We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Madeline Edwards a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Madeline thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?
In my entrepreneurial pursuit, I’ve grown passionate about redefining success. I’ve discovered strengths and finally uncovered gifts of mine that the education system failed to acknowledge. I’d love to see an individual approach develop within the current program. As individuals, we inhibit such vast strengths; one size fits all testing and curriculum fails more students than it should. I’ hope to see alternative learning styles offered to broaden the horizon. It’s an incredible and opportune time to evolve.
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 began my photography journey like most mothers, chasing my children & trying to capture the fleeting moments. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the art of storytelling. I developed an appreciation for light vs darkness, and the beautiful balance of the two. I’m most hired for this recognition, along with raw portrayal of true emotion. My goal is always to help people lower their guards & go for capturing the memories, whatever it may be. I hope to always provide an enjoyable and comfortable experience & in turn, create genuine photos.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I think I’ve had to unlearn what success means to me. For a large part of my twenties, I felt underneath this invisibly line of defined success. I was a stay at home mom, I wasn’t photographing yet, and I felt like I wasn’t contributing per lack of a college degree. I now look back on those years and recognize them as the most detrimental and successful times of mine and my families lives, and wouldn’t trade it for any income or certification. While I was graced with time to bond with my children, I discovered my drive and creative thirst. Exploring entrepreneurship opened my mind to opportunities and my purpose, like never before. This career path became a breakthrough moment for me and truly redefined how I view success. Success truly comes from within.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
A lot of times, I’m lucky enough to capture milestones for clients. We may meet while photographing an engagement shoot, and years later: we’ve documented the wedding, the pregnancy, the first home purchase, the baby’s first birthday… it’s incredible. I really bond with families at weddings, that they trust me to keep telling their story from there. It’s my favorite part of doing what I do. I’m always happy to offer discounts to return clients, anytime that I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.madelineedwards.net
- Instagram: MadelineEdwardsPhotography
- Facebook: Madeline Edwards Photography
Image Credits
Myself : Madeline Edwards