Daily Inspiration: Meet Madeleine Gillis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeleine Gillis.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved creating. As a kid, I spent most of my time doing anything creative- making arts & crafts and writing little novels. It’s funny looking back because I told everyone that I wanted to be an author when I grew up. Although, I’m not great with words and pretty much awful at telling stories! It’s kind of a joke with my friends that my stories are a jumbled mess. So when I got my first camera, I realized that I didn’t have to use words to tell a story. The story could be told in photographs, like the way I saw them in my head.

When it was time to go to college, I didn’t think it was an option to do photography for my job. I always assumed it would only ever be a hobby. Though, I learned that I could make a career out of it when I started a fashion blog. What began as a creative outlet soon turned into a side-gig, and that inspired me to learn as much as I could. While I didn’t study photography for school, I joke that I went to “YouTube University.” I learned a lot by watching educational videos and used any opportunity to practice. (Which sometimes involved recruiting unwilling siblings and family pets to be my models.) By 2016, I felt confident enough to start a portrait and wedding photography business.

As a way to market my business, I would style editorial photoshoots to show off my work. These types of photoshoots were fun because they allowed me to focus on storytelling. Which ties back to the reason I fell in love with photography to begin with. So, I leaned into that and transitioned into doing more fashion and editorial work. In 2019, I landed a full-time position as a photographer for a local women’s and girl’s clothing brand, which is where I am now. It’s been fun working with them, as well as working on expanding my freelance work.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It’s been a pretty smooth road, but I would be lying if I said everything has been perfect. One of the biggest struggles in the beginning was getting people to take me seriously. I was only 19 years old when I started my business, and it took a long time for people to see me as a real business owner. Peers in the industry saw me as a kid with a camera and would ask what my “real” job is after I told them that I was a photographer. Even though I knew that I didn’t need the validation of others, it motivated me to establish myself more.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work as a fashion and portrait photographer. I would say I have a very romantic style that translates in both my fashion and portrait work. I like to use digital and analog film formats to produce my images. Film allows me to take a slower, more composed approach to photographing. The way light renders in a roll of film is very different from anything a digital photo could produce. But, I love the flexibility that comes along with digital cameras. I like combining the two formats to get the best of both worlds!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I could go on and on about the people that have cheered me on throughout the years. I am very thankful to have so much support. My parents have been a huge contributor to my success. They have always encouraged me to follow my dreams and bought me my very first camera. I got my creative genes from my mom, and she taught me many elements of styling that I use often in my work. I can thank my dad for being a constant stream of support and for giving me so much advice.

My husband also deserves credit for inspiring me and challenging me to take risks. I included his name in my brand as a nod to his support. I don’t believe I would be where I am without his encouragement. I’m always expressing my fears to him and he is the first to reassure me that they aren’t quite as scary as I thought.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.madeleineryanphoto.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeleineryanphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadeleineRyanPhoto/