M
ajesta Patterson is a self-proclaimed “go-getter,”
and considering all that she’s achieved in her
29 years, that’s an accurate description. In 2011,
after graduating with a BA from the Brooks Institute of
Photography in Santa Barbara, she launched Majesta
Patterson Photography, which grew into a six-figure
business.
““I’ve always been a go-getter; I always felt the need to
continue on a path of doing more,” Patterson said, giving
credit for her business aptitude to her parents, Michele
and Duane Campbell, both successful entrepreneurs.
Patterson’s interest in photography began during her
sophomore year at Gilroy High School when she took a
photography class taught by Robert Morneau.
“I just thoroughly enjoyed the process from start to
finish, from taking the pictures to developing the film,”
Patterson said.
After a presentation by a Brooks Institute representative
during her senior year, Patterson’s choice of colleges was
no longer a mystery.
“I immediately called my mom after that presentation and
told her, ‘I know the college I want to go to,’” Patterson said.
While attending Brooks Institute Patterson secured an
internship with a local photographer, Tim Halberg. That
hands-on experience provided her exposure to the backend
process of wedding photography.
“I was just drawn to it, from the behind the scenes to
the front of the scenes, the editing, the delivery, all that,”
Patterson said.
Patterson’s care, ease, and proficiency, coupled with an
organic style allows her to capture spontaneous moments
as they happen.
“A good photographer will do it all. We’re there to serve
the client so that they’re having the best day of their lives,”
Patterson said.
Past client, Lauren Wolfe, agreed that Patterson goes,
“above and beyond.”
“Our photos were so genuine and true to who we were,”
Wolfe said. “It’s not easy to get people to relax and open up
in front of the camera, but Majesta was able to do that
for us.”
Fostering a genuine rapport with her clients is another
key element to her success.
“I think it comes down to sitting down with couples and
clients and making sure there’s an actual connection, and
you can build a relationship on that,” Patterson said.
Linzey Hypes-Doherty, one of Patterson’s satisfied clients,
certainly felt that connection.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
“She instantly puts you at ease…her laid-back energy and
enthusiasm for her job helped me to relax and know that
our photos would turn out beautifully, and they more than
surpassed our expectations,” Hypes-Doherty said.
In addition to the role of photographer, Patterson is ready
to add another aspect to her career. In February she began
a podcast program entitled, “Can I take you to coffee?” The
free download series is aimed at entrepreneurs, in particular,
mompreneurs (moms who are also entrepreneurs), and is
available on iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher.
Patterson knows all about being a mompreneur. She and
her husband Zach have a daughter, Scarlett, 3, and a son,
Asher, 18 months old.
“In the podcasts I talk about business advice, to mindset
work,” Patterson said. “I have guests, and every other week I
have an interview on the podcast and I do solo episodes.”
In addition to the podcast series, which tackles over-
coming the fears of being a mom and owning your own
business, as well as the rewards of being a mompreneur,
Patterson also created an online course, Busy to
Breakthrough.
“It’s a lot of pressure being a mom and being an entre-
preneur, and now that I’ve lived that for the past three and
a half years I’m hoping to mentor all the moms who are
struggling, and feel the need and the craving to raise their
families,” Patterson said.
Patterson believes she can make a difference for women
everywhere by sharing strategies she’s learned over the past
eight years that have helped her alleviate the stress associated
with owning your own business while raising a family.
“I’m just really excited to help people, I really am,”
Patterson said.
“I really think I can help other mom entrepreneurs draft
and create a business strategy that creates more time in their
lives to do the things that matter the most, so that they can
be mentally and physically present with their children. And
are going to really move the needle for not only their busi-
ness, but for themselves too.”
Patterson has high hopes for her new business venture
and its progression.
“My long-range goal is to get 1,000 mompreneurs
enrolled in my online course,” Patterson said. “I’d really like
to build an empire, a community of women who will not
only learn to grow their businesses, but support each other
doing it.”
The live launch of her online course is anticipated for
late summer/early fall. Updates regarding the launch can be
found online at majestapatterson.com.
august/september 2019
gmhtoday.com
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