Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ellen Gustafson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Ellen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I love what I do because I get to experience the highs, lows and in-betweens of my client’s lives while creating something tangible for them to reflect on in the future. Weddings & celebrations, newborn sessions, & birthday milestones and just simply documenting a certain time and place in a client’s life to preserve moments and feelings are what I spend the majority of my workload on. There aren’t many things you can guarantee in life, but being born and dying are certainties. Bringing new life into the world is a common celebration filled with love and joy. Photographing new life can be chaotic but the optimistic undertone is always there, no matter how sleep-deprived parents are. Being involved in life’s other guarantee as a photographer isn’t so common. Death’s plans aren’t usually as eagerly anticipated as birth’s. The feelings that come with it are generally somber. When there is an instance where death’s immanent timeline shows its face, involving a professional photographer doesn’t tend to be an urgent task on loved ones’ to-do lists. When I got an inquiry from a client who had a terminally ill family member and wanted to document a time when all of the family members could be together one last time all of these thoughts and more came to mind. I felt incredibly honored to be asked to perform this task that I could feel the weight of. Immersing myself in this sensitive space came with lots of feelings-not all my own-but within these incredibly special relationships that I saw changing in front of my lens. I have experienced quite a bit of death in my personal life and getting to shine a light on this particular life may not have been the most traditional type of photo shoot but it was one of the most unforgettable and close to my heart projects that I’ve ever participated in. This family has countless memories and stories to share with one another to keep the spirit of their loved one alive and close, up until the very end and I hope these photos continue to supply them with endless love and comfort.
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 am a photographer based in my hometown, Minneapolis. I got into photography almost 10 years ago after an opportunity to intern for a photographer I admired presented itself. I’d always loved photography but was intimidated to even try getting my foot in the door before that. My internship eventually evolved into apprenticing and assisting for a few years before I branched out on my own. Now, my work is based around my clients’ lives and making sure not only their memories and milestones are preserved but also the feelings that come with life’s big, small and in-between happenings. I see photos as an investment that grows over time with life’s progression. When this resonates with my clients, I know that we’ll be a good fit. Developing a relationship with my clients will lead to a more personalized result. Making clients feel comfortable in front of the camera and taking the time to learn about their lives is a necessary part of my work. It’s abundantly clear in photos when clients can drop their guard and be themselves, and those are always my favorite photos. I have many clients that I started working with for engagement photos & weddings that I continue to photograph as they grow their own families. I am thankful and proud of the client relationships I’ve maintained through the years and am excited to continue to preserve memories for those who trust in me to do so.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
As time progresses, I’ve seen social media become such a valuable resource to learn and grow from. There is so much more readily available information out there for photographers to find than there was when I started out. There was a moment that I felt a little disheartened that all of this wasn’t as accessible when I was starting out, to which I immediately checked myself for two reasons: first, it’s all still there and accessible, so go continue to learn, duh! And second, I continue to be thankful for the relationship and hands on experience I gained when I was first starting out by apprenticing. Not everything has to be one way or another; utilize those free online resources that peers continue to share, but don’t forget about the real world and actual human beings you can interact and share experiences with. Human interaction and relationship development are pretty much the base of photographing life’s stories, so don’t look past the simple things and get back to the basics when you’re feeling lost.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The first wedding I photographed alongside my mentor, I was so terrified. I thought everyone knew how nervous and inexperienced I was. This feeling was propelling to the front because I cared so much about the job I was doing and longed to be comfortable and confident in this role. Once I reached that milestone in my career, I realized that actually knowing everything wasn’t possible and I was ok with that. To this day, I love learning new things about photography and the business that comes with it and never want to stop growing and experiencing new things in life or in the business of photography. No matter how smart or developed you view someone you look up to, just remember they’re still learning too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ellengustafsonphoto.com
- Instagram: @ellengustafsonphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellengustafsonphotography
Image Credits
Ellen Gustafson Photography