Welcome to the two-hundred and thirty-sixth episode of the Heart + Hustle Podcast!

In this episode we chat with Shay Walker, founder of The Vibe Creative Studio. Shay shares her journey of establishing a creative space that supports Orlando’s entrepreneurs and creatives. She discusses the common branding challenges faced by clients, the importance of pre-session preparation to help clients feel confident, and walks us through a typical workday as a photographer and studio owner. Shay also reflects on a memorable branding session, dream collaborations, and offers advice to those hesitant about investing in professional photography. Tune in for a fun conversation on entrepreneurship, branding, and the creative hustle.

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Episode Transcription

00:00.48
Angelica:
Hello, friends, and welcome back to the Heart + Hustle podcast. I’m Angela Yarde.

00:04.25
Charisma:
And I’m Charisma O’Keefe, and we are here every week talking to you about entrepreneurship, business, balance, and so many other things. We have an interview for you today with Shay Walker, who is a local photographer here in the Orlando area.

00:19.30
Charisma:
Before we jump into that, it is Women’s History Month. It’s Melanin March because, you know, we’re doing Black History all year, not just in February.

00:30.46
Charisma:
So we figured, why not share one of our favorite Black-owned products with you today? I’m going to share mine, and it’s one that I’ve been using for a while but then stopped for a bit. I don’t really know why.

00:44.90
Charisma:
Well, I do know why, actually, because Target was being real weird and shady around Pride. So I stopped going to Target a while ago and slowly switched over to Costco.

01:00.37
Angelica:
Yes, this was 2023 for the historians who are looking for when this was. I’ll help you out.

01:06.55
Charisma:
Yeah. And when I stopped going there, some of the brands I used to buy weren’t as accessible anymore. Not all, but some.

01:17.22
Charisma:
Some I remembered to keep buying, but others I just didn’t. There were a lot of Black-owned brands I used to buy from Target.

01:29.16
Charisma:
And I’m not a huge makeup girly, so that’s why this one wasn’t on my radar at first. But then I remembered how amazing The Lip Bar is.

01:40.09
Charisma:
A lot of you have probably already heard of it. If you haven’t tried it yet, it is worth the hype. What I love about it is that it’s basically a lip stain—it stays on all day, doesn’t smudge, and doesn’t get everywhere. If you know me in real life, you know I often wear a strong red lip. And I’ll be real—when I wear Fenty, it gets everywhere.

02:07.33
Charisma:
But when I wear The Lip Bar, it doesn’t. That’s just the way it is. My favorite color is Boss Lady, and I’ll be rocking that for the foreseeable future. It’s such a fun, bold color for spring. And historically, red lips have been used to fight fascism—I’m not making that up, go Google it! But we won’t get into fascism today. Let’s have at least one place where we don’t talk about that.

02:41.49
Angelica:
My product is Portrait Coffee, which is a coffee shop out in the West End of Atlanta. ATL folks!

02:51.48
Charisma:
Yes!

02:52.11
Angelica:
Black-owned coffee shop. I’ve been trying to find a decaf from a Black-owned brand for a very long time.

02:58.75
Charisma:
Oh, nice!

03:00.76
Angelica:
As some of you may know, I’ve been off caffeine for like a year now. So I’ve been searching, and leave it up to my favorite ATLiens to come through! I got a blend from them that is all malts—highly recommend Portrait Coffee.

03:16.00
Angelica:
They also have these beautiful Black Is Beautiful mugs, and that mug is my favorite right now. It’s real cute. They’ve got tote bags, merch—so even if you’re not a coffee person, the merch is worth checking out. But if you are a coffee person, this is for you.

03:38.69
Angelica:
I ordered on a Tuesday, and it was at my house by Thursday. That is customer service! I was so surprised. I didn’t even remember what I had ordered.

03:46.07
Charisma:
How?! That’s impressive.

03:58.37
Charisma:
Right?!

04:04.20
Angelica:
I was like, “I didn’t order anything from Amazon. What is going on?” And then I realized it was my Portrait Coffee. Shoutout to them for being fast because I was almost out of coffee.

04:16.00
Angelica:
I’m also excited to keep finding more Black-owned tea and coffee brands to support this year. But my first one of the year? Portrait Coffee. I have a bag in my house that says West End on it, and if you grew up in Atlanta, you know. It feels so good.

04:36.19
Angelica:
So shoutout to the folks at Portrait Coffee. They’re really cute, and I can’t wait to visit them in person.

04:44.35
Charisma:
That was going to be my next question—is it an actual shop too?

04:48.10
Angelica:
Yeah, it’s an actual shop, straight up.

04:49.42
Charisma:
Okay, great.

04:50.22
Angelica:
I’m excited to stop by.

04:51.86
Charisma:
We’re going to Atlanta later this year, so I definitely want to check it out in person.

04:53.46
Angelica:
Yeah!

04:56.85
Charisma:
I do feel like it would be great to get a dark roast for John too. But yeah, I want to check it out in person as well. I bet it’s cute.

05:05.23
Angelica:
It is cute. Well, you don’t need to get that for John’s birthday. Spoiler alert. So you don’t have to get it.

05:08.73
Charisma:
Ooh, okay. I’m glad you just told me because I was literally about to order it.

05:09.68
Angelica:
Spoiler alert—I got it. I got John hooked up for his birthday. That’s right around the corner, so don’t even worry about it.

05:16.98
Charisma:
Thank you! Love it.

05:19.11
Angelica:
All right. Well, we’re excited for the episode. Our guest dropped so many gems, and genuinely, she is the truth, the way, the light. There is a little bit of—well, we do say some “F-bombs.”

05:31.94
Angelica:
There are some words in this one, just giving parents a heads-up. Maybe don’t turn it off, but listen to it later if you’ve got little itty-bitty babies.

05:38.63
Charisma:
We dropped some bombs in the last one too.

05:40.89
Angelica:
We did, but it was just one.

05:41.01
Charisma:
Okay.

05:42.02
Angelica:
This one—we’re going in. So if this is something you usually play in your car and you have small ears around, and those small ears actually care about bad words, you might want to—

05:44.59
Charisma:
—and—

05:52.74
Angelica:
—not do that. Put your headphones in and listen to it at a different time. But we’re excited for our first guest of the year! We’re going to have more coming up—we’re getting back in the groove.

