Conversations with the Inspiring Megan Pfaffenberger

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Pfaffenberger.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up, I was the creative one in my family. The one who asked for art supplies for Christmas or the one who spent hours in a theater rehearsing for the latest show I was currently performing in. I found joy in tap dancing where my siblings found joy in soccer or academia. My creative side really shined when planning parties. What should have been a simple get together would turn into a full-blown themed event with every detail planned to a T. For example – my 18th birthday party was a Harry Potter Yule Ball complete with attendees receiving their own Hogwarts acceptance letters. Talk about “extra”. As an adult, I have found I am happiest when being creative.

The idea for BYOB came about when my son was just one month old. He was born on June 1st and when thinking of an idea for his one-month photo I thought “how fun would it be to have a Fourth of July themed shoot”? So, I got him a cute little outfit, some Fourth of July props, and staged my own little photo shoot with my little guy. Everyone loved the picture, so I decided to stick with my monthly themed shoots. Who wouldn’t want a cute little baby greeting them on their Instagram feed on the first of every month? Naturally, as he grew older, the backdrops became more elaborate. My personal favorite was April. Easter fell on the first of the month, so I knew it had to be good! I found someone in our neighborhood who was willing to bring their live bunnies for my son to play with during the shoot. It was adorable, to say the least.

Throughout the year, I had loads of people text me asking me to let them know when I would do my next shoot. “I would even be willing to pay you!” And that’s where I decided to take the leap. Mother’s Day was just around the corner and I knew it would be the perfect time to launch.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have only been operating for about three months now, so the journey is still new.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude at how many people have started following our business and have attended our events. Each month has presented new obstacles but overcoming them has been worth the challenge.

My biggest advice for other young women is to have confidence in yourself. I myself am only 24 years old and have a lot of living and learning to do, but I have learned that I don’t give myself enough credit sometimes. I am often my worst critic and have found it important to surround myself with people who will cheer me on and give me support.

And finally – just do it. I should have started BYOB a year ago after the first person asked to use my backdrop but I felt I needed time to just be a new mom! Just do it. You’ll never succeed if you don’t even try.

what should we know about BYOB Backdrops? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
At BYOB Backdrops, we host monthly events where we create three different backdrops for folks to use to take photos. We try to create modern backdrops that appeal to all ages. We usually have two larger backdrops and then one specifically designed for the tummy timers, crawlers, and sitters of the world. Smaller scale, but adorable nonetheless. We also find it very important for us to have backdrops where parents can be in the photos, too. Looking back on my photos, I have thousands of snapshots of my son but hardly any of us together. Nothing makes me happier than people taking photos of the whole family at our events!

We set ourselves apart from others by our brand and professionalism. Being a professional event planner, I really try to make our events enjoyable for all. Our events are by appointment only to ensure that families are not overwhelmed and crowded and to guarantee people get the time they need to capture memories. We were originally hosting the events out of our home but have now moved into a venue (currently The Art House Gilbert) to make parents and kiddos more comfortable.

We also offer custom backdrops for events and parties and are working on collaborating with local businesses, nonprofits, and charities to give back to the community.

I am most proud of our consistency. You know what to expect when coming to our events, you know what you’re going to pay, and you know you’re going to have a great time. I am also very fond of our branding and website. I love marketing and being able to create my own content for BYOB has been a blast!

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Life is made up of seasons and things will always get better. Being a young working woman can be very difficult. Sometimes, it is difficult to be taken seriously when you are so young in the workforce. I’ve been called “sweetie” or “hun” a few too many times for my liking. But, it will get better. It does get better every day.

Stay on-brand, stay professional, and stand up for yourself when needed. Whether I am working with a senior level male manager much older than myself or my Mommy friend wanting to come to take photos, I treat them all with the same respect. They’ll typically return the favor.

And to all you young working Moms out there – my heart goes out to you. I can’t count how many times I wanted to cry while Facetiming my son during my pump breaks. How many times I felt that Mom Guilt sinks in while dropping him off before heading into my day job. How many times I refused a Happy Hour or a dinner because I wanted to race home to see the smile on his face. But it’s all for him… and he is so worth it.

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck;
Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service;
and oddly enough – I love a good true crime podcast while working.

Pricing:

• $20 for BYOB Backdrops Events

Contact Info:

• Website: pfaffdrops.com
• Email: party@pfaffdrops.com
• Instagram: @byob_backdrops
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byobbackdrops/

Image Credit:
@byob_backdrops

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.