Photographer Leslie Andrews is dedicated to helping clients tell their stories

ATLANTA -- For Atlanta-based photographer Leslie Andrews, a career in photography came to her in an unexpected way.

She was laid off from a corporate job when her former manager suggested she try turning her photography hobby into a business.

It had never seemed possible to her, but with a fresh slate and someone's belief in her, she decided to give it a shot. She packed up her things and moved to Atlanta with her new dream

Now, over 20 years later, Andrews can't imagine it any other way.

Since her beginnings in "street photography," Andrews has homed in on specializing in headshots, branding sessions and commercial work.

"The way that I kind of segued into the branding and helping brands is that I see myself within the small business that come to me, the entrepreneurs that are stressed out," Andrews explains.

"They know they have a good product; they know that they're good at what they do but they don't know how to sell their business."

Andrews has also expanded her business to include a studio, Midtown Collective, which she uses for her own photography but also rents out to fellow photographers and other creatives.

"When I opened my first studio, I was looking for insurance that was catered to small businesses. And it was important for me to be able to get on a call and get a real person," Andrews says.

"I looked up Hiscox Business Insurance and I called them up; I talked to a real person. They walked me through what I needed."

For Andrews, it was vital to protect her equipment and space - the things she has invested in to keep her business running.

"It was very important for me to have insurance for my studio to protect my equipment that I've invested in, to protect someone coming into the studio if something happens to them. And if anything happens, I want to be protected."

Andrews hopes that as she continues to grow Leslie Andrews Photography and Midtown Collective, her story might inspire someone else to take the leap and follow their dreams.

"My story is not just for photographers, it's for anyone that wants to pursue their passion or may be thinking to themselves, 'you know what, I want to quit my job, I want to do this, I want to make furniture' or whatever that dream is," Andrews says.

"And I want to tell them they can do it."

Sponsored by Hiscox Business Insurance.