06:02.30
Angelica:
As always, rate, review, and follow us on Instagram. Charisma’s about to be in there, annoying y’all with posts and things, and keeping you up to date. We will see you guys next week, but enjoy the episode!

---

00:01.03
Charisma:
I’m really excited today because we have one of my absolute favorite photographers on. And as you know, when it comes to photographers, I have a lot of opinions. So when I say she’s one of my favorites, that’s saying a lot.

00:10.91
Charisma:
Shay, thank you so much for joining us on the podcast today.

00:15.91
Charisma:
For our listeners who don’t already know you, just tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.

00:20.49
Shay Walker:
Oh gosh. You know, whenever someone needs a fun fact or random fact about themselves, they always freeze up. That is me. So I’m like—”I like cheese.”

00:27.26
Angelica:
Mm-hmm.

00:30.17
Shay Walker:
Definitely a personality trait. We’ll go with that one.

00:33.10
Shay Walker:
I am an Orlando-based brand photographer. What I do on a daily basis is work with brands—anyone that needs to connect with their audience visually, anyone building a business that needs to get it out there and wants to do that in a way where they are the focus.

00:50.93
Shay Walker:
So I work with brands, individuals—what is it? Solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, everyone. Branding, headshots, just having fun. That’s me.

01:02.30
Shay Walker:
I’m a mom of two girls. I’m a single parent, so I’m running this business just me. But I have teenage daughters—

01:14.48
Shay Walker:
—my little buds. But yeah, that’s a little bit about me. Brand photographer, mom, and a little bit of an eccentric.

01:25.35
Charisma:
I cannot believe you’re a mom and yet have so much energy that you bring when you shoot.

01:33.69
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

01:35.01
Charisma:
People don’t understand how important it is for a photographer to have the right kind of energy—energy that connects with people and brings out their best.

01:45.00
Charisma:
Especially with what you do, because you’re literally showcasing people’s personalities. A lot of business owners provide a service, so they’re selling themselves.

01:58.41
Charisma:
You’re capturing their personality, and people don’t realize how challenging that is.

02:03.52
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

02:08.10
Charisma:
You and I actually connected back when I had a contract with KW in Celebration. We brought you out to photograph a bunch of our agents there, and I was floored.

02:17.00
Charisma:
There were so many agents who told me, “I hate photos of myself. I don’t have a headshot I like. I don’t think there’s a photo of me that I actually enjoy.”

02:29.03
Charisma:
And I pushed them. I was like, “Just try it. Just see. Maybe you’ll like her.”

02:34.50
Charisma:
And every single one of them came up to me afterward and said, “Charisma, you were so right. Shay was amazing. This is the first photo I actually love of myself.”

02:45.93
Charisma:
That’s why I fell in love with your work—and with you!

02:46.27
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

02:49.85
Charisma:
Because that’s amazing.

02:51.48
Shay Walker:
Yeah. I get that a lot. I think I’ve healed some souls from past photoshoots.

02:55.03
Charisma:
Yeah.

02:56.08
Shay Walker:
The idea of what I do is—I mean, you all probably feel the same way—I work with people I like.

03:04.75
Angelica:
Mm-hmm.

03:05.54
Shay Walker:
I will only go to my hairstylist. If she moves across the country, I’m following her. I love my service providers, and I’m loyal.

03:19.44
Shay Walker:
So as business owners, how are we showing up like that? We first have to put our faces out there.

03:25.00
Shay Walker:
When I send a message, I don’t just put a graphic on social media—I pair it with my face.

03:37.94
Shay Walker:
That makes it more personal, makes people feel a certain way.

03:50.19
Shay Walker:
But when someone says, “I don’t even know where to start,” I get it.

03:57.33
Shay Walker:
A photoshoot feels exposing. People don’t know what to do with their hands. They have all these expectations—or none at all, which locks them up even more.

04:14.26
Shay Walker:
That’s where I come in. My personality softens the experience.

04:30.75
Shay Walker:
I don’t want someone to look perfect. I want them to look like themselves.

04:42.74
Angelica:
Thank you.

04:48.90
Shay Walker:
It’s hard to achieve that alone. That’s why you hire someone like me. I’m hands-on. I want to see your brand, your marketing, your messaging—so I can make your shoot even better.

04:59.78
Charisma:
Yes!

05:00.53
Shay Walker
I never just shoot with someone and never see them again. It’s really hands-on. I think I answered what you asked, but the energy is meaningful.

05:11.72
Shay Walker
Imagine showing up to a shoot, and someone just says, “Okay, just do something, whatever.”

05:16.30
Charisma
Yep.

05:17.01
Shay Walker
And you’re like—

05:17.27
Angelica
“What do you want me to do?”

05:18.77
Shay Walker
“I don’t know, that’s why I’m hiring you!” I’m paying good money for this, and I never wanted it to be that way. I can’t. I’m posing with people—I will get on the ground, I’ll climb to the ceiling, I’ll do whatever it takes to get the photo.

05:29.97
Shay Walker
And if I can’t do the pose, you’re not doing it. Every body type is different.

05:34.36
Charisma
Well, yeah, you model every single pose, which I think is so helpful for people.

05:35.98
Shay Walker
Yes.

05:38.60
Charisma
You have it all lined up—you demonstrate it exactly, then guide them into the pose while talking to them.

05:45.31
Charisma
It feels so much more natural, and you’re getting those genuine smiles.

05:48.84
Shay Walker
We’re just hanging out, and I’m capturing it. At this point, I’ve shot with every age range—from people just starting out to women in their 80s. All skin types, all body shapes.

06:03.22
Shay Walker
I’ve done it all, and it’s so important.

06:04.43
Charisma
And girl, that is important. Let me just say—my husband is white, and sometimes, when we’re in photos taken by others, the lighting just doesn’t work.

06:18.07
Charisma
I love that you can actually capture different skin tones properly in the same shot. I have a photo of us and a team we worked with—lots of different skin tones—and we all look like ourselves. We all have our proper color. I really appreciate that. Not all photographers, especially white photographers, get that right.

