Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikaela Helane.

Mikaela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

My start as a photographer began when I was eight years old. I became very ill, and my life completely changed. Long white corridors at hospitals and the smell of antiseptic that you couldn’t wash off of you no matter how many times you showered became my new normal. Up until that point, I had always been the happy, confident girl. I was active in soccer, basketball, acting and modeling, and was an A+ student with a ton of friends. Let me tell you, being eight years old and having all of that disappear from your life, it changes you. Not just how your life looks, but how you feel about yourself, too. I was in a very dark place, and I remember one day after a recent hospital discharge my mom and I went on a walk in our neighborhood. She brought her camera with her, then handed it to me to see if I would be interested in it. Much like losing the life I once had changed my life, that moment when I was handed the camera didn’t just change my life in the past—it changed everything for me, including my future.
I began taking the camera with me everywhere, photographing what was never given a second glance. Doorknobs, blood pressure cuffs, hospital floors and ceilings, a rusty faucet at the doctor’s office, the bottles of medicines, needles and scars…some of the most mundane items brought me joy to recognize their value and find beauty in them. I felt that I had lost my value as a human when I became ill, that I was forgotten and left behind by everyone but my parents, and I didn’t want items we take for granted to also be forgotten. I believed if I could memorialize them in a photo, at least one person in this world would see value and beauty in them—me.
When it became time to decide what to do with my future for a career, I realized what had been with me for a decade was already my career: photography. I finished high school at community college, received my AS while there and then pursued my BA in fashion photography and journalism. I graduated in 2022, and now work full time as a professional photographer. Can you believe this is all because my mom handed me her camera 21 years ago? Sometimes all it takes is one small moment, one small action, for your life to change forever. Mine was with a camera—what’s yours?

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It has most definitely not been a smooth road to get to where I am today. As mentioned previously, I manage several chronic illnesses. Those have become something I, to this day, have to deal with regularly. There are some months when I’m shooting daily and my health is more manageable. And then there are months where doing daily mundane things like the laundry or dishes become difficult. I do everything in my power to push through for already scheduled gigs, sometimes to the detriment of my health. But there are some times, however, that pushing through isn’t an option and you have to give your body the rest it needs so you can get back to shooting quicker. Managing chronic illnesses is unpredictable and has been the toughest struggle I deal with. I’d also say shooting fashion can also be unpredictable in job opportunities, especially living in the Midwest. I’ve been fortunate to have made many connections through my post-college magazine experience so when fashion is slower, events gigs and headshots pick up. So between chronic illnesses and sometimes sparse job options, this career is definitely not for the faint of heart! But don’t let the unpredictability stop you from pursuing photography or art as a career. Just know going into it, it won’t always be easy—but it absolutely is doable.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am a professional photographer! I primarily shoot fashion, although nowadays it’s hard to make that your bread and butter on its own (especially in the Midwest!). I also do events, photo booths, headshots and portraiture on the side. I would say when people think of me, though, it’s usually for my fashion or beauty editorials. That said, I’ve had some clients who started with me for a fashion shoot and we’ve built a relationship that for any of their photo needs I help out!
As for what I’m most proud of, it’s for my editorials. I love the idea of creating something from nothing, of envisioning this concept and bringing it to life and building a team to collaborate with. Editorials push me to be my most creative, they challenge me because there’s always something that goes wrong, yet they bring me the most pride at the finished product knowing that through it all, we overcame. I love that feeling.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?

Finding a mentor, in any form — whether at school, at work, at a business you want to be a part of, etc. — starts off typically with you doing one thing first: putting yourself out there. If you’re in school or college, this can be as simple as being attentive in class and asking your professor for help. Professors notice every student, but few students rarely make the effort of using them for what they’re there for: a resource. They are there for you, to help you, and this can lead to a great professional relationship where they’re someone you can go to for help, even long after you finish their course.

Another way to find a mentor is at an internship or job. Similar to finding a mentor in school, this route of finding a mentor comes from you being assertive when you need help, showcasing both leadership and follower attributes—because there are times when you need to be one or the other—and reaching out. With everyone that has become a mentor to me, it started with me asking them questions, showing them that I’m here to learn and grow alongside them. They want you to do well, they want you to succeed, so treat them as a mentor while you still can. Jobs change, but I still have contact with my previous employer and go to them with questions when I need to.

As much as everyone hates to hear “networking is crucial.” especially if you’re an introvert like me, it really does start with you. Are you going to struggle by yourself, too afraid to ask for help? Or will you allow yourself to be a vessel, to be someone who wants to learn from your peers and professionals? Networking is daunting. Trust me, I get it; I’ve missed out on opportunities when I was younger because my fear held me back. But something clicked in me one day: struggle alone or succeed together? I chose the latter and while my anxiety often makes me hesitant to approach people in networking situations, the more I think about how much it will help my future if I introduce myself, the more I’m able to put those fears aside. Catch me in a personal setting? I rarely approach others, I’m terrified the entire time. But catch me in a professional or networking setting? Give me a few minutes to calm my mind and then it’s game on.

So introduce yourself. Ask a question. Learn from them. It really does start with you.

Pricing:

• Pricing is the hardest part of business for me. I constantly undervalue my work as I make it a goal to be accessible to anyone and everyone who is looking to get their photos taken. I also regularly offer discounts for those that I know it would go a long way for. Typically, I charge $300 for a test shoot and $100/hr for events + $50 editing fee. Since that is a lot of money in the midwest, I usually pay for the studio rental myself and don’t charge for that. For headshots it depends on how many people need to be photographed, where it’s located, etc. As someone who is great at offering advice but less so on acting on it for myself, my best advice for all of us is to start valuing your work. Value the time it took to prepare for the shoot, to buy any props or materials, for wear and tear on your vehicle, for your time culling and post-processing, etc. Don’t look at it as “I’m only shooting for an hour.” Look at it as “I have spent X amount of time preparing for this and will spend an additional X amount of time to prepare the files before sending them to the client. What is a fair price for all of my work, both seen and unseen?” I am still learning that to this day. It’s hard, and when you have confidence issues it becomes a challenge, but the more we value ourselves, the more others will value us too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MikaelaHelane.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/MikaelaHelane
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mikaelahelane/
• Other: tiktok: tiktok.com/@mikaelahelane

Image Credits

© Mikaela Helane Photography