We recently connected with Madeline Mancilla and have shared our conversation below.

Madeline, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

‘Buds in Fresno’
I created this project for many, mannny reasons but the most known was to better perfect my skills as a photographer. One of the biggest struggles as a photographer is imposter syndrome, this ‘need’ to be externally validated that yes you are a photographer. This project was my way of forcefully ignoring the need to be recognized as a photographer by others and creating something that stood out, but also alone. Something I created because I wanted to but also, why not? The first year I shot buds in Fresno was to showcase portraits of people I met that year (2023), or people I’ve known for years. I had roughly 16 participants most of which were family and close friends but it was so meaningful. I didn’t have much experience photographing people let alone on film, a format I had to go and pay to develop before I could see what I shot. This project was an experiment for sure and it strengthened my inner confidence as a photographer and I learned so much about peoples angles, lighting, how light shows up on film and overall the settings of a film camera. This first year was inspiring and in a way invigorating to continue creating.

The second year of Buds in Fresno I had a bigger following (from what I was ever accustomed to), at the time I was engaging more in the downtown community and my name as a photographer was getting known more. Which was WILD. I didn’t expect that, so when I started scheduling and seeing who wanted to be apart I had so many people want to participate and I got 21 participants (including my son). My knowledge as a photographer and my skills were put to the test as I did a studio setting shot on film. I wouldn’t be able to see why they looked like until a month later when shooting stopped. The people who participated were so happy and so engaged with the process. They went out of their comfort zones for my project. It was so cool, and just awesome. I’m so thankful.

This years Buds in Fresno is something I’m pumped for, it’ll show my growth as a film photographer for sure (how fun). I’ve learned so much last year about studio lighting and capturing people, which sounds simple and straightforward. However, it’s half and half. Easy then it’s not. Capturing people as they are and in the most raw way is a struggle at times. I want to compliment them by capturing their beauty in hopes that it allows them to see what I see without immediate judgement. This is why I’m excited for this year’s zine. It will be close and personal, some close up portraits, and some written thoughts from the participants. I hope people like it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I, well, when I think about it, I kind of just fell into this. This life, as a photographer, getting to offer photography services.
One year, i’m unsure when, I saw my friend Joey had started posting his film photos on instagram, and the colors, details and imperfections were so nice. I fell in love with film photography because of that guy. At the time I was taking photos but on my iPhone 5S. I’d edit them on VSCO and would post them on Instagram.
In 2021, I got my first camera it was a Kodak M35. The Kodak M35 is an 35mm film camera, absolute garbage but it’s where I started. November 2022 I purchase my pride and joy, a Canon AE-1 camera.
Photography has always been a passion of mine, something I loved doing. When I started posting my film photography on Instagram, I structured my Instagram as a digital scrapbook of my film photos. My Instagram was and still is my personal scrapbook filled with photos I love. Because of my raw authentic personality online I feel it attracted people to my craft. It made people comfortable.
2023 was when I began photographing people, total honesty, I was so scared to ask people to photograph them.
I was approached by individuals who were involved in photography and believed I could take good portraits, over time it was like pretty flowers of confidence that grew from their kind words. Those kind of interactions with fellow photographers in the community snowballed into people wanting to hire me for portraits or family photo shoots etc. I started off small and slowly transitioned into organized shoots with models and doing portrait deals in my at home studio, to doing events with my camera club. I even did two weddings last year, like. What!? Life’s snowballed for me in the best way possible. I’m so thankful. I currently am involved with a camera club here in Fresno CA, and our main goal is to create a space where photographers can come together to socialize, create but also exist. Central Valley Camera Club was created by my friend, Diego Ortega.
We do photo walks, photo booths, and monthly organized events.
(Central.Valley.Camera.Club on IG)

There’s so much to go on about, so many tangents but I’ll end it with that haha. I’ll ramble.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Be yourself. As cheesy and cliche as it sounds, be yourself. If you’re going to have a presence on social media regardless of how big, you have to maintain your authenticity. How you speak, how you think, your personality, be yourself. Of course be respectful, be kind, be mindful and be inviting. I’ve always conducted my Instagram in a fashion that was 100% me. I am chaotic and I am comfortable in my skin. I want people to feel that same way about themselves and to know that it’s safe to do so.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

You cannot read books and go out and take a good film photo, on your first try. It does not matter what text you read, what visual examples you look at, you have to go outside and shoot. That mindset will ruin your self esteem and lead you to be intimidated of film photography. Perfection the first try should never be expected. Film photography cannot be recreated, ever. You cannot plan film photography and get the same result each time.
That is the beauty of it. Film is meant to be imperfect, it is meant to have grain, soft shadows or crisp lines. With film the only way I was able to learn the ins and outs was to f*ck around and find out. I don’t like to speak highly of myself, but I am so proud of my photography and where it’s taken me. Be excited to ‘f*ck around and find out’ with film photography. It’s okay to, there’s plenty of expired film to practice on, online labs have great deals for bulk development. Shooting film is so possible.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @madsfilmscrapbook

Image Credits

Model Credits
1. Clown photo, is of Sirena. People may know her as Venus on Instagram.
2. Wedding photo is of Jazmine and Jacob Calendar
3. Portrait of Joshua Schoelles for his album.
4. Payaso themed shoot, Models are Carlos Rodriguez and Lizzy Montes