We were lucky to catch up with Melissa O’Gara recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Melissa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
In all honesty, I’ve been learning photography all my life. As a little kid, I used to love studying the photographs in National Geographic Magazines my parents kept in our home. The vibrant colors, and most importantly, the stories and emotions conveyed in those photos from around the globe really struck me, and I was mesmerized by them. In my travels, I always tried to find the story and capture the entire sensory moment when taking photos. But my daughter really became my first instructor when she became an elite classical ballerina and needed headshots and posed photos for auditions. She needed me to capture the right moment at the best, most flattering angles, and required absolute attention to details. YouTube videos that other photographers produce and share were essential, and so very helpful! But one of my struggles was actually from studying other photographers’ works. I started feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. I am also a high school teacher, and I went to our school’s photography teacher for advice and input. He was one of my most helpful instructors because he reminded me I was studying others’ best works and comparing my first attempts to theirs. He taught me that the most essential skill is really just seeing and learning. Being aware of composition, story-telling, and a love of people and what makes them unique and different are the skills that are so important in creating a great photo or portrait. And when I think back on those National Geographic photos that pulled me in as a kid, those were the qualities that created the magic! I wish I had sought help from others more quickly rather than just learning from videos and trial and error. Both are wonderful tools, but person-to-person, or small group interaction has been the most valuable.
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 was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, but I’m a country girl at heart. I am happiest when hiking in the mountains or wandering through green open fields.
Photography has always been a part of my life, mostly as a tool to help me remember the people and places I encountered in my travels throughout Peru, Mexico and Europe. As a high school Spanish teacher, I used my photogrpahs from my travels to show students the life and culture in other parts of the world. As a mom, I always had my camera with me to freeze time and help me hold on to those fleeting moments.
When my daughter became an elite ballerina, I had to improve my skills to provide pictures that captured movement and precision. I started to study photography with technique and artistry in mind, and I took advantage of any workshop or video I could find. For years I built my skills on continual study and practice. Today, my photography includes an eclectic mix of genres from landscapes, macro nature shots to portraits and events, and all are about highlighting the smaller details and often hidden beauty I find in each of my subjects. I like for the photograph to bring out some quality that might otherwise go unnoticed at first glance or in passing. It is my goal to have each picture tell a story about the subject and the moment in which the photograph was taken.
I sell my nature and landscape pictures on fineartamerica.com and also take portrait and event photos on location. Since I prefer natural light and being outdoors, most of my photo locations are out and about, but I do have a small home studio as well.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
It may sound trite, but the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being able to help others see the beauty in both themselves and their surroundings. Even back in the 80’s Ferris Beuller was able to point out how fast things move around us, and it’s only sped up over the years. It’s a great feeling when someone sees a photo I’ve taken and they see something beautiful they’ may have simply passed by and taken for granted. I love hearing someone say something like “Wow… where did you find that?” after seeing one of my photos. And my favorite is when someone is super shy about getting in front of the camera but then light up when they see themesleves through my lens. Sometimes we think we all see the same things, and with sharing my photos I’ve learned that we really don’t. It feels useful somehow to point out the things we often take for granted. It also makes me view life with a more positive outlook. While searching for photographic moments, I am forced to look for the good and the beautiful not just in my surroundings but also within the people I meet.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
As I mentioned earlier, I am a high school teacher. So for me, education and training are extremely important. Since I did not go to school for photography, and I didn’t study it in the classroom, I felt like I couldn’t pursue it as a business. While I still believe that taking courses and receiving formal training is important and valuable, I have heard time and again from other photographers that in-class lessons and certificates ultimately do not dictate or guarantee success. It’s been really hard for me to unlearn the idea that everyone must have formal training in order to earn the title of “Photographer”. Sometimes I still battle with confidence because I don’t have that degree in hand, even though I’ve now had years of practice and guidance and I see so many other self-taught, successful photographers I admire and respect. I know they have put in the hours of practice, have sought advice and used it, and I have no doubts about their creative skills or talent, so little by little I’m learning that a degree is not a requirement. I’ll still keep on studying up, though, because with a degree or not, learning is crucial to growth and improvement.
Contact Info:
- Website: melissa-ogara.pixels.com
- Instagram: @melissaogara.gallery and @melissaogara.photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaogara.photography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaogara/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjskates
- Other: https://melissaogara6.wixsite.com/website
Image Credits
Dancers: Katie O’Gara Calista Bennett