We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Camille Meers a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Camille, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Countless hours listening to podcasts, watching YouTube videos, TikToks, and just taking photos of anything and everything in every lighting scenario. I took lots of photos of my friends and my pups. Learning manual camera settings was actually the easiest part- did not feel like it at the time but- the story telling that occurs when photographing is the hardest part. I am still perfecting my craft in how I tell someone’s story through images- and learning how to pose my clients in a way that is natural, feel true to them and looks cinematic & easy.
Camille, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’ve always been known to make others feel at ease- allowing them to express themselves fully and be completely comfortable & safe. I allow couples to show the connection they have while I photograph that glimpse into their relationship- freezing memories that show the the genuine love they have for each other.
I started photography back in the height of the pandemic, working as a nurse in the covid unit I needed a creative outlet. I grabbed my husband (Bo’s) camera and I started photographing anything and everything. Soon enough I learned that I loved documenting memories, and being able to freeze beautiful moments in time. It took a couple years to get my business started- (LOTS of learning, podcasts, and youtube videos) & start turning a passion into a career.
My favorite thing to do is capturing candids- showing people how beautiful they are. I use the environments ar0und them to capture images that bring out their best features and personality. I do this through giving them prompts and making sure to be “on” the entire session- making sure to capture those in between moments too!
For example- When you are looking at your wedding photos 10 years down the line, it might be nice to have those beautifully posed portraits to look at, but you want to have images that have LIFE in them- photos that show you the love and joy you were experiencing. Photos that show genuine personality- the way your husband is always cracking jokes and making you laugh, the warm hugs from grandma, the goofy side of your brother. This is done through capturing candids in a way that showcase emotion, feeling, and connection.
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?
People often wonder why I even try to be a photographer when there are “so many” and how “oversaturated” the market is. The thing is, there are about 8 billion people in the world- and you only need a handful of those to run a successful business. People are attracted to different photographers for unique reasons, weather it is their personality, ability to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera, the posing, the editing, or their ability to make friends with their clients. Photography is an art- everyone does it differently. It is not a competition, there is plenty of work to go round and clients with tastes for all kinds of different art styles.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I became a nurse thinking that was my dream career, and a field I could remain in for my life. I learned very quickly that my job as a critical care nurse was unsustainable for myself. It is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. During the height of the pandemic I was working as the charge nurse in the covid unit and had gotten a couple weeks off for my wedding and honeymoon. I did a lot of reflection during that time & realized I needed to make a change. My mental health was suffering and I was not able to be fully present to be a good wife, friend, and daughter. I was introduced to photography by my husband during those couple weeks, and began my slow journey to becoming a photographer. After getting a new nursing job that better fit my personality, and eventually going part time, my mental health has been restored and in turn able to start a photography business has taken off. I have found so much joy and balance between the two. I still get to be a nurse with the energy to give the best care, but also express myself creatively through photography. The perfect creative outlet that I needed. Being a nurse I have realized how short life really is- you’ll want your memories documented in a way that is genuine & images that embody your loved ones personalities & the connection you both share.
Contact Info:
- Website: camillemeers.com
- Instagram: @shotsbycamille
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shotsbycamille
- Other: TikTok- @camillemeers
Image Credits
taken by me