Life & Work with Joy Perez of Clarksville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy Perez.

Hi Joy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Hi! I’m Joy Perez. The face behind Happy Joy Photography. I was born and raised in the Philippines and married my 22-year Army vet husband, Noe, my biggest fan and supporter. I started doing photography in early 2019. My love for photography came later. Initially, I wanted to be a professional photographer to prove people wrong, which is too honest to say, but it was true. I was self-taught and did not take any classes. As a minority who had to find her place in almost everything, it was always a challenge for me to strive harder and prove to people that I could do anything if I worked hard enough. If I first wanted only to show people that they were wrong for thinking, I couldn’t do it. Now that I have done it, I have found love and passion for photography. I’ve always loved putting things together and decorating. Photography enables me to feed that side of me where I can put different setups and themes together. I love capturing raw emotions or even having fun during posed sessions. The opportunity to meet all kinds of people, create memories for families and give an extra boost of self-love and appreciation to those struggling to remember to love themselves as they are. These are a few reasons photography is so much more than just saying cheese and clicking that camera. I offer both outdoor and studio sessions. My very first studio was ours in the finished home basement. While I loved that I at least had that option compared to others who didn’t, I love where I am today! In August of 2022, we celebrated the grand opening of my permanent studio. We were able to snag this beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! 136-year-old historic home downtown Clarksville and turned it into my studio. This was a huge milestone for me. I had always dreamt of owning my studio one day, and today, I do!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have been blessed that my photography journey has taken off since I started. It has not slowed down, and I’m genuinely grateful for that. Has it been a smooth road? No. Just like any other successful business, there will always be struggles along the way. I have had my share of difficult clients and having to break up with ones who do not match perfectly with me. While I do want to please everyone, I simply just can’t. And, as a small business owner, most will agree that it is okay to let go of people who do not meet your same level of energy. Besides that, I am grateful to be surrounded by people who continually love and support me and celebrate me as I keep hitting more and more milestones for my photography.

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I photograph anything portraits. I love capturing stages in life, even just starting with a couple or a boudoir session. Then, later on, that same couple, their pregnancy announcement or maternity session. Then comes the newborn session, the first birthdays, then the family sessions. It’s a cycle, and I love being part of some, if not all, those memories. Of all the sessions I offer, I enjoy maternity sessions the most. The celebration of life being created is a different level of appreciation for how beautiful life is. My clients return to me time and time again because of their experiences with me. I make sure that their time with me is memorable. Whether tired or sleepless, I ensure laughter and giggles fill the room during their sessions. At the end of their time, I want them to remember how fun it was working with me. And having good photos to go along with the experience is just a bonus.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
Don’t give up, and keep learning. Find your community. Find your people! Clarksville is over-saturated with photographers. It is a very competitive market, and everyone is just trying to survive and succeed. But I am so grateful that I have found a group of genuine people willing to help, give advice, answer questions, and root for me to succeed. Not everyone will be your person but stick with them once you find the right people. I can proudly say I am friends with a few big-name photographers in Clarksville, and I’m so grateful for people like them who didn’t push me away when I was starting. They are my community.

Pricing:

• Newborn $500
• Maternity $325
• Boudoir $1500

Contact Info:

• Website: https://happyjoyphotography.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyjoyphotography37040/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happyjoyphotography37040/

Image Credits
Headshot and family photo were taken by Kimberly Garner Photography