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

Hi Monique, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always considered myself a mixture of a creative soul and a businesswoman, whether working in corporate or owning a business. But after spending 12 years in a mind-numbing industry, I started to feel my creative side was slowly disappearing, leaving me regularly uninspired. I didn’t think I could do 12 more years of the same job. The lonely office life, the long stressful hours working on the road, the dealing with unpleasant people on a daily basis, the lack of recognition and inspiration all contributed to my decision of finally quitting and starting my own photography business. But most of all, the idea of working from home appealed to me the most, something the old-school company did not believe in (until Covid forced them to change their mind!) I’ve thought long and hard about what the future would hold for me if I’d quit – and it just felt like the right time.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Over the years, wedding and portrait photographers have identified themselves and their style as either light & airy or dark & moody. I don’t think I belong in either one. I’d like to think I stand out because my style is somewhere in the middle – soft, subtle, with a touch of elegance.

I got to where I am today by simply hustling. I was working 40-50 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Then when I got home, I’d be editing photos, emailing clients and working on all aspects of the business. I worked many weekend hours shooting weddings, sessions, and editing past midnight. The funny thing is, even with all the work and stress, I was more motivated to work on my business than I was in my 8-5.

It wasn’t easy juggling two full time jobs. I didn’t have much of a social life – didn’t sleep much, wasn’t eating right, always on the go, often stressed out. There was always something for me to do and there wasn’t enough time to do it all. It was finally coming to a point where I had to decide what it was going to be – keep juggling two full time jobs and having no life, or letting one go and finally get my social life back. Well, I chose the latter and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

The challenge of it all was navigating an unknown territory on my own – running a photography business full time, with a limited background in business management. I was doing everything myself, wearing all the hats – photographer, editor, marketer, social media manager, accountant, sales & service rep, etc. But because I didn’t have a second job anymore, I had more time to learn what I needed to run my business successfully.

It has been a long hard road, but I am completely happy where I am.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents have always been supportive of anything that I do. I mean, sure, Asian parents always expect their children to become doctors, lawyers, and engineers. I was never interested of any of these and my parents – especially my mom – kind of understood that. Even though they were quite vocal in what kind of career path they wanted me on, but at the end of the day, as long as I was happy, they were happy. They’ve always been there for support and encouragement, mentally and financially.

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Website: www.moniquedao.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/moniquedaophotography

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/moniquedaophotography

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/monique-dao-photography-anaheim-3

Other: Wildlife/Nature Photography: www.instagram.com/moniquedao.photography

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