06:36.07
Shay Walker
It goes so much deeper than people realize.

06:39.54
Charisma
That’s the key.

06:40.12
Shay Walker
Yes! Some people have real trauma from school photos, where their skin tone was completely off.

06:48.55
Shay Walker
I’m a Black woman—I want to look like my own skin tone, not be orange-washed or whitewashed. As photographers, if you can’t do it, it’s okay to refer out.

07:06.01
Shay Walker
It goes deeper than just messing up a skin tone. People shouldn’t have to worry about that. Be honest—say, “I don’t feel comfortable, but I know someone who can.” That honesty is okay.

07:23.46
Charisma
Mm-hmm.

07:24.06
Shay Walker
I get referrals all the time from people who don’t want to risk messing it up. Skin tone is important.

07:29.61
Charisma
Also—

07:29.83
Shay Walker
Yes!

07:30.56
Charisma
Tattoo artists, take notes too! If you don’t know how to do it, refer to someone who does. Some of y’all take jobs and do them terribly.

07:40.13
Shay Walker
It’s so important.

07:44.60
Angelica
Moving on—though you’ve already dropped a lot of gems—we want to go deeper.

07:47.90
Shay Walker
I will! Sorry.

07:48.81
Angelica
You’re fine.

07:50.14
Charisma
You’re great.

07:50.35
Angelica
This is amazing.

07:51.38
Charisma
We love it.

07:51.67
Angelica
I’m excited.

07:52.14
Charisma
We love it.

07:52.61
Angelica
To dive in a little deeper—what motivated you to establish The Vibe Creative Studio? And how do you serve creative businesses in Central Florida?

08:03.56
Shay Walker
Yeah, you know, I guess when I introduced myself, I should have mentioned my studio.

08:07.29
Charisma
Yay.

08:07.25
Angelica
You’re fine.

08:07.53
Shay Walker
I shoot everywhere and anywhere, but my home base is my studio, The Vibe Creative.

08:08.03
Angelica
Okay.

08:12.74
Shay Walker
I built it because I was working a lot in real estate with agents who are always on the go. That was great, but I had a lot of clients—mental health professionals, medical professionals, coaches—who needed a space to curate their brand.

08:28.16
Shay Walker
So, I built this studio. By the time this airs, there will be a new studio, which I will also announce.

08:34.79
Charisma
Yeah.

08:35.34
Shay Walker
What we do here is create a comfortable space. A place where you can hang up your clothes, not worry about running around outside, and truly feel like it’s yours—without distractions.

08:53.22
Shay Walker
You can bring in a whole suitcase of outfits and props if you want. I do a lot of brand shoots here, and I also work with teams.

09:03.67
Shay Walker
I host my annual Galentine’s event here—it’s my Super Bowl.

09:06.03
Angelica
Yeah!

09:07.53
Shay Walker
It’s a one-day marathon of Galentine’s sessions. I also do Christmas sessions here. It’s been amazing to have this space for all of those.

09:22.39
Angelica
Yeah, I mean—

09:22.62
Charisma
Yeah, people in the community who are your clients.

09:23.66
Shay Walker
Yeah.

09:24.51
Charisma
Yeah.

09:24.46
Angelica
Yeah.

09:25.19
Shay Walker
It’s been great. I definitely want to do more community outreach. I work with charities, donating my time whenever I can. I know this may be part of another question, but giving back to the community is important to me.

09:39.77
Shay Walker
When I reached a certain level in my business where I felt successful, I knew I needed to start giving back. So, outside of my regular work, I take every opportunity I can to empower people—whether that’s through my camera or with my hands in any way I can help.

09:55.51
Shay Walker
As for my clients, I never just shoot with them once and never see them again. I feel like I become part of their business plan—helping them feel good and confident.

10:05.72
Shay Walker
Some of my clients have been with me for five years now, shooting with me quarterly. I’ve watched them grow, and I’ve seen them get feedback like, “I chose you because I really liked your photo.”

10:12.00
Charisma
Nice.

10:19.25
Shay Walker
I know that can seem surface-level.

10:19.26
Angelica
Yeah.

10:20.81
Shay Walker
Not everyone makes decisions that way, but a lot of people do. In a world full of referrals, someone might say, “I got referred to a bunch of people, but out of all of them, I really liked your photo the best.”

10:38.02
Shay Walker
So, it’s really about building long-term relationships with my clients. I love them—they’re my friends.

10:38.14
Angelica
Yeah, but I mean, that’s the world we live in. It sucks that people choose service providers based on photos, but it’s reality.

10:45.52
Shay Walker
I know.

10:49.11
Shay Walker
Yeah.

10:49.90
Angelica
But it’s also a testament to the importance of investing in proper photos and investing in yourself.

10:54.91
Shay Walker
Yeah, it’s about making sure the photo isn’t just perfect—it has to have personality. People should feel something the second they see it.

10:59.91
Angelica
Mm-hmm.

11:01.17
Shay Walker
They know it’s a quality photo. So at the very least, they recognize that this person is investing in their brand, hiring professionals, and putting in the effort—just like I want them to do when we work together.

11:10.54
Angelica
Right.

11:13.19
Shay Walker
Definitely.

11:14.16
Charisma
I also feel like it helps that your studio is so cozy and homey.

11:20.07
Shay Walker
Yeah. Yeah.

11:21.77
Charisma
It helps people let their guard down and realize, “Oh, okay, this doesn’t have to be so bad.”

11:27.66
Shay Walker
Yeah.

11:28.95
Charisma
You know what I mean?

11:29.42
Shay Walker
Yeah.

11:29.45
Angelica
We’re not walking into Nigel Barker’s studio.

11:31.23
Charisma
Yeah.

11:31.85
Angelica
Yeah.

11:32.97
Shay Walker
I try not to be the “photographer’s photographer.”

11:33.37
Charisma
And—

11:35.21
Shay Walker
I never took a photography class in my life. I didn’t want to. I don’t learn from photographers. It’s really weird, but I try to be the exact opposite of that. That’s why I don’t immerse myself too much in my industry.

11:47.91
Shay Walker
I have my referral network, but I don’t do a lot of networking. I keep to myself and get inspiration from other industries—beauty, fashion, music.

