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

Alright, Melissa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I feel that in this day and age, our perception of beauty standards is heavily distorted and unrealistic. My mission in my photographic work is to show people regardless of their age, race, gender, physical abilities, etc. that they are worthy of feeling wonderful in their bodies. I think a lot of people haven’t had the opportunity to have a professional photo shoot done, and in a lot of cases if friends and family members have taken photos for them, they don’t know the accurate components of posing to help them look and feel the most confident in their photos. When you have a professional who provides you a safe space, with the knowledge to help you pose & feel great about yourself, it’s incredibly empowering. Seeing yourself confident in photos is intangible proof that you have the ability to be confident. Point blank. And I have made that my goal to show others.

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

Hey! I’m Melissa. I’m a portrait and boudoir photographer who specializes in ethereal colorful photos with a big emphasis on self empowerment. My photos are always bright and vivid with colors to match the themes of each photo shoot. I’m very big on collaborating with a client to bring their creative vision to life. I’ve been a hobbyist photographer since I was 12 years old, and it took me a long time to realize that my passion is all consuming and I’d love to make it my profession. I never thought it was possible to actually do what you truly love for a living, but a shift in self value taught me otherwise. As of right now, I provide digital prints for my clients, but within the new year I will be introducing print packages and a la carte prints to purchase as well. I think what sets me apart from other photographers is my dedication to creating a safe comfortable space for my clients. I like to create friendships and tear down our walls, almost like a therapy session within a photo shoot. Lots of people like to be heard, and it means a lot to be able to share about themselves to a stranger with kind-hearted intentions. I think when it comes to my business, I am most proud of the fact that I can be myself, and not compromise my art and dilute my creativity to appease to a larger audience. I love what I do, and I put all of my passion into my work.

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

As silly as it sounds, I thought I “knew” everything when it came to creating the perfect image. It took a lot of experience within the field, and meeting other photographers who knew a lot more than me to prove that my theory wasn’t true. I felt very competitive when I was young in photography, and didn’t think that there was anything I didn’t know. I know now that it’s an ever-changing industry and there’s infinite knowledge to be learned in this field. I spend a lot of my time now in virtual classes learning about lighting, posing, photo execution, etc. I also realized it’s safe to ask others about their knowledge and work without it compromising my value as a photographer.

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

Sue Bryce Education. It’s without a doubt the most extensive data base of not only photography, but the components of running a business as well. There’s infinite knowledge on self value, creative photography, fundamentals of professional photos, and business. There’s a whole community of photographers who have built their business using her method, and they are always available for support in any photography related matters. If I had known that there was an educational system like this, I would have started my portrait photography business a long time ago.

Contact Info:

• Website: melissamclaughlin.com/landing-page
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissapmcl/