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

Hi Melissa, thanks for joining us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

When I started trying to pursue a career in photography I applied locally to some photography shops. I didn’t get very far and one day I noticed that there was a photography lab in the shopping mall at the front of my neighborhood. I took a chance and walked in to ask if they were hiring. As it turned out they were. One of their employees had recently left and they were actively looking for someone to take her place. I interviewed on the spot and was hired that day. It was the best thing to happen to me career wise. I learned photoshop and edited all of the pictures that customers brought in to either print or save to a disc for future purposes. Some customers brought in beautiful art work for us to photograph and provide a file so they could put on their website or marketing materials. I also gained experience on multiple printing machine. I learned how to organize and navigate around a computer passed the basics.. I am very grateful to have had a boss that not only gave me a chance with no experience but he also taught me a lot. We are still great friends 20 years later and he still mentors me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started out with real estate photography. I have also helped with aerial photography for vacant lots being sold. I am currently still doing both of those types of shoots however I am trying to move into the travel industry.

For about a year I have been building my portfolio by staying at hotels and resorts to be able to photograph the properties or I will drive to Orlando to visit all of the Disney and Universal Resorts because they offer some great spots to photograph.

I believe photographing these places will help people who are booking vacations because they will be able to see more of the hotels/resorts. Most hotel websites only offer a few pictures, Marketing is everything. Social media has become a very useful tool for businesses and that requires a lot of content.

I am a very motivated and goal oriented person. I have had a very slow start to my career but I will not give up. I enjoy taking photos and I do not believe that will change any time soon. I am dedicated to my work and I have goals to work with big chains/brands.

I am most proud of being able to land my first hotel shoot and achieving the results for the client.

I hope that I will be offered projects in the future no matter how small. It’s said that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life and I fully believe that.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing the finished product such as the edited photos to be delivered and having the client enjoy what was created for them.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Honestly. my goal is to have my photography in a magazine. Even if it is just once. I feel like that would be my biggest accomplishment.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melissarobertsphotography.com
• Instagram: @melissarobertsphotos

Image Credits
I have all copyrights