11:53.45
Charisma
You focus. Yeah.

11:58.47
Shay Walker
I channel my creativity in those ways instead of trying to be the “perfect photographer”—with all the lights, the rigid posing. No one wants that. No one wants to feel like that.

12:08.33
Charisma
It really feels like a fun party when someone walks into your studio.

12:12.14
Shay Walker
It’s just a hangout session.

12:14.87
Charisma
Yeah, it’s like, “Oh, okay, this is fun!”

12:18.08
Shay Walker
It is fun.

12:19.48
Charisma
It just feels comfortable. Some people, like me, don’t mind getting in front of the camera—I’ve been doing it for so long. But for people who aren’t comfortable, like John—he’s usually not comfortable in front of the camera—but you wouldn’t know it from his photos.

12:31.71
Shay Walker
Oh God.

12:33.68
Charisma
I know! He hams it up when he’s in your studio. It’s great.

12:39.61
Shay Walker
Yeah. And when I did the shoot with your dog, I loved everything about it.

12:43.36
Charisma
I know.

12:45.67
Shay Walker
I love everything about my clients. I follow them on social media, share their work, and hype them up. I just want to be a positive presence for everyone I work with.

12:56.15
Shay Walker
I’m always trying. Always trying.

12:58.29
Charisma
I love that. You work with a lot of entrepreneurs and creatives across different industries. What common challenges do you see them facing when they come to you, especially with their branding? How do you help them overcome those obstacles?

13:15.56
Shay Walker
I think the biggest challenge is feeling like they have to have everything figured out before the shoot.

13:23.42
Angelica
Mm-hmm.

13:24.52
Shay Walker
Some people feel insecure, not because they lack confidence, but because they don’t have a logo, brand colors, or a website yet. And I tell them, “That’s totally fine.”

13:36.34
Shay Walker
Just showing up to the shoot is a huge step. I always say, “Trust fall!” You don’t have to have everything planned. I know what questions to ask to bring out the essence of your brand. Many people think they need a perfectly curated brand identity before a photo shoot, but that’s not true.

13:57.62
Shay Walker
We see these big brands, CEOs, and speakers, and we think, “I want to be them, but how do I start?”

13:59.98
Angelica
Mm-hmm.

14:06.45
Shay Walker
You don’t have to have it all figured out. Just showing up is the most important part. After that first shoot, I’ll help you get to a point where you can market yourself with a strong first impression. We’ll talk about your brand’s foundation and how to connect with your audience. From there, you’ll start to refine your brand and messaging naturally. You don’t need to have all the answers right away. That’s a huge misconception.

14:37.65
Shay Walker
Another big challenge is people feeling like they need to look a certain way first. They’ll say, “Let me lose 10 more pounds before I book a shoot.”

14:50.36
Shay Walker
But the way we see ourselves isn’t how our audience sees us. They see personality. I want my clients to love themselves enough that their audience can feel that energy. When you’re not overanalyzing your smile or a tiny feature you don’t like, that confidence shines through.

15:12.83
Shay Walker
I lead people into a space where I’m celebrating them and telling them, “It’s okay.” When I show them the back of the camera, they say, “Oh shit, that’s not even that bad!” That little thing they were worried about? It suddenly doesn’t matter anymore.

15:22.20
Angelica:
Bye.

15:24.50
Shay Walker:
They didn’t want to put their face on their website or whatever because they hated something about themselves. It’s a “them versus them” kind of thing, and I try to soften that. So I always tell people, just show up. Just do it.

15:35.74
Shay Walker:
I’ve got you. But yeah, those are the challenges. It’s that “us versus us” kind of stuff, which we all have. I mean, I have it every day.

15:41.21
Charisma:
Yes.

15:41.73
Shay Walker:
I have imposter syndrome all damn day.

15:43.92
Charisma:
Same.

15:44.83
Shay Walker:
And I can get all the compliments in the world, but I still fight myself on things. I’m a Cancer.

15:48.57
Charisma:
What’s your sign? Oh, that makes sense.

15:53.20
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

15:53.26
Charisma:
Yeah. Yeah.

15:54.41
Shay Walker:
My Enneagram has changed. I was a Two for a very long time, but I retested myself—because I’m crazy—and now I’m a Four. I don’t know if you follow Enneagram?

16:02.14
Charisma:
I think I’m an Enneagram One or Two, but I’m definitely more of an astrology girl.

16:07.95
Shay Walker:
Two is the giver. Four is the giver, too.

16:11.57
Charisma:
And you definitely come off as a Cancer.

16:11.81
Shay Walker:
How are you? Oh, take any of the goats.

16:13.71
Charisma:
Cancers definitely have imposter syndrome, even though they’re going above and beyond and being fantastic. A Cancer also has a great ability to make people feel safe and warm, so that makes a lot of sense.

16:23.66
Shay Walker:
Yeah. I do. I fight imposter syndrome. I think, “Am I good enough for these people? Are they going to go shoot with someone else? Why aren’t they using their photos?”

16:31.28
Charisma:
Girl, you are.

16:31.35
Shay Walker:
Like, I…

16:32.12
Charisma:
Just go to your own website and look through it whenever you feel that way.

16:35.85
Shay Walker:
I…

16:35.88
Charisma:
And then you should just be like, “Damn, okay.”

16:36.73
Shay Walker:
It’s really hard. I think it’s the people pleaser in me. I want people to feel good because making people feel good is my job. But then I overanalyze afterward.

Most people are so kind to me, though. I have the kindest clients. They hype me up, and I cry almost every time I get those little nice shares or tags. I hope people understand how deep it goes for me.

I always feel a little disingenuous if I do these kinds of things and don’t tell people where I came from. I think women listening to this podcast, who want to be entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, or business owners, might think I’ve always been in this position—being booked, busy, and able to provide.

But I was a single teen mom, on food stamps and WIC, with everything stacked against me.

17:28.69
Shay Walker:
I had women around me who gave me great opportunities—whether it was a job after a divorce or encouragement when I needed it. I’ve had mentors who helped me get to this place.

