We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Madilyn Klick. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Madilyn below.

Madilyn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.

I first got into photography when I took a film photography class in college in 2019, and I immediately fell in love with it. I really enjoyed the process of capturing moments in time that we can look back on, and I loved learning each step of developing, enlarging, and printing photos. It wasn’t always easy—remembering every step of the development process took a lot of trial and error, and the photo paper was expensive—but the challenge made it all the more rewarding.

Looking back, I think one of the most essential skills in photography is truly knowing how your camera works. When you have a vision for a photoshoot or feel inspired by an idea, it can be frustrating if that doesn’t translate into the photos. Understanding the technical side helps bridge the gap between vision and execution. I also think editing plays a huge role—it’s often the step that really brings the vision across in the final image.

One obstacle I’ve faced is turning my passion into a career. Right now, most of my clients come through family, friends, or word of mouth. That part is still a work in progress, but I believe if you stick with your passion, things eventually work out. I’ve always loved the saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,” and I try to carry that with me.

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 feel most proud of my work when I see how happy clients are with their photos. There’s nothing more rewarding than knowing the images I’ve created are meaningful enough to be framed and hung on a family’s wall. It makes all the hours of editing and hard work worth it. Photography plays such a huge role in remembering moments and loved ones—when you look back at family photo albums, you realize how powerful those captured memories are. Being able to create that for others feels like my purpose and a way of giving my passion back to people.

A big part of what I enjoy is making clients feel confident and comfortable during their sessions. I’ve personally struggled with not always liking photos of myself, so I know how important it is to find angles and approaches that bring out someone’s best self. Helping people see themselves in a way they love is one of the most meaningful parts of this work for me.

I’m also constantly learning and growing. Right now, I’m saving up for a mirrorless camera to make the photo-taking process even quicker and smoother, because I want to keep improving both the experience and the final results for my clients. Every photoshoot I do pushes me to get better and better, and I love that growth is built into the process.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is when clients light up and say things like, “Yes, you know my angles!” or “You get me.” Moments like that make all the work worth it, because it means I’ve captured them in a way that feels true to who they are. Honestly, I get just as excited as my clients when the photos come out exactly how they hoped—they’re giving what they need to give, and we both feel that joy together.

Another part that feels incredibly rewarding is knowing these photos will last for years. There’s such pride in being able to look back and think, “Yeah, I did that.” One of my favorite moments was when I took a black-and-white film photo of my friend’s daughter as an infant. Now, no matter how much she grows, that photo will always hold her at that tiny stage of life. Knowing her family has that memory forever is exactly why I love what I do.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I think the biggest resource I wish I had earlier was simply the confidence to start sooner. I’ve always had a passion for this—I remember making little movies and editing them on my family computer as a kid, or getting my first digital camera at 10 and taking photos of everything. But sometimes you play devil’s advocate with yourself and hold yourself back, thinking, I’m not good enough, or comparing yourself to others and wondering, How could I ever get to that level?

What I’ve learned is that everyone starts somewhere, and while talent is great, the only true way to master something is through practice. I wish I had trusted that sooner. Now, I’m just excited to keep improving, growing with each shoot, and making my clients happy along the way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: illuminated_by_madilyn
• Other: TikTok: madilynphoto

Image Credits
Madilyn Klick