We recently connected with Michelle Terris and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?

For the most part I am happy as a creative. I get to work on projects with teams that inspire me, I make my own schedule, and I’m living the life I want to be living making art.

I do find myself wondering, especially after the pandemic, what it would be like to have a regular job. It would be nice to know that I would be making a certain amount of money each year and it would arrive on time as scheduled. It would also be nice to have the benefits that come with a regular job. I wish there was more support for freelance artists.

Michelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been in the industry as a freelance photographer for the past 8 years. My photo & video work tends to have a playful narrative with a fashion edge to it. I enjoy lighting my subjects so they are portrayed as powerful and bold & I love capturing movement. I work hard to make sure my sets are inclusive and a place where everyone feels heard. I love the collaboration aspect of this job so much. It brings me a lot of joy to work with a team to bring ideas to life. Value your teams, because without them the work would not exist.

I work for designers and fashion brands in the LA area and I also do portrait sessions. I steer away from your typical headshots and do what I call a ‘Creative Portrait’ session. I work with actors, actresses, musicians, directors, models, and small business owners. I enjoy these sessions very much because it’s an opportunity for me to spend time with someone and learn about them. This allows me to capture photos that really show who they are.

I’ve been into photography my whole life. I used to take photos of friends in middle school and would set up shoots I thought were very artsy in my room when I was in highschool. When I went to college I studied fine art photography and photojournalism. Once I finished school I spent a handful of years bouncing from different jobs and moving back and forth between the bay area and Los Angeles. During this time I started browsing Pinterest and Instagram and seeing a lot of really cool art there which eventually inspired me to get into fashion photography. I used to use a site called Model Mayhem and would test with models that I met on there. It was the most fun I’d had in awhile and shortly after that I moved to Los Angeles permanently.

I do a variety of different things. From creative direction to producing and bringing the team together. Along with photography I also shoot video and have been enjoying directing a lot. It’is something I want to do more of in the coming year. My goals are to direct music videos and fashion campaigns. My favorite jobs have been when a client trusts me to bring their vision to life and wants me to not only take photos but build the team, come up with the concepts and locations, and direct the video.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

This is a great question considering the year myself and I know a lot of other creatives have had. The biggest thing I think society can do is pay your artist and pay them what they deserve. We live in a capitalist society and we need money to survive. It is so hard to really create when you’re living paycheck to paycheck and constantly wondering if you should be doing this at all. I would like us all to come together and stop taking exposure as a form of payment. There’s no other industry out there that works for exposure, so why us? I have been approached by companies who sell items for thousands of dollars, but refuse to pay me my rates, and I’m not alone in this. I hear this from colleagues and friends. Don’t take advantage of us, we’re not trying to become billionaires, we just want to make art for you, for ourselves, and live a comfortable life.

I would also go as far as to offer healthcare (I know it’s a wild concept here in America) to freelancers. Along with child care. Having that kind of support would be amazing for artists and any working persons.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Beyond my strong desire to bring my creative ideas to life, a pivotal factor anchoring me to this field is the profound realization that, as a Latina woman, my voice is important. I am committed to remaining in this field to advocate not only for my voice, but also for the voices of other female identifying photographers. My hope is that young girls will be able to list not just one or two female photographers but many, inspiring them to pursue careers like these women. I also aim to foster a safe and inclusive space on set that empowers individuals to come together and unleash their creativity. Life is challenging, we’re facing difficult things all the time. My goal is when you come on set with me you’re passionate about what we’re doing, you feel safe to share your ideas, and just have a good time!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.michelleteris.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mterrisphoto
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mterrisphoto/