So I always tell people, it’s about the women you surround yourself with, the podcasts you listen to, the opportunities you take, and the people who lift you up. Always take those opportunities, but also be the woman who does that for others.

18:00.88
Charisma:
Right.

18:01.00
Shay Walker:
Anytime I do a podcast or anything, I don’t just want to be the business owner who doesn’t encourage people. Because I used to listen to things like this and think, “I can never get there. What do you mean, business?”

18:12.72
Shay Walker:
I wish someone had told me their real story, where they came from, so I could see that it was attainable. I think we do that more now—the conversation is bigger. Women are talking about how they achieve things, that it wasn’t always easy.

18:23.21
Shay Walker:
I know I just went off-topic a bit, but it’s important to me. I can’t do things like this and not talk about it. It would feel wrong not to encourage others.

18:31.45
Angelica:
No, it’s fine.

18:37.57
Shay Walker:
Yes.

18:38.00
Angelica:
Last week, we were just talking about how actress Sheryl Lee Ralph went on a whole rant about community. She said her career is only her career because of people like Maya Angelou and others who lifted her up and got her to where she needed to be.

18:49.43
Charisma:
Mm-hmm.

18:53.13
Angelica:
This is just another step in that direction. It doesn’t even have to be super famous people. You can help a woman in your community just by giving her an opportunity or referring her to something.

19:03.72
Shay Walker:
One hundred percent.

19:04.83
Angelica:
That’s so important.

19:05.90
Shay Walker:
I had so many women help me when I had a baby on my hip at 19 years old, with nothing.

19:05.92
Angelica:
Yeah.

19:10.24
Shay Walker:
Women gave me things, and I couldn’t believe it.

19:10.97
Angelica:
Yes.

19:13.06
Shay Walker:
I’ve never forgotten that—ever. It’s about passing that on and uplifting the women you encounter in business. Whether they’re clients or someone who can’t afford to hire you yet, always keep that encouragement and positivity.

19:27.62
Shay Walker:
I always try to give someone a compliment everywhere I go. If she’s wearing a cute dress, I’ll tell her.

19:32.23
Angelica:
Yes.

19:33.83
Shay Walker:
People could be having a bad day, and just that little bit of kindness can make a difference.

I know I went off track, but I’m just really grateful for everyone who refers me and supports me because of that deeper connection.

19:46.28
Shay Walker:
So, I hope…

19:46.44
Charisma:
I love that.

19:46.63
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

19:47.89
Angelica:
No, it’s so important. So, another key part of having a photo shoot that a lot of people think about is pre-session preparation.

19:58.82
Angelica:
Can you discuss the importance of pre-session preparation and guidance? Obviously, you make your clients feel confident and good about their pictures, but what other work can they put in before they get to your studio that will help them?

20:06.73
Shay Walker:
Out.

20:12.11
Shay Walker:
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, the benefit of hiring me is that I definitely provide prep guides. I have an open line for calls and consultations.

20:24.52
Shay Walker:
I create a prep guide, and I try to tell people not to overanalyze poses or anything like that because I’ve got you covered. I think it’s more about words—how do I want to feel? How do I want my audience to feel? Having a visual representation of words, feelings, and colors can be helpful. Definitely have your outfits prepared and make sure that on the day of your shoot, you’re mentally present.

I feel like if I scheduled my shoot on a day when I had three other appointments and had to squeeze it in, it wouldn’t be ideal—especially for a first session. My experienced clients can handle it because they’ve done this many times, and they can breeze through their shoot even with other plans on the same day. They’re kind of trained in a way.

21:08.26
Shay Walker:
But for your first shoot, make it a calmer day for yourself. Reach out if you have questions. Think about yourself visually—what colors represent you? Don’t just go off Pinterest or base your choices on what you think your clients expect. For example, you will never see me in a dress or heels in my branding outfits because that’s just not me. If you pick something that isn’t true to your personality, you might feel insecure during the shoot.

If you’re not a makeup girl and you don’t usually get your makeup done, don’t feel pressured to do it for your shoot. You might look at the photos later and think, “I don’t even recognize myself.” I say this because I’m that girl—I don’t do my makeup at all, and I don’t get it done for my shoots.

21:54.63
Shay Walker:
But if you love going all out, then be you! The key is to be yourself and not psych yourself out before the shoot by scrolling Pinterest. Some of those models—I swear they’re AI-generated. There are poses I’ve seen on Pinterest that I, as a posing expert, couldn’t even do.

22:04.42
Charisma:
Oh.

22:05.57
Shay Walker:
I’m like, I can’t even do that, and I teach posing!

22:07.05
Angelica:
Yeah. No, seriously. I was looking up hairstyles last night, and there were four or five AI-generated images in the search results.

22:13.85
Shay Walker:
Yeah, that’s not even a real person! So, I think the biggest thing is asking yourself: “Is this me? Would I actually wear this? Do I feel comfortable in it? Do I feel like myself?” Keep those things in mind. And of course, always call or text me if you need help. I think mindset is more important than having everything perfect.

22:33.74
Shay Walker:
Because your mindset can completely change how your shoot turns out.

22:36.26
Angelica:
Yes.

22:37.64
Shay Walker:
You’ll get your photos and think, “I wasn’t in the right mindset, and now I don’t like them.” Even if they’re amazing photos, you might not feel connected to them.

22:42.67
Angelica:
Hmm.

22:43.52
Shay Walker:
I’m going—

22:44.72
Charisma:
That’s so true! There’s also this new trend where people are using AI for their actual headshots.

22:53.81
Shay Walker:
That makes me want to set things on fire. I can’t. I just can’t.

22:53.79
Angelica:
AI headshots.

22:54.22
Charisma:
I don’t understand it. To me, it looks so unprofessional. If someone has an AI-generated headshot, I immediately don’t want to hire them. Obviously, I support real artists, but beyond that, AI headshots just look bad.

23:11.13
Charisma:
And if someone looks at an AI headshot and thinks, “Yeah, I want that to represent me,” then I immediately question their judgment. It makes me feel like I can’t trust them because—what about that looks good to them?

23:18.38
Shay Walker:
Thank you.

23:19.24
Angelica:
Yeah.

23:22.88
Charisma:
It feels so inauthentic, weird, and just… icky.

