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

Hi Olivia, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I have had great mentors in the business and creative worlds that have given me such great insight when it comes to running a business and being a creative. I definitely encourage any entrepreneur to find like-minded entrepreneur friends or mentors to surround yourself with and to encourage one another. Community over competition is so important to me! Don’t be afraid to reach out to the people you look up to, I have found that 9 times out of 10 they would love to help you and watch you achieve your goals. Another important factor is to invest in your business! For so long I was trying to find the “cheap way out,” but as soon as I started investing in workshops, styled shoots, more gear, a better website, etc., I saw my business grow dramatically. That being said though, you still need to be smart with your finances and don’t invest in things you can’t yet afford.

Lastly, I have committed to being authentic and maintaining a healthy work/life balance. These two factors are things that I am constantly reminding myself of, as I never want to put on a persona that isn’t me or lose my passion for what I do. I also find it important to incorporate my faith into everything that I do and remind myself that it isn’t my success that I will find my worth in, but rather my relationships with God and others. Although it’s important to be constantly striving to be better, I never want to be too focused on the future possibilities and miss the moments and achievements that I am living in now.

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?
Just like every other industry, it’s important to keep up with the trends. LivByGrace keeps up with the trends while remaining timeless, which is rare. My bright editing style keeps up with the film-like trends, but keeps the subject looking true-to-life, which is a classic look that will never go out of style. I got to where I am just from being passionate and having fun with it, I never came into this industry thinking about the money I would make, but rather the opportunities I would have. The biggest lesson I have learned is how much community matters. Connecting with not only my clients, but other people in the industry as well is what has made this job so special.

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.
Monday – Get settled in and hit up the pool to relax!

Tuesday – Go shopping at the Scottsdale Fashion Square for some of the best shopping, tour the Wonderspaces Arizona museum, and grab dinner at the Francine.

Wednesday – Go on a hike! Depending on the level of difficulty we are looking for, my go-to hikes in the Phoenix area are: Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, and Papago Park. If we wanted to go on a day-trip, I absolutely love going to Sedona and doing any of the amazing hikes up there.

Thursday – Have a picnic in the park! Encanto Park has tons of pretty palm trees and ponds. We may even bring some canvases and do some fun painting in the park as well.

Friday – Rent kayaks or paddle boats at the Tempe Town Lake. If we’re hungry after, we would go to Culinary Dropout for some good food and fun yard games.

Saturday – Visit either the Uptown Farmer’s Market or Downtown Phoenix Farmer’s Market in the morning, then later go out to dinner at Pomo Pizzeria before going to From the Rooftop at the Cambria hotel for beautiful views of Downtown Phoenix.

Sunday – Go to my home church, New City Church in Downtown Phoenix, then go out to brunch at Fáme or The Henry, before going thrifting and visiting vintage shops!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To my family, thank you for always encouraging me every step of the way. From when I first started my photography at 15 years old to five years later, you guys help me remain confident and grounded at the same time.

Website: www.livbygracephotography.com

Instagram: @livbygrace and @liv.abe

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-abraham

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