Life & Work with Somaira Hernandez of La Vergne, TN

Today we’d like to introduce you to Somaira Hernandez

Hi Somaira, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m Somaira Hernandez, best known as Miimii a 31 year old photographer based in La Vergne, TN. Born in Houston, TX and raised with Honduran and Salvadoran roots. I bring my love for family and self love into every session. I’m a mother to a 10 year old girl and a 3 year old boy. I’m a coffee and tea kind of girl, and someone who truly believes in the power of preserving memories.
I was raised by a strong Latin woman that made sure we understood to never be comfortable and always strive and work hard for what you want to accomplish in life. If it wasn’t for that mentality that I was raised in by my mother I don’t think I would have been able to get to where I am now in my business. So, Thank you madre.
My photography business started off as a hobby of taking images of my first born in 2014. Not long after I had people contact me asking me if I could take pictures of their family, children, etc. I quickly realized I wanted to continue capturing such special moments for other families in their journey of life. So, in late 2014 I began my journey and started MMG PHOTO.
I have been blessed to learn from professional photographers, and be mentored by them to get to the level that I am at now. All those long hours of studying and learning from them have molded me into the photographer that I one day wished so dearly to become.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have gone through a lot of obstacles and challenges in my photography business. When I first started out I probably had to stop and put photography to the side about three times. It definitely broke my heart to put a halt in something that I knew I wanted to do long-term and eventually full-time. It’s definitely not easy starting a business on your own that requires for you to invest a lot of time and money into it. For the most part of my photography journey, I was a single mother, and that alone brought its own challenges. I however, did my best, and keeping a positive mentality being able to move forward from situations that I never thought I would come out of and by the grace of God, I have.
I remember the last time I almost gave up photography someone very dear to me, told me something that till this day it is engraved in my brain. His words were “scared money makes no money”. I can’t tell you how many times I opted out in investing money into my business until I finally put that to rest and I did. I invested a little here a little there and let me tell you a little bit goes a long way. So yeah, with that being said, I’m grateful to have overcome such a negative mentality in my life that I never want to go back to.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional photographer and I am a Latin owned business in Tennessee. MMG PHOTO is a full-service In-home photography studio located in La Vergne, Tennessee. I specialize in Maternity, Newborn, Children, Family, Branding and Boudoir photography. We have a client closet that is included in sessions for mothers, children, and newborns. I’m a full-service studio and focus on helping my clients print their photos for keepsakes, and to display them in their home.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice for anyone that is just starting out is NEVER STOP AND KEEP GOING. I promise there are days that it seems that is nearly impossible to get where you want to be at but the more time goes by and the more work you put in something you love it does not go unnoticed. Keep a positive mind even in the moments where you feel like giving up. I can guarantee if you keep pushing and staying positive you will make it to the finish line before you even notice you are already there.

Pricing:

• Photography sessions begin at $250.00+

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mmgphoto.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmg.photo
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mmgphoto2014
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somaira-hernandez-a28a45149