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

Grace, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In my opinion, success is objective, and is achieved through passion. My whole childhood I had dreamt of being a dance photographer, and pursued it so fervently that I ended up photographing a Nutcracker performance at only 17- with a 2k lens rented for me by the performing arts company.

There were so many ups and downs on the way there but the only thing constant was my passion.

And when I think back to the very beginning of my journey, I believe success didn’t start with the Nutcracker shoot, it began the moment I picked up a camera with a dream in my heart. That’s when I was successful.

Grace, 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?

When I first picked up that camera, I became a schemer. I mapped out exactly how I would become a dance photographer, and I followed through. I started out as an acting student with the academics branch of the company, worked my way up, and met the CEOs. When I heard they were missing a photographer for a small event, I jumped at the opportunity and volunteered to photograph. I knew I had the talent, and I believed in myself. So, I gave it everything I had… and I blew their socks off.

Everything after that moved fast, and before I knew it, I was standing behind a massive lens, being treated like a professional.

I ended up photographing four ‘Nutcracker’ performances, and five other stage shows.

I fell in love with the way I could capture the energy, color, and magic and awe of a live dance performance, and the unique spirit of each dancer. I also had the chance to photograph children’s dance classes and a high school production of The Addams Family, amazing experiences that taught me so much and deepened my passion and my experience even more. I’ve also photographed a red carpet gala and auction, which increased my knowledge of event photography.

Though dance photography is where I began, I’ve found joy in dabbling in a little bit of everything, because capturing the art of life isn’t exclusive to dance.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I was little, I was told that all your dreams could come true if you had the will to chase them.
But I quickly came face-to-face with a harder truth: even if you achieve the dream, it might not feel the way you imagined. And sometimes, the dream itself needs to change.

Sure, I became a dance photographer for a major local performing arts company… But my dream to be a dance photographer didn’t feel like what I dreamt it would. Face forward, a lot of my friends, mentors, and family were telling me how lucky I had it to be there and have these opportunities.

But behind the scenes, my mental health was unraveling.

II was beginning to see the dark side of the dance world up close… And the pressure to photograph dancers “perfectly” began to feel harmful. I witnessed a mother berate her daughter for not hitting a certain move properly, as her dad stood behind her disapprovingly. I found out later the mother decided that from a photo I took.

It made me sick to my stomach. Still, I stayed. I did my best. But so often, my best wasn’t enough to push back against the toxicity the dancers faced every day. I told myself I had to keep going, because if I gave up on this, how would my dreams ever come true?

So I endured the condescending way my superiors spoke to me. I ignored the weight of the toxic environment I was working in.
Then, everything changed.
One of my best friends passed away. And instead of being given space to grieve, I was pressured to “get over it”, I was told that my dreams had come true, and it would be a shame to throw it all away.
It would be a shame.

So, I quit. Because that wasn’t the path to my dreams, not anymore. I didn’t need the will to endure something that was breaking me. I needed the courage and humility to admit that I deserved better. That I could do better elsewhere.

Since then, I’ve worked freelance, free from the pressure, the hierarchy, and the toxicity. I still chase my dreams. But now, I get to define what they look like for me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As someone who has struggled with mental health for a huge part of life, I think one of the most rewarding aspects is being able to heal. Photography and creativity is the way I heal.

Photography is my way back to myself. Capturing the beauty of life, art, and people gives me purpose and fills me with pride. I’ve always loved art, loved visual, and loved color. I have synesthesia, so I don’t just see the images. I feel them. I can smell colors, pictures, and visuals. Scents and smells are tightly woven with my emotions, and that connection carries over into how I experience photos and art.

When I practice photography, I get to turn that sensory world into something real, something beautiful. I get to create joy, and in doing so, I heal. Not just in my mind, but in my energy, too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://balletandshutter.com
• Instagram: balletandshutter