Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Schleif.
Hi Morgan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My passion for photography began in 2010 as a means to connect and maintain a relationship with my younger brother. He was the photographer of the family, but too young to drive to different locations. He’d yell up the stairs “Morgan, put on something weird, let’s go to Minneapolis”. Though I was the “model” then, there was always something about having a camera around that made adventuring feel purposeful – like we could do anything.
Once I graduated from high school and moved 4 hours north of home, I missed our photo adventures. I yearned for the unique bond that would occur while wandering around looking for inspiration to strike. So I picked up a camera of my own. I’d ask all of my new freshman friends to go exploring our new neighborhood, town, parks, and surrounding areas with me.
The more I photographed, the more invested I got in the art, composition, and technical side of it – all while maintaining the relationships that emerged from it. In 2013, I landed my “first paying client” aka my second cousin and her family. I shared it on social media and from then on I began pursuing photography as a part-time job to help pay for school and travel.
After graduating from college with degrees in graphic design and public relations, I quickly learned that the corporate world wasn’t for me. I would take every spare moment of my lunch hour to edit photos, communicate with clients, and dream up my next session.
Since quitting my job in 2017, I’ve now been a full-time photographer specializing in brand, event, and lifestyle imagery.
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?
I find that pursuing a career in art is inherently a struggle.
When you take something like photography that is a perception of how you see and feel in the world, it’s a difficult thing to separate your work from yourself and your identity. It has taken many years to find a healthy balance of turning a personal hobby into a professional business.
Another obstacle has been being my own boss, motivator, employee, accountant, co-worker, marketer, etc. I found early on that caring for your mental health is the key to succeeding as a soloprenuer. Knowing yourself helps guide boundaries, routines, and coping with burnout.
Over the past five years of being full-time, I’ve experienced the importance of discovering my niche. I was spreading myself far too thin, doing everything I could, trying to be “everyone’s photographer”. By doing that, I wasn’t serving myself or my clients to the best of my abilities. After years of running of empty, I can proudly say that I have reduced the services I offer and gained incredible clients because of it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a queer woman-owned business located in Moorhead, MN specializing in community-event, small business branding, and lifestyle imagery!
My special sauce is that I offer a unique and playful approach to brand photography. This includes a consultation that walks my clients through a casual conversation that allows me to interpret what makes them stand out in their industry. From here, I come up with fresh ways to translate those values visually so that their customer can feel their essence and experience before walking in the door. It’s all about getting to the core of a company, why they exist and telling that story.
Over the past few years, I’ve gotten to connect with and share the stories of many folks doing kick-ass things in our community. Some highlights include documenting our local farmers’ market, makers, small businesses, and community experiences. I’ve also become known for producing compelling product and food flatlays that combine color and energetic composition.
My aim with every session is to empower people through vibrant, honest, and impactful imagery!
What are your plans for the future?
In the future, I hope to incorporate education in my business to encourage creatives that you can in fact love your job, while continuing to serve my community by showing others how awesome it is.
Also, I’m getting married in June, so that’s exciting!
Contact Info:
- Email: mschleifphotography@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.mschleifphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mschleifphotography/
