We were lucky to catch up with Melissa DeMers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I personally HAVE had a regular job working at a desk in an office (for many years before I started photography). For me and my personality traits I would have to say that I didn’t love it in the least. As an artist, I especially ADORE the creative outlet that my career as a photography allows me to have. I am able to think freely, dream BIGGER than I ever had working a regular job. I am a big big dreamer, with so many ideas in my head that I can make come to fruition and I get to make my own hours so that I can spend time with my family as well, I couldn’t be happier with my choice to pursue what I feel passionately about.

That is not to say that owning your own business and working for yourself doesn’t have its ups and downs because it certainly does. Thankfully I have a handful of like-minded, business owner friends that I can bounce ideas and trouble shoot together with every so often when I face a challenge regarding my business.

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

I got into photography at an early age because I just loved capturing life around me. I think people and landscape are just so beautiful and deserve to be documented. I always had a camera in my hand, whether it be a disposable camera, a film camera, a video recorder, a digital camera or even a cell phone camera to capture any moment I want to save. I LOVE having a creative outlet and really fills my heart and soul!

My favorite photo sessions to do are maternity, newborns and to grow with the family really. It is so much fun to capture the families as they grow their families and hire me to be their photographer. I build more relationships with them, a lot of my clients become like friends or even family to me. I offer digital images as well as prints and canvas for my clients. I help my clients from the moment they send me a message, call or text and walk them through the entire process of booking the photo session, prepping their wardrobe with them, suggesting locations that suite their look and style and everything in between. We build this relationship, which I really do think sets myself aside from a lot of other photographers. I invest time and energy into my clients because I care how their photos turn out.

I am super happy to say that I am also a traveling photographer! I reside in Colorado but go to California multiple times a year to photograph families there. My dream is to travel to all states, I am not a photographer serving my area, but serving everywhere a plane will take me!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that I get to share my vision with others. Sometimes it can be hard for people who don’t have a vision or creative mind to SEE what it is I’m trying to explain, but once they see it all come together they are usually very impressed and love it. I love that I get to share that with others.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Oh boy, resilience. I feel like I’m a walking example of that word sometimes. I have overcome a lot of life’s tragic tests, but one that I am super proud of is beating melanoma cancer (in my face of all places). I have had two years of being cancer free so far and this year I started a new SELFIE series, where every month I do self portraits. It has been a way for me to put my healing journey (from the scare of cancer, from an abusive childhood, from the struggles I internally deal with daily regarding self hate). I don’t always feel beautiful, especially because I have a huge scar on my face, or am not happy with my aging skin, lumps and bumps, but my body is STRONG, my body is HEALTHY, my body is BEAUTIFUL. It’s been through a lot, I’ve been through a lot and it’s due to my resilience for sure.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melissademersphoto.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/melissademersphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissademersphoto