As Seen In…

As a photographer, my greatest joy comes from capturing the love, connection, and beauty within families. But every so often, there’s an extra-special moment—when my work is recognized and shared beyond my own little corner of the world. Seeing my photography published in respected publications is both an honor and a testament to the passion I pour into every session.

In this post, I’m excited to share where my work has been featured! From local spotlights to national publications, each feature represents not just my growth as an artist but also the incredible families who have trusted me to tell their stories. I hope these moments of recognition inspire you, whether you’re a fellow creative, a mom cherishing your own family’s memories, or someone dreaming of your own beautifully documented story.

Let’s take a look at where Lilac & Ivy Photography has been published!

Blurb

Alright, Mercae thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started my photography business journey very slowly. I’d dabbled with photography in high school, but it wasn’t until I started a travel blog that I bought a used crop sensor Nikon camera on Facebook marketplace for $100 so I could DIY photos. I started taking pictures with my new-to-me camera and discovered a passion for photography. I quickly became inseparable from my camera, snapping portraits of my pets, my friends, myself, and anyone who would jump in front of my camera to practice.
I learned to use my camera’s manual settings and some basic composition with free online courses from Linkedin and got posing and setting inspiration from YouTube videos. I started just doing women’s portraits, imagining I’d do either fashion or travel photography at some point. I got paid here and there the odd twenty-some bucks for little photoshoots and portraits I’d take.
Then I found out I was pregnant in January 2020 and by March 2020 the lockdown began for Covid-19.
My progress hit a wall.
I stopped taking pictures of other people. By the time I had my son, most daycares were closed or not accepting new kids so I moved from Seattle to Illinois to get help from family. My mental health took a massive dive after I had my son. I was able to remain on unemployment for 6 months after I came back from maternity leave, which I’m so grateful for. But I knew I needed a career to bring in money when the unemployment was up so I took a photography business course by Brooke Jefferson.
Reaching outside my circle and getting some education in running a business in my field was crucial. I set up client relationship management software, legitimized my business, and got my very own website and email address. I started taking portraits again, determined to find some kind of work that I could do with a single mother’s scheduling needs.
After a year in Illinois, I was diagnosed with Bipolar II at 30 years old. I didn’t get access to proper treatment until I moved back to Seattle a year after that diagnosis. As my health improved with proper mental healthcare, I found that my business and creativity began to flourish.
Once in Seattle, I set up my business again, this time much more quickly. I donated my time to collaborative projects to build my resume and help out other local business owners and models. I built lasting connections with others, gifting complimentary photoshoots for some families. I started sharing more of my personal life with my clients on my social media and in my website’s “about me” portions, and I’ve found my business growing.
This experience has taught me that taking care of my mental and physical health is as important as developing my technical skills in photography and business. I also learned that artists can be financially successful and certainly don’t need to be suffering to create beautiful art.
I’d say the biggest thing that anyone should walk away with? You can’t do it alone. You need to connect to succeed. While most of my connections were online at first, if I hadn’t reached outside of myself for education in art and business, I’d have gone nowhere. When my business really took off, it was because I was building in-person connections and prioritizing the growth and improvement of other business owners with similar demographics. I built up my community and I still get referrals from them, they are so kind with their praise.

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Pending tear sheets