Today we’d like to introduce you to Lakesha Miner.
Hi Lakesha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey to photography was anything but traditional. I spent over 15 years working in various human resources roles for the federal government. I jumped between agencies every year or two because, honestly, I was never passionate about the work. Don’t get me wrong, I met incredible people and made great connections, but something was missing.
I picked up photography as a creative outlet as I needed something fun to do on weekends and after work so my brain wouldn’t explode from government work all day. For years, I followed Sue Bryce and other educators and immersed myself in photography education, but I genuinely didn’t think full-time photography was possible for me. I thought everyone was making minimal amounts per session and I had no clue you could build a real business.
Everything changed when I joined The Portrait System community on Facebook. Seeing other photographers openly share their success and business wins completely rewired my thinking. I remember the exact moment it clicked: I’m thinking, “Wait, THAT’S possible?” It lit a fire under me to do serious research into pricing, client experience, and building a sustainable business.
The turning point came when my part-time photography income surpassed my full-time federal government salary. My husband has amazing health insurance through his job, so that safety net existed. Our daughter was seven, and after years of trying to expand our family with another child and facing infertility, we thought our family was complete. Everything aligned, and I knew if I didn’t do it then, I’d live with regret forever.
On February 6, 2022, I quit my government job to become a full-time photographer. Four years later, I still can’t believe I actually did it—I quit a secure federal government job to run Lakesha Miner Photography full-time. But I’ve built a thriving business specializing in headshots, personal branding, boudoir and portraits, with premium packages that reflect the elevated experience I provide my clients.
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! The road has been anything but smooth, though every challenge taught me something valuable.
The biggest mental hurdle was breaking free from the “work for the man” mindset. Coming from a family where no one owned a business, I didn’t have a blueprint for entrepreneurship. I had to completely rewire my thinking about what was possible for my life and career. The “golden handcuffs” of a secure government job with good pay and benefits kept me trapped in work that was never fulfilling.
Life also threw me the biggest curveball imaginable. Just six months after quitting my job, when I thought I had everything planned out perfectly, I found out I was pregnant. I’m such a planner, and this was definitely NOT in the cards. I remember thinking, “I would not have quit my job had I known I was going to be pregnant and have a baby in 2023.”
I was genuinely scared. Would I be well enough to do photo shoots? Could I maintain my income while pregnant? My husband kept me calm, reminding me we’d figure it out. And somehow, we did. I ran my business through pregnancy, gave birth, and now have a two-year-old daughter alongside my ten-year-old.
The mental shift has been interesting. Before the baby, I had all this time and didn’t always use it as efficiently as I could have. Now, with my youngest in daycare and my oldest in grade school, I’m laser-focused during those hours. There’s no time to space out or procrastinate. When they’re home, I’m fully present with my family.
Another ongoing challenge has been pricing confidence. I started out thinking a few hundred dollars was a lot for a session. Learning to value my work appropriately, to understand that my expertise, my client experience, and my customer service all have worth, that’s been a journey. I literally had to “rip the band-aid off” and just try higher pricing with my first high-ticket client. The fact that she said yes easily changed everything for me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in headshots, personal branding, boudoir, seniors, and portrait photography. Work that’s all about helping people see themselves through the eyes of those who love them. My core mission is building confidence through photography.
I’ve become known for creating transformative experiences rather than just taking photos. My signature “Fab Over 40 Experience” combines photoshoots with networking and empowerment specifically for women over 40. It’s about so much more than the images. It’s about helping women reclaim their confidence and see themselves as the powerful, beautiful individuals they truly are.
What I’m most proud of is how I’ve built a business that honors both my clients and my family. Running a successful photography business while being fully present for my ten-year-old and my two-year-old feels like my greatest achievement. I’ve proven to myself that you don’t have to choose between professional success and being there for your family.
I’m also incredibly proud of meaningful projects like photographing leaders for the Clean Slate Initiative in Chicago. I traveled there with my hair and makeup artist and my husband as my assistant. Many of the subjects mentioned it was their first professional headshot rather than a mug shot. That work reminded me why I do what I do: to help people see themselves with dignity and confidence.
What sets me apart is my obsessive attention to the client experience and creating genuinely safe spaces. Because I have chronic migraines triggered by scents, I ask clients not to wear perfume or cologne. I check about light sensitivity before using strobes. I customize the music during sessions. These touches might seem small, but they matter deeply to my clients.
My customer service standards are non-negotiable. Recently, I did my first reshoot in all these years because a client’s makeup was too heavy for her and she didn’t feel like herself in the photos. Even though she’d already paid, I brought her back for a completely complimentary reshoot with no makeup, just her authentic self. She ended up purchasing significantly more images because she finally recognized herself. That’s what success looks like to me.
I’m also known for my clean, signature photography style. My black V-flat is my workhorse. Whether it’s boudoir, headshots, personal branding, or family portraits, you’re stepping onto that black V-flat at some point during your session. The lighting is always carefully crafted, and every image is intentional.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My husband deserves enormous credit. He’s my number one supporter in all ways. Beyond providing the health insurance that made my leap possible, he runs all my Google Ads campaigns. The technical side of marketing that completely confuses me but that he excels at as an IT professional. He’s my rock. When I found out I was pregnant six months after quitting my job and started freaking out, he simply said, “We’ll figure it out.” And we did.
My clients deserve so much credit. Every Google review, every referral, every person who comes back for multiple sessions, they’re building this business with me. Their trust in me and their willingness to be vulnerable in front of my camera is a gift I never take for granted.
My team, especially my hair and makeup artists like Morgan from Metropolitan Makeup and Hair, help create these transformative experiences. They’re essential to what I do.
I can’t forget my incredible former coworkers and supervisors from my government days. Even though I job-hopped constantly, I met amazing people who I’m still friends with today. They supported my creative pursuits even when I was still figuring out what photography could become for me.
I have a close friend based out of Vancouver, Canada, that re-did my entire website, serves as an accountability partner, a trusted advisor, a joke teller, and a listening ear. Her name is Michele Mateus (www.mateusstudios.com) and she has been an integral part of revamping systems in my business and focusing on SEO for my website.
Finally, my daughters, my ten-year-old and my two-year-old, inspire me every single day to build something meaningful, to show them what’s possible when you pursue what you love, and to create a life where I can be fully present for them while also building my dreams.
Pricing:
- Please see website for pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lakeshaminer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakeshaminerphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakeshaminer/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakesha-miner
