Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Madeline Pierce. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Madeline, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

One of the things nobody warns you about when you first get into photography is how social the profession can end up being. We tend to think of artists as introverts who would rather spend time alone with their craft than with other people, but everybody fails to mention just how important (and difficult) networking is. As with any profession, making connections is essential to building your brand. There are many opportunities that I wish I had taken advantage of to further my career, especially after I graduated college and moved to a new town. What should have been a prime opportunity to establish myself and build a clientele was hindered by my struggles with social anxiety and self doubt. It’s hard to put yourself out there and market yourself to strangers, but it’s necessary if you want to freelance. These are things that a lot of creatives deal with, and many of us have to learn to either push past it or work with it. I myself do a little bit of both. I am a work in progress, and probably always will be, but I’m glad that I am building these skills sooner rather than later.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I consider myself a very detail-oriented photographer with an artistic eye that sets me apart due to my Fine Arts degree. I have a strong passion for photography of all kinds, but I particularly enjoy capturing candid moments and telling stories through photojournalism. It can be a bit of a challenge sometimes to get that perfect shot, but when you succeed it gives you a sense of accomplishment like no other. My goal is always to represent the emotion and the life in each scene, using creativity in how I compose and execute my photographs.

I first started getting into photography in high school, but my school didn’t have any classes or resources for photographers so I didn’t really get serious about it until I started considering my college major. After I decided on a Photography major, I got my first professional DSLR and never looked back. Since then, I have graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2022 with a BFA in Photography and a Journalism minor, and I have begun working as a product photographer. I also freelance on the side under my business Photography by MKP. While I may not be in a position to earn a living exclusively off of my freelancing quite yet, I am working my way towards that goal one step at a time.

When I’m not photographing, I’m usually doing something else artistic — crocheting, painting, cross-stitching, writing, the list goes on and on. I’ve always been a very creative person, so I am thrilled to have the opportunity to earn a living doing something that I love. I am also very thankful to my parents for supporting me every step of the way, despite my unconventional career choice.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think most non-creatives don’t fully understand how unpredictable a creative career can be, and yet how gratifying it is at the same time. Your success can fluctuate greatly, and it may not always be the most lucrative, but you have to stick with it regardless. This is something that I myself have struggled with time and time again. It’s hard to continue when it feels like your effort isn’t paying off, and sometimes you just want to quit and do something more stable and profitable. But I would still rather be working as a creative than a non-creative. Those who don’t consider themselves artists will never fully comprehend choosing such a complicated path, but they will also never experience how rewarding it can be. Life will always be a work in progress, so why not enjoy the work that you’re doing?

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is having the ability to turn nothing into something. No matter what your craft is, all art begins as nothing more than materials and an idea. I really do think artists are magicians in that way. I love seeing everything come together and the picture that I have in my head slowly start to materialize through my efforts. It’s even more satisfying to watch your client’s vision come to life too. Knowing that I was able to create something brand new that didn’t exist before using only my hands and my skills is extremely gratifying, and is why I will always prefer a creative career over any other kind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://photobymkp.myportfolio.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photography_bymkp?igsh=MXhlcGI2bjNoOHB5OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-pierce-477963192

Image Credits

Special Thanks To:
LP Creative Studio
Sean Mac Media
Point O Pines Camp