Free to be…inspired | Madeline Bea

For the past few weeks I’ve been piecing together a little series for you guys to share here…I  haven’t mentioned it to anyone just in case it didn’t work out like I hoped it would. But now, it has. And now I can share it with all of you!

I am a person whose creativity is nurtured and inspired by the creativity of others. Does that make sense? I draw inspiration from the work of others…their ideas spark new ideas. Ideas that are generally completely unrelated, though somehow brought about by their work. Every “artist” will tell you that they spend time admiring the work of others in their chosen art. For me, it’s multiple art forms. I have three passions, each one gets stronger every single day. 

Four of the ladies that I admire most for their personalities, spirit and creative works have agreed to answer a few interview questions regarding their “art” and their work. One is a photographer, one is a Graphic Designer, one is a very successful Blogger, and the other is a dear friend and an artist on all different levels. All of these women have blogs and all of them are outstanding in their chosen areas.

I’m going to start it out by featuring one of my favorite photographer’s…many, many of you know her already and several of you participate in her Photography Challenge The Sunday Creative…she’s none other than Maegan from Madeline Bea. I stumbled across her blog early last year via a button on someone else’s blog advertising The Sunday Creative and popped over to take a look. I was instantly mesmerized and drawn to her beautiful images, her unique take on photography and her encouraging comments and spirit. Maegan has become one of my favorite bloggers to read and her images always astound me. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook or on Etsy [and trust me, you WANT to see her Etsy shop].

1. For those who don’t know you already, tell us a little bit about yourself and your blog/business.

I am a wife, a mother of three little girls, and a photographer. I am living my greatest dream by staying at home with my children and , as of this year, homeschooling. My kids have made me into the person I am today and they continue to shape who I am becoming…and it’s all so very much better than who I was before they came into my life!

My blogging journey began in 2008 while I owned a soap making business. I was using the blog as a marketing tool…but it quickly became so much more to me and, eventually, I hardly mentioned the soap business in that space at all. It really transformed into this place for me to come and gain perspective and to connect with like minded women.

I eventually got into {like really passionately into} photography. I began selling prints on Etsy last April and began doing portraits professionally {if you’d like to call it that} in August.

2. What made you decide to break into photography? Was it something you have always wanted to do, or was just a happy accident?

Yeah, that’s really funny! Um, I guess I always had a thing for taking pictures…even as a young girl. But I never thought of it as anything more than something I enjoyed doing. But in the process of trying to getter better product photos for my soap making business, I fell in love with taking pictures and yearned to learn more and more about how to get certain looks and effects within my photos.

Naturally, my photo taking experiences started to move far beyond the soap and the further I went into learning the art of photography, the more I knew that my true passions {and where I wanted to put my efforts} rested here rather than in making soap.

3. When it comes to your photo’s, where does your inspiration come from?

Everywhere! Seriously! My kids, nature, food, songs, books…I truly believe that our creative spirit is always gathering input from the outside world. If you are consistently nourishing your creative nature, then your creative nature will consistently provide for you.

4. What does Madeline Bea stand for and how did it come about as the name for your business/blog?

“Madeline” is my first born’s middle name. And “Bea” is what we have always called my middle child {although it’s not her name}. It was the name I gave to my soap making business {which was before the birth of my third child so don’t think I just left her out!} When I began the photography business, I had thought about just using my real name, but by that point so many people knew my “alias” and I kind of liked having this alternate personality! In these weird ways, I feel like “Madeline Bea” is so much more passionate and motivated than I am…she pushes me way outside my comfort zone…and that’s a good thing!

5. When you were first starting out, what marketing techniques did you use to get yourself out there and stand apart from your competition?

Hmm…that’s both a really tough question and really easy question for me. I don’t want people to buy my prints or hire me to take their pictures because they saw an ad somewhere. I want people to hire me or purchase from me because they just have to have my work. So, in a sense, I do market…I do have a technique…but I don’t like to think of it as marketing. It’s more just a mindset. Right now, I’m riding on word of mouth.

That being said, my side business is just that…on the side. We are blessed {100x’s over} to be able to live off of my husband’s income. My primary job is to be home with our children. If I did actually need to earn some sort of income…it would be a whole other ballgame!

As far as standing apart from competition, I have no desire to be like other photographers. I want my work in and of itself to be really unique. And I want the face of my entire business to reflect my unique authenticity. So, I’m continually striving to tweak everything I offer and the ways in which I offer it to be more, well, ‘me’.

With the recent launch of my photography mentoring sessions, I am doing some strategic advertising on some main stream blogs. Many of my readers are already pretty great photographers. So I need to be able to attract some potential mentoring clients who may just really be beginning their creative journeys or looking to expand within them. The mentoring sessions are done online via Skype..and blog advertising is typically a great way to spread the word about your online offerings!

6. Was there ever a time when you thought about quitting? What changed your mind?

I never think about quitting taking pictures. But in regards to being in the business of taking pictures…I think about quitting every day. I struggle to find the balance between loving photography and being paid to do it…because one so very often influences the other…and often not in positive ways. But in the end, I do think there is a way to run a business in a way that doesn’t take anything away from your authentic self…and the constant seeking of that sweet spot keeps me going.

7. What’s your secret to managing a blog, a business, a family and a household?

Ha! If I ever figure that all out, I’ll let you know! But I will say that my husband is super supportive. He helps me out a great deal whenever he is home. So perhaps he is my secret!

8. Who inspires you creatively? Which photographers/bloggers do you admire and look up to?

I love the work and writings of Tara Whitney, Shannon Sewell, Kelly Rae Roberts, Amanda Blake Soule, etc, etc, etc…but what I love most about these artists is that their authenticity literally jumps off the pages of their blogs! But truthfully, there are maybe 50 “off the radar” blogs that I cannot get enough of because I either love the women who write them or am so inspired by their beautiful realness. Some people just radiate this amazing beauty that I’m instantly attracted to. And ultimately, they are the places that I spend my very little free time.

9. If you had to do something other than be a photographer, what would it be and why?

I have no idea! I didn’t even know I wanted to be a photographer until it found me! All other scenarios involve too many hypotheticals…like if I wasn’t a mom or if I wasn’t married…and if I wasn’t either of those things, than I would be a completely different person and I have no idea what I would then wish to do!

I am a mom first…so if I didn’t take pictures anymore, my primary responsibility in this world would not change. The fact that I am a photographer is just a bonus at this point!

10. How important is social media to your blog/business?

Well, as I mentioned, my marketing plan is really just to be myself. So, in the essence that social media allows me another avenue in which to be myself, it’s pretty important. I do get a lot of ‘traffic’ and ‘followers’ from Twitter and Facebook. But ultimately, it’s the goods…the content…that will make people come back. So, where social media can help me to reach new and potential readers and/or customers, if I don’t have anything to offer, then any efforts will ultimately fail. Social media isn’t the key to success…YOU are!

11. What gear do you use?

I shoot with a Nikon D700 {a recent upgrade from the D90} and I use all prime lenses {ie: fixed focal length lenses}. I primarily use a 50mm 1.4…I love it! I also have a Tamron 60mm 2.0 macro that I use for a lot of my nature shots that I love as well. I have a 35mm 1.8 that I use for more every day, out and about stuff with my family and kids.

____________________________________________________

I want to personal extend my deepest thanks to Maegan for taking the time to answer these few questions and give us all a tiny insight into her creative mindset. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I get a chance to participate in one of her mentoring sessions in the coming months. Wonder if I could get her to come to Alaska?

Make sure to keep an eye out for my second interview with a Graphic Design superstar! Her work leaves me drooling and racking my brain for more Worpdress know how. Wait till you SEE the work she does!