Meet Montanna Lois | Wedding | Elopement & Portrait Photographer | StellaLois Photography

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

Hi Montanna, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Washington State. I grew up in a smaller county halfway between Seattle and Portland. I definitely think this impacted who I am today growing up in a town where everyone knows someone who knows you! I grew up in Agriculture, showing horses, swine, sheep, and dairy cattle. I was our county’s Dairy Princess 2019-2020 I would say this had a major impact on who I am today, I grew a love for my community. I was in 10+ parades and met so many different people around our county during that year. I was also pushed out of my comfort zone by giving educational speeches at events I was invited to.

Raising my livestock taught me many things, handling the loss of something you have put years into, hard work, dedication, how to improve my stock through breeding and genetics, and many more things I can’t think of right now.
Coming from an Agriculture background and having raised, bred, and owned so many different species of livestock taught me “If I put my mind to it I can do it.” With that comes what showmanship taught me; it takes time and practice to look good, you must work with your partner as a team, and if all else fails fake it till you make it.

I brought Agriculture to my life as a Photographer by starting the Western Bronc this is a separate Instagram page for all of my agriculture-related shoots. I have worked with boutiques, farms, barrel racers, local 4-H kids, etc. I love giving back to where I came from especially supporting the livestock kids!

I primarily shoot weddings, elopements, couples, and portraits. I have a love for capturing love. I was the second photographer at the end of 2022 and second shot only TWO weddings before diving into booking my own. I single-handedly shot 13 weddings in 2022 and it was amazing! I love what I do, My clients turn into friends and I love that I get to stay a part of their life after the wedding! I usually end up shooting pregnancy announcements & family photos.

My 5 Rules:
1) Fake it till you make it!
2) It will take hard work and determination!
3) Don’t give up, it takes time and practice!
4) Never compare yourself to others you are Uniquely You!
5) Always think of your follower count as people in a room with you, 30 people in one room showing support is a lot of people.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart from others is I pride myself on candid moments capturing the emotion as it happens. I do pose my clients sometimes but I they to use prompts to get natural smiles! I always make sure my clients feel comfortable and confident! I got to where I am today by simply putting myself out there! In the photography business word of mouth is a huge market! Giving the best client experience I can leaving them with quality storytelling photos they will cherish for generations to come. This leaves clients more enticed to refer me to friends! One challenge I have faced is maintaining a cohesive editing style this has taken me almost two years to perfect. While your work should be cohesive not every session lighting is the same. This can make editing difficult. I spend a lot of time editing my images, whether it’s cropping, smoothing acne spots, or removing a hair tie I missed while shooting. The last thing that has been slightly difficult is my area has a lot of very talented photographers, I am a huge believer in community over competition. With a smaller county, there are enough clients to go around but you have to know how to market to your ideal client. Marketing has been a huge learning curve and I have learned to take my old passion and bring it to my new one; Livestock photography. If you like more than one type of photography that is completely ok! Being an artist means you make it your own, no one is like you! “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
During a week-long trip for a visiting friend, I would take them to: 1) Dawn’s Delectables is a little cafe that has THE BEST baked goods!
2) Fern Ridge Floral a florist shop that has a build-your-own bouquet wall of flowers!
3) Holly’s Place the Froyo shop in old downtown!
4) Antique shopping in our “ Twin Cities” Chehalis & Centralia we have the best antique shops in the old downtown!
5) The lookout over Mayfield Lake!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank my mom Lindsey for always supporting me in my dream. I would also like to thank my grandmother Diann for always commenting on my posts. The biggest thank you goes to a 2-year-old little gal named Stella, This is my daughter, I would never have picked up a camera and tried this if it hadn’t been for her. I had Stella in April of 2021 I really didn’t want to put her in daycare and go back to a 9-5. So I went to my closet and pulled out the camera my mom bought me for my senior gift in 2020. If it hadn’t been for my daughter I wouldn’t have my business.

Website: https://stellaloisphotography.mypixieset.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stellaloisphotography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stellaloisphotography

Image Credits
StellaLois Photography