In this interview, we catch up with Bailey Keller a successful photographer and entrepreneur who turned her passion into a thriving business. Keller shares her journey of turning her hobby into a career and the challenges she faced in the early stages of her business. She also discusses her photography style and how she differentiates herself from other photographers in the industry. Additionally, she highlights the importance of building client relationships and empowering women in her business. We learn about her future plans and what we can expect to see from Bailey Keller Photo & Design in the years to come. Overall, this interview offers valuable insights into the world of photography and entrepreneurship.
What did you learn from the last time we spoke, and how would you give the readers advice from this?
I’ve learned that no matter where you are there’s always room for growth in your career. And to grow, I think you need a lot of confidence and sometimes a “shark” mentality. Unpopular opinion, but you can be humble when you retire.
What inspired you to become a photographer and start your own business?
I’ve kind of always had a camera in my possession growing up. My parents never said “no” when I wanted a new one and they rock for that! When I started this as a hobby I thought “this is just for fun, I like doing it.” But once I started getting inquiry after inquiry and noticing people wanted to pay for my service, it seemed like an opportunity I should jump for. I mean who doesn’t want to be their own boss. I really just turned my hobby into a career.
What was the biggest challenge you faced when starting your business and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge was the financial side of things. I went to school for Graphic Design and Behavioral Sciences so I knew absolutely nothing about taxes or bookkeeping. I’m lucky to have found a great team to assist me with those things and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Sometimes it’s just safer to hire people that are good at what they do and stick to what you’re good at. 🙂
Can you tell us more about your photography style and how you differentiate yourself from other photographers?
My photography style is fun and candid. I try to stay committed to being real and capturing genuine emotions with my photos. I do my best to keep each session light and fun for everyone. I think I’m different from other photographers because I want the sessions to be more candid than perfect or posed.
What do you think sets your business apart from others in your industry?
I strive to build relationships with all of my clients — I actually want to be your friend and follow your life on social media, not just take your photos… maybe we can even grab dinner after a session.
How do you stay motivated and inspired as a creative entrepreneur?
I think my clients play a big role here. I have a lot of clients who come back as their families grow and I try to give them more and more every time they come back. The goal is to improve my skills with every session. It also helps that it’s just simply what I love to do!
What do you think are the most important qualities for someone in your profession to have?
An eye for detail, creativity and imagination, patience and flexibility, passion, self-motivation and ambition. The ability to connect and communicate with clients is a quality I am proud of. A killer attitude also goes a long way too!
Can you talk about your experience working with female clients and why you focus on empowering women in your business?
A good majority of my clients are women and what I’ve noticed from working with women is how hard we can be on ourselves. I feel like women in our society today have an unwritten expectation of what we should be accomplishing as female business owners, mothers, and even single women. I just want to provide a space where we can lift each other up and support each other in a positive way. We like to throw comparisons out the window here at Bailey Keller Photo & Design.
What are your future plans for Bailey Keller Photo & Design and what can we expect to see from you in the future?
My future plans are not far off from what I’m currently doing. Eventually, I would like to step back on weddings and focus more on families and boudoir photography. Something I completely took away from my business early on was freelance design work. This is a craft I would love to come back to in 5-10 years. But for now, weddings are what make my business whole!
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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