Meet Malika Lewis | Owner of MalikaDanae Photography

We had the good fortune of connecting with Malika Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Malika, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I always knew I didn’t want to work a “job” forever. I simply can’t imagine working at a regular job until retirement age, nothing about that sounds enjoyable unless I find a company that is too perfect to turn down. Regardless, I have always enjoyed the idea of a flexible schedule and being my own boss. I’ve always enjoyed taking photos of myself and friends or even just things around town, but it wasn’t until I took photos for Yearbook class that I realized I REALLY enjoyed Photography. I decided to pursue a photo degree but temporarily dropped out of college and started working full time. Shortly before I dropped out, I had created a website and social media presence for MalikaDanae Photography as a requirement for my Photography Business class. Once I started working full time, I noticed I slowly but surely was building a clientele. It wasn’t until 2018 that my name really started to get out there, but ever since I dropped out of school, I knew I HAD to do something with everything I learned. Starting and growing my business was my way to success regardless of a degree. I was going to make it by any means necessary.

What should our readers know about your business?

I am a Portrait and Wedding Photographer with a passion for capturing memorable moments and authentic love stories. I have a love for life and choose to see things optimistically which shines through in my brand. As a romantic, I’m imagining the sweetest romance novel or rom-com while I document couples in love. As a dreamer, I’m imagining all of the possibilities and admiring what people have accomplished while I capture college graduates. As an optimist, I’m appreciating all of the stages of life while I take photos of families. No matter what I’m capturing, I put my heart into it. It’s not just about money or taking cool pictures, it’s about connecting with people and ensuring that they have memories to keep forever. That’s what sets me apart, I absolutely love what I do and the people that I meet.

I am most proud of the fact that I have made it this far… I could have given up every time someone told me I would never make money as a Photographer. I could have given up when I dropped out of college. I could have given up when I sold my camera gear because I needed money for rent. I could have given up when I was so broke and financially down that I almost got evicted. I never let anything stop me and I never will let anything stop me. I am proud that I am driven, persistent and passionate about my dreams. I am excited to see how far I make it in the next 10 years, shoot, even the next 5 years. I have goals of either opening my own studio location or creating a space in my home for photoshoots. I also have goals of connecting with clients that want to fly me out for photoshoots or weddings because I love traveling too! Combining both passions would be a dream come true!

What got me to where I am today is my persistency plus the support of my family. I have always been stubborn, hard headed and determined to do what I wanted, how I wanted. No matter what people said, I was going to do things my way. I never took no for an answer and I never let my setbacks keep me back for too long. Aside from being ambitious and driven, I put in the work towards education. While I was in school, I made sure to take not only photo classes that would help me learn the camera basics, but I also took business related courses. Between Sacramento State and Sacramento City College, I made sure to gain plenty of valuable photography information that I knew I’d be able to apply to my business. I also made sure to let everyone and their mom know that I was a Photographer! You really have to put yourself out there if you’re selling products or services. People will eventually remember you and reach out when you put your brand in front of them enough times. My unique path has not been easy, but nothing worth the reward is. You have to put in the work to become successful and make your dreams come true.

I want the world to know that I am just a humble girl with a dream and love for life. I hope that myself and my brand can motivate people to not only love themselves and the life they live, but to love each other. Be kind and treat people with respect. I do my best to stay vulnerable and transparent so my clients know that I’m human too and it’s ok to make mistakes. I want my brand to represent love and acceptance of oneself, others and the world we live in.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ever since moving to Midtown, I’ve gained a new love for Sacramento. From the plant shops to the markets, there is always something to get into. For brunch, I love to go to Fox and Goose for a good french toast breakfast and Bellini or Mimosa. They have a great selection and are affordable! For lunch or dinner I’d probably either take someone to Polanco Cantina in Downtown Sacramento for something more classy, or take them to Tony’s Tacos near South Sacramento for something more casual. They both have birria, but the perk about Tony is his delicious horchata and the perk about Polanco is their full bar and live music. Both are a vibe! For sightseeing, you cant go wrong with exploring Old Sacramento or the Downtown Commons (DOCO). Both have plenty of places to eat but if you want more shops and touristy things, I definitely recommend Old Sacramento. There are also plenty of Farmer’s Market events to buy cool things from local vendors like jewelry, candles, art, etc. Thankfully we are also surrounded by a ton of nature so I would take someone for a day trip to either Auburn or Tahoe and check out some cool hiking trails or rivers/lakes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt, I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my parents. They have both been my biggest fans throughout all of my endeavors and always trusted my vision even if everyone else didn’t. My dad never misses a chance to tell me how proud he is of me and how much he loves me, followed by a huge hug and sometimes kiss on the top of my head. He truly has set the bar for how I expect to be loved and adored. As for my mom, she’s the definition of unconditional love. She was my #1 hype woman! Every time I posted recent photos to my Facebook page, she would be the first to like, share or comment. She always referred my work to people she knew and believed in me and my passions. She always told me how proud she was of the woman I’ve become and that she loved me as big as the world, as big as the sky. She passed away 8/4/2022 and I will hold on to her unconditional love forever. Shoutout to my mom and dad and all of the parents who love their children unconditionally!

Website: MalikaDanaePhotography.com

Instagram: MalikaDanae_Photography

Facebook: MalikaDanae Photography

Other: Email: malika@malikadanaephotography.com

Image Credits
For the photo of myself – @Thewildsoulphoto All other uploads are my work