23:30.35
Angelica:
Can I tell you something? More men than women are using AI-generated headshots.

23:33.52
Charisma:
Yes! I’ve noticed that too.

23:35.19
Angelica:
One hundred percent.

23:35.41
Charisma:
I am seeing that as well.

23:37.67
Angelica:
I don’t know what it is, but in my professional networks, it’s mostly men using AI-generated headshots.

23:39.95
Charisma:
Yeah.

23:42.83
Angelica:
And the women in the corner? We’re all laughing at them.

23:48.08
Charisma:
It doesn’t even look like them!

23:50.65
Angelica:
No.

23:51.59
Charisma:
That’s why it’s so important to show up looking like yourself.

23:56.38
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

23:56.86
Charisma:
I might put on a little makeup, but I wouldn’t do a full face because I don’t even know how to apply it. So when people meet me in real life, I wouldn’t look like my headshot if I had done that. It just wouldn’t make sense. I’d also wear something from my regular wardrobe—something that makes sense for me.

24:18.91
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

24:19.07
Charisma:
And like you said, that helps people feel more comfortable in front of the camera. People don’t realize that, especially in a service-based business, relatability is key. The right photo makes people feel like they can connect with you. That’s what gets them to book with you.

24:35.79
Shay Walker:
Yeah, and that’s why I made my headshot sessions affordable. Some people think professional headshots are too expensive, but I’d rather someone get a real headshot that actually looks like them instead of using AI.

24:43.57
Shay Walker:
I actually got a DM from someone trying to book a shoot, and I feel so bad. I’m terrible at Instagram, so sometimes I miss messages in my request folder. I saw their profile photo, and it was so AI-ed out that I thought it was a bot. I felt awful when I realized it was a real person.

25:01.17
Charisma:
Great.

25:02.00
Shay Walker:
I had to go in there. I was like, “Oh my God, that was an actual person asking questions.” But even for me, I looked right over it because I thought it was a bot.

25:09.62
Charisma:
Yep.

25:10.00
Angelica:
Yep.

25:11.77
Shay Walker:
I felt so bad because I want these people to feel seen. I know sometimes we might feel insecure about ourselves, so we want this AI version of ourselves. But just like that, people might scroll right over you. I don’t want you to be scrolled over.

25:21.56
Charisma:
Yeah.

25:23.91
Shay Walker:
I want that scroll to stop.

25:24.14
Charisma:
Yeah.

25:25.70
Shay Walker:
So definitely, please don’t do the AI headshots. They kill me.

25:29.79
Charisma:
And we didn’t dive into this, but at your studio, you offer a full-on branding experience beyond just photography.

25:40.57
Charisma:
So if people want to do video and things like that, they can come in and get pretty much all of it. It’s great because they just walk in, and you have it all set up for them.

25:47.21
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

25:51.07
Charisma:
What is that typically like?

25:51.76
Shay Walker:
My video producer is in the corner winking at me like, “Why aren’t you mentioning the video?”

25:52.15
Charisma:
Yeah.

25:57.36
Shay Walker:
So yes, we have a full podcast and video studio here as well, with a video producer. It’s not like you’re setting up and thinking, “What do I do with my audio? How do I sync this?” Someone is actually there.

26:09.07
Shay Walker:
He is just like me—a carbon copy in terms of helping people. He’ll ask, “What are we talking about today?” You don’t need a script. Just tell him if you have an intro or if you need one, and he’ll guide you. It’s very natural. We try to make it feel like a hangout session for both video and photo.

26:23.33
Shay Walker:
A lot of the people I work with do video first because that always makes them feel energized. I always wear you guys out, and then they get their video stuff done.

26:32.91
Charisma:
Mm-hmm.

26:36.43
Shay Walker:
Then they come over and do photos. I call it a little capsule of content. For a campaign, an introduction, or a season, they’ll have video first. Video can go anywhere—internally, externally, in emails. I even text videos to people. I use them in my internal systems when people inquire. It’s definitely important. So yes, we offer both video and photo here.

26:58.35
Charisma:
I love that. You have this amazing creative studio, you’re a photographer, and you’re a single mom. What does a typical workday look like for you? Can you walk us through that? I know it’s not the same every day, but I bet it’s exciting.

27:12.43
Shay Walker:
I could give you a snapshot of my stress levels! I don’t know if you guys have the Oura ring—I just got it. It was 8 o’clock in the morning, and it said, “You’ve been stressed for an hour.” I was like, “How? I just woke up!”

27:24.40
Shay Walker:
But it’s all good stress. I’m actually very structured, funny enough.

27:29.02
Charisma:
Thank you.

27:31.23
Shay Walker:
I wake up, make sure my kids get to school, and by 8:30, I’m in work mode. Mornings in the studio are for emails and housekeeping tasks.

27:44.53
Shay Walker:
My sessions are very structured. I have two headshot sessions in the morning, three branding sessions, and then one at the end of the day. My workday is from 9:30 to 2:30, and that schedule doesn’t change. In between, I manage my team and my calendar, which looks insane, but I’ve turned it into a system.

28:18.86
Angelica:
Yeah.

28:19.06
Shay Walker:
At my core, I’m a creative, but my degree is in business marketing. So I know how to run a business.

28:29.02
Charisma:
Right.

28:51.46
Shay Walker:
I try to set clear expectations for communication. I don’t have an assistant, and I don’t want one. I like talking to people myself. My inquiry system is structured so that while I’m shooting, people can inquire and receive all the necessary information automatically. I don’t have to be super hands-on with that part.

28:51.65
Charisma:
Right.

28:51.65
Shay Walker:
I handle consultation calls in the morning and after my sessions. Then I go home, upload, edit, and spend time with my kids.

29:01.00
Shay Walker:
My 16-year-old is like my buddy. People think you spend the most time with kids when they’re babies, but I feel like I spend even more time with mine now that they’re teenagers. Everything I say matters. All the lessons matter. I have to make sure I spend time with them because if I don’t, I’m not a good business owner, a good mom, or a good photographer. I have to be present with them—it makes me better in every way.

29:11.97
Charisma:
Yeah, love that.

