believe in self-care; exercising and yoga are the keys to my sanity; great iced tea, too.
Bernadette Markey Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a family, high school senior, and business branding photographer, it’s important to put your clients at ease to build trust. Delivering beautiful images is just one aspect of my business, but giving them a great overall experience is key. This is achieved through good communication and flexibility. My clients need to know that I have their backs, and that their sessions will not only be fun, but never feel like an actual photo session. This is when the best images are taken. This is how together, we create magic.
Thanks to referrals, I have been able to grow my business outside of my hometown which has always been a major goal of mine. I was born in Boston, and lived in Charlestown for a little while. Boston feels like a second home for me, and a second home for my business. It’s the ideal cityscape for beautiful images!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Happy clients, and positive feedback. Being organized and having good communication are crucial. I meet with all of my clients prior to their sessions to get to know them and for them to get to know me as an artist and person. My clients feel comfortable texting me with questions, and for feedback on wardrobes for their sessions! It’s important to make my clients feel like they’re not just clients, but friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bernadettemarkeyphoto.com
- Email: bernadettemarkey39@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernadettemarkeyphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BernadetteMarkeyPhotography/
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