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http://mccayphoto.com
What is your background, education, training, work experience if other than photography?
In my previous life, BC (before children), I worked in hotel sales and marketing in downtown Phoenix. A fun, social industry, but when faced with the decision of returning to work after being home with my children for nine years, having a "conventional" job did not appeal to me.
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How long have you been a photographer? When and how did you get started? How did you learn photography?
My passion for the art of photography started at about the age of 18 but it was way into my adulthood that I pursued photography professionally. It is now many years later, and I can honestly say that photography has kept me young in spirit. I have been a professional photographer since 1992. I started as an assistant working for a preschool volume photographer (Liz Walters) and ran a crew for her for seven years, during which time I attended my first PPA convention in Denver in 1994. After being blown away by the possibilities, I picked up every seminar/program that pertained to portrait photography. My adult children are now in therapy from being used as guinea pigs when they were small...but since they were the objects of my obsession, I was lucky enough to win some great prizes and trips entering their photos in amateur contests. On a professional level, it was encouragement that I received from other photographers (namely Russell Beach and Lou Coopey) that I greatly admired that lead me to competition starting at the local level and soon progressing to the national level. One of the best tools for leaning for me was taking the risk of exposing (no pun intended) myself to having my work judged and critiqued in competition. I took the CPP test and received my certification in 1998 and after five years of pretty intense competition, I was fortunate to earn my Master of Photography Degree from PPA in 2003.
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What is your specialty? Do you only do weddings or do you shot portraits too?
I have been successful in staying away from wedding photography knowing that I'm not cut out for the time investment it takes (among other reasons). Although I have to say I truly love photographing seniors, families and children play a large part in my business acumen.
What are your goals for your business?
My goals for my business are not different than what I have already accomplished and cultivated over the years. Naturally I want to keep increasing sales, but at the same time I don't want to work as hard to accomplish this.
What has been your most successful marketing effort to date?
While I do some direct mail marketing, I find that nothing speaks louder than my work in peoples homes and word of mouth referrals.
Why did you join the AzPPA? What has been the best thing you have gotten out of being a member? Or what do you look forward to the most out of being a member?
I joined AzPPA years ago to be emmersed with other photographers who want to keep on growing and learning. The networking and learning experiences have been invaluable! I have learned a great deal about both the business end of photography and the artistic end, and I've learned through other professionals that giving your work and talent away is a sure way of failing in this business. AzPPA has been instrumental in keeping me abreast of the changing industry. This knowledge is always helpful in molding my own business.
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