29:26.49
Shay Walker:
When I’m good with my kids, I’m better with my clients. I don’t shoot on weekends at all—unless it’s a special event, like a client appreciation event. I don’t do major full-day sessions on weekends.

29:42.39
Shay Walker:
That’s a boundary for me.

29:43.44
Charisma:
I love that.

29:44.69
Shay Walker:
I make sure everything runs smoothly. I handle all the invoicing, the website, SEO—everything. I’m a little neurotic in a good way. But yeah, that’s kind of my day.

30:00.32
Shay Walker:
I do keep my stress down, even though my aura ring lies to me. But I’ve set boundaries—it’s all about boundaries for sure.

30:05.56
Charisma:
I love that. Actually, I’m not going to lie—you’re a lot more structured than I would have guessed, just because I know how many shoots you’re doing.

30:09.42
Shay Walker:
I’m very structured.

30:13.46
Charisma:
I’ve been there as a photographer. I used to do weddings and family sessions during the week, and it can be really hard to keep things structured, especially when you’re working with other people’s schedules. I commend you—that’s awesome.

30:28.19
Charisma:
Being able to keep it so structured like that is impressive.

30:28.22
Shay Walker:
Yeah, I’m a machine.

30:30.49
Charisma:
That’s amazing.

30:31.50
Shay Walker:
Yeah, definitely. It had to work that way because I was burning myself out. I realized I couldn’t get to that next level—whether it was income, shoot volume, or availability—because people weren’t seeing the value in my time. Now, they understand the value of my sessions and me.

30:38.79
Angelica:
Hmm.

30:47.29
Shay Walker:
I’ve really hit a sweet spot in the last three years. Before that, I felt like, “What the hell is happening to me?”

30:53.98
Angelica:
I mean, none of us were doing great three years ago.

30:56.54
Charisma:
Yeah.

30:57.10
Angelica:
So you’re good.

30:57.44
Charisma:
Yeah.

30:57.53
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

30:57.86
Angelica:
You’re fine.

30:57.99
Charisma:
Yeah, and—

30:59.04
Shay Walker:
We’re all trying. We’re all trying.

31:00.55
Angelica:
So, what is one of the most memorable branding sessions you’ve done so far, and what made it stand out for you?

31:08.18
Shay Walker:
That’s a hard one. When I think about it, I don’t know if it’s just one session. I think what stands out to me is the impact I have on people.

31:18.31
Angelica:
Mm-hmm.

31:19.72
Shay Walker:
It’s memorable when I work with women who come to me scared. Maybe they just left a marriage or a big corporate job and are starting something on their own. They tell me, “I don’t know who I am, but I know I need photos. I know I need to start this business. I need to get back into the professional world.”

We’ve cried in sessions. People come in on bad days, but they still show up. That’s what sticks with me—the feeling I share with my clients.

31:50.95
Shay Walker:
On a less sentimental note, I work with an e-commerce fragrance brand that takes me all over the country. I’ve done Fashion Week for them.

32:01.34
Shay Walker:
It’s a really cool brand.

32:03.13
Charisma:
Yeah.

32:05.06
Shay Walker:
This entrepreneur I work with, Jessie Park, owns an insurance company, a handbag brand—though they’re more than just handbags—and the fragrance brand.

32:08.46
Charisma:
I love when you’re in New York. Your work there is always so fun.

32:11.81
Shay Walker:
Oh my God, I love it too. And I always have my fragrances out.

32:22.24
Shay Walker:
I’m a huge fan of them. The fragrance world is insane. The influencers are so into it.

32:29.93
Angelica:
Yeah.

32:31.81
Shay Walker:
It takes me to New York, Miami—everywhere. I love it. So, on a non-wishy-washy level, those types of brands really excite me. People always ask, “Where are you now? New York?” It’s usually for the fragrance or handbags. It’s been fun.

32:48.10
Charisma:
Okay, I think I might know the answer to this already, but if you could collaborate with any brand, entrepreneur, or creative in the entire world, who would it be and why?

32:55.74
Shay Walker:
Oh God. That’s hard. Whoa.

33:00.52
Charisma:
I know—literally anyone, any person, any creative.

33:11.65
Shay Walker:
Oh my God, I don’t know. That’s so hard. I think… I can’t say her last name—Annie… Annie?

33:20.64
Charisma:
I love you.

33:20.77
Angelica:
I know who you’re talking about.

33:21.09
Charisma:
Mm-hmm.

33:22.57
Shay Walker:
Because I like her.

33:23.79
Angelica:
Annie Leibovitz. I think that’s how you say it.

33:25.06
Shay Walker:
I don’t want to butcher it because she’s a queen.

33:27.19
Angelica:
Sorry, Annie.

33:28.86
Shay Walker:
I love her because she’s a woman photographer and one of the OGs. The way she works with her clients—like the Queen—she told her to take her crown off.

33:37.91
Angelica:
Right.

33:38.46
Shay Walker:
That moment was so powerful. It’s one of the most beautiful and emotional portraits. I get chills when I see it. She puts people in situations where you wouldn’t expect to see them. I love that. I would love to do that.

33:55.14
Shay Walker:
I would love that.

33:55.35
Charisma:
Girl, I love that answer.

33:55.41
Angelica:
Yeah.

33:56.31
Charisma:
I thought you were going to say Kendrick Lamar.

33:59.75
Shay Walker:
I would get so starstruck. I wouldn’t even know what to do with my hands.

34:05.92
Charisma:
Because your Instagram is basically half your work and half a Kendrick Lamar stan account.

34:12.53
Shay Walker:
A little bit.

34:15.26
Angelica:
Yeah.

34:15.42
Charisma:
That could be a fun collaboration. If you’re in New York, I could see that happening.

34:20.31
Shay Walker:
Oh, 100%. If I could step into the music world a bit and work with some of these artists, that would be amazing. Even local artists—I’d love that.

34:30.83
Charisma:
You should. We have so many great local musicians. You should do some album covers.

34:36.79
Shay Walker:
I’m considering it.

34:37.47
Charisma:
That was one of my bucket list items as a photographer.

34:38.69
Shay Walker:
It would be so fun.

34:40.67
Charisma:
I did one, and it’s still one of my favorite things.

