We had the good fortune of connecting with Meagan Explores and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Meagan, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
That failure is going to be part of your success. While it is true, I really feel like a more productive mentality is not allowing yourself to feel like you are going to fail at all. OF COURSE you will have your lows and times where things didn’t go as you had planned, but feeling like you “failed” because of them is going to throw you into a spiral of doubt that you might not climb out of as easily. The term “failing” has such a negative connotation to it and we don’t need to entertain that negativity in our business!
Instead, think about those “failures” as just little bumps in the road. Don’t allow them the space to take a major toll on you. If things aren’t going your way, tell yourself: “This is all just part of my journey, not everything is going to be perfect ALL the time”. Or, “I acknowledge that this particular instance could have gone better, but I’m going to make the best of it anyways and use it as a learning experience.” Rather than: “I failed at this and I’m so mad at myself and I’m going to have such a hard time coming back from this.”
See the difference? Don’t allow yourself to get stuck!
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When someone asks me what makes me different. It’s this: starting out in photography 10+ years ago was never with the intention to make it my full time career. It was just for fun as a way to create and self express.
Having this be the core of why I create beautiful photography today really is a whole new level of passion. When someone starts their journey rooted in actual interest rather than forcing it to make a living… it will show
I’ve been taking photos since I was 16. I started as the youngest senior portrait photographer in my highschool… But I went through the conventional motions. I went to a really prestigious university in Boston, I worked in marketing for 7 years, and I did all the things I was “supposed” to do.
I don’t believe I’d be as successful today without those experiences, but if you have the desire to learn and grow in fields you are unfamiliar with, then anything is possible.
In 2018 I started taking photography more seriously again. It was when “Meagan Explores” was birthed and I officially changed my Instagram handle. Slowly over the last 1.5 years, I started incorporating my love for nature and landscape with documenting the connection of two people in those settings.
And here we are!!
It’s been incredible.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to my partner who believed in me before I knew I could too! He is a videographer and started his business about 2 years before I took the leap in mine. It’s the best thing I’ve done by far and his support and constant encouragement lead me to feeling like the most smart and powerful woman I could ever be!
Website: www.meaganexplores.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/meaganexplores
Facebook: www.facebook.com/meaganexplores