34:43.99
Shay Walker:
That would be sick. It’s just creative freedom.

34:45.12
Charisma:
Yeah, because they’re creative, you’re creative—you just get in there and have fun.

34:52.26
Shay Walker:
Exactly. I always take inspiration from music and fashion. Those are my main sources of inspiration.

35:04.37
Charisma:
Yes.

35:07.86
Shay Walker:
So, super cool.

35:09.87
Charisma:
Love it.

35:10.54
Shay Walker:
That’s my answer.

35:13.09
Angelica:
So, what advice would you give to someone who is hesitant about investing in professional branding photography?

35:18.12
Shay Walker:
Girl, just book me.

35:19.61
Angelica:
Yeah.

35:19.92
Shay Walker:
I don’t know.

35:20.25
Angelica:
Yeah. I mean, that is the advice, girl. Yes.

35:23.92
Shay Walker:
I really am. I don’t overthink it. Just message me and be like, “I know I have to do this. Hold my hand. I don’t know what I’m doing.” And I’m like, “Fine, that’s good.” I actually prefer that. I’ll make sure you get all the right things for your first session.

35:37.11
Shay Walker:
I think it’s knowing to reach out and understanding that you don’t have to have the right questions. Just say, “I know I need to do this.” If you’re feeling stuck in your business, if there’s something missing, check your visuals. If you don’t have those connection pieces, go in with the mindset of a consumer.

35:53.77
Shay Walker:
If I’m scrolling past your page and I don’t know who you are, how you make me feel, what you do, or how you can help me—that is your sign. But I’ll talk with you, I’ll chat. I want to know what you’re doing. Just reach out. That’s my advice.

36:08.32
Charisma:
It’s true. You really do hold people’s hands through it. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen a lot of people who haven’t spent much time in front of a camera, and you definitely walk them through it.

36:11.84
Shay Walker:
I literally will. Yeah. Yeah.

36:20.39
Charisma:
It’s great. I think a lot of people need that because so many entrepreneurs wear so many different hats. A lot of them don’t know how to prepare for a photo shoot, but it’s such a big part of what we do.

36:32.73
Charisma:
Especially if you’re service-based, it’s so important for people to see you because they’re hiring you—they’re hiring the person doing the work.

36:39.15
Shay Walker:
Come.

36:41.46
Charisma:
You know what I mean? People need to understand that and put their personality out there just a little bit. So, what legacy do you hope to leave through your work, both as a photographer and as the founder of The Vibe Creative Studio?

36:55.67
Shay Walker:
That’s hard. That’s another tough one. I feel like, for me, legacy—I don’t know what that looks like yet. But I do know I want to leave a lasting impression of people feeling better about themselves.

37:09.74
Angelica:
Mm-hmm.

37:12.15
Shay Walker:
I want to change how they connect with people. I think it’s about the inner work they do. I know I’m not an “inner work” person, but those kinds of feelings matter. Personally, I want to show my daughters that it’s okay to be yourself and that you can make a career out of it. It doesn’t always have to look like the cookie-cutter career. And if it does, that’s fine. But if it doesn’t, that’s okay too.

37:39.31
Shay Walker:
I found this path because I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere, but I can provide through this. I can buy a house, take care of my kids, and they see their mom doing it. My legacy is also about my kids.

37:48.36
Shay Walker:
And for other women who might feel discouraged or think they can’t succeed because of their background, their upbringing, or their financial situation.

37:59.42
Shay Walker:
I think my legacy runs deeper. I know I get too deep, but that’s just me.

38:04.97
Angelica:
No, you do not get too deep! You’re preaching to the choir. That’s what we talk about all the time here, girl.

38:05.14
Shay Walker:
But it’s easy to feel and feel.

38:08.04
Charisma:
Yeah. Yeah.

38:09.15
Shay Walker:
I think it’s about inspiring others in authentic and attainable ways.

38:10.88
Charisma:
Yeah.

38:18.17
Shay Walker:
I think inspiration is a word that gets thrown around a lot, and people wonder, “What does that even mean?” I want my work to be attainable—I want people to feel good when they’re around me.

38:26.11
Charisma:
Attainable is such a great word to use when thinking about legacy because it’s so true.

38:30.88
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

38:34.46
Charisma:
A lot of people, when they think about legacy, focus on impressing others instead of showing people, “Hey, you can do this too.”

38:39.42
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

38:45.20
Charisma:
That’s what changes lives—when someone sees a blueprint and realizes, “I can do this too.”

38:45.53
Shay Walker:
Yeah.

38:49.46
Shay Walker:
A thousand percent. It’s like a little wildfire—you put that spark out there, and it spreads. I try my best. So, if anyone ever feels that way, find me. My handles are wherever you put them, and just reach out.

38:59.03
Charisma:
I love it.

39:04.07
Shay Walker:
I’m always here to…

39:04.59
Charisma:
Okay, well, that was our last question.

39:06.65
Shay Walker:
Just over.

39:07.51
Charisma:
Let us know where to find you online so people can check out your work and book you.

39:11.39
Shay Walker:
Yeah! My websites are ShayWalkerPhoto.com and TheVibeCreativeSpace.com—two different personalities there. My Instagram is @ShayWalkerPhoto and @TheVibeCreativeStudio.

39:24.42
Shay Walker:
My Pinterest is pretty popping if you want to check that out. But once you’re on my website, I tell you exactly how to contact me. I love DMing people—when I can get to my DMs!

39:36.53
Shay Walker:
Just find my face and chat with me.

39:40.11
Charisma:
I love it. Well, thank you so much, Shay, for joining us today.

39:42.05
Shay Walker:
Yeah. Yeah.

39:43.36
Charisma:
I learned a lot. I’m so thankful we have a photographer like you in our entrepreneur community here in Orlando. It means a lot to me because I was born and raised here. I want to see entrepreneurs and small business owners succeed.

39:56.42
Charisma:
You really give them the tools to do that. So I thank you, I applaud you, and I appreciate you.

40:02.21
Shay Walker:
Appreciate you guys.

40:02.36
Angelica:
Yes.

40:02.91
Shay Walker:
You guys are great.

40:03.23
Angelica:
Thank you.