Hidden Gems: Meet Melanie Witt of Melanie Witt Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Witt.

Melanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey as a photographer started as a child. My grandma would gift me an annual subscription to National Geographic yearly. I remember sitting on the tile floors in our dimly lit basement in front of our built in library shelves. I would thumb through the glossy pages in the magazines for hours, reading the text and studying the amazing photographs intently. I dreamed of a world where I could journey and capture moments through the lens.

As a kid, I had a point and shoot film camera that I carried with me everywhere. I would capture moments of my aunty with a large pregnant belly in the foreground and her smiling face in the background pushed just to the edge of the frame. I took photos of my black dog Taffy rolling in the white snow above tree line while hiking Berthoud Pass with dad – the balls of ice stuck to her Dr. Seuss paws in the foreground and the tree line out of focus in the background.

My photography evolved when my dad gifted me his Pentax SLR and a number of various interchangeable lenses when I was about 7 or 8. I started taking photography classes in 7th grade and continued through my senior year in high school. I learned about storytelling, composition, lighting, camera settings, processing film, and printing photographs. I started entering my work into competitions and having my work displayed at local galleries in the Denver Metro. I was hooked.

Though it has been my long passion and joy, it is not always what I have done professionally. My high school photography teacher was a huge role model for me. In my junior year, we started to work on putting together a portfolio, and I was planning to write my artist statement and apply to art school in my senior year. As in other moments in life, I have had to pivot because of fear or failure. Sadly, she did not return in my senior year because of terminal illness. I never applied to the school I visited in San Francisco that summer. I was devastated and let fear take over, so I shifted my energy to another passion – teaching. So, for two years I went to college to become a history teacher. Halfway into my college journey, I realized the pull back to my passion was strong.

I ended up transferring to a journalism program and pursued my photography passion again. I ended up working in sports photojournalism and promotion photography in Hawaii for a few years. I commonly shot football games or big name concerts that came through Hawaii like Gwen Stefani and David Burns. Although sports photojournalism and concert photography was not what I would have chosen, it taught me a ton. I learned to shoot wide and tight; I learned to shoot in bright light and low light. I learned to shoot action. But there was something that did not quite fit in this world of photography for me – it was a heavily dominated male profession, and I felt like I did not belong. I was told I could get jobs because I was a woman, and that I would feel quotas. There was not as much creative flexibility in the types of photography I was doing. Newspapers wanted one shot and didn’t want the creative shots I enjoyed capturing. I was also at an age when relationships distracted me.

Out of circumstance I ended up moving back to Colorado after a few years, and I learned even more that the world of media can be somewhat who’s “in with the in crowd”, and I failed to find work in Colorado in photojournalism or event photography after leaving Hawaii. I didn’t even consider at the time that I could start my own business.

My life took a detour, and I have been teaching in higher education for almost 20 years. In that time, I always took on small photo jobs like senior portraits, some weddings, family portraits, and interior design for money. But, it was not my full-time gig. I love taking photos for myself of what I enjoy in the styles that I enjoy, but as many artists understand, that is not how you make money.

In 2019, I was finishing my PhD in Curriculum and Instruction and was at a point in my teaching career that was leaving me feeling like my reservoir was being depleted instead of being filled up with what brings me joy. So, after lots of soul searching, I decided to start my own photography business. It was not an easy decision and fear was right back there again, preventing me from going all the way in.

Over the last five years, I have really gotten into interior design photography and studio pet portraits, and this is now my primary focus as a photographer. I had very little experience with studio lighting before going down this path, and the fear of being inadequate or not living up to my own standards, created a sense of drive to study and learn more. I even went back to get more education and experience with studio lighting in-person at Red Rocks Community College course because I am a lover of constantly learning and trying to better myself. So, that’s where I am now pursuing pet portraits and interior design photography – a place that suits me (a place that is heavily women-centered, strong, and more appreciative of creativity and fun).

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been many struggles along the way. I guess I touched on that in the last question. But, I have always been very critical of myself and wanted to be a perfectionist. It wasn’t until my late 30s that I learned how toxic and unhealthy that can be, especially to a person with my personality and experiences in life. In my late 30s, I suffered some physical and mental losses and was in a dark place. We ended up fostering dogs for some rescue organizations in Colorado, and that combined with a long self-reflective journey helped me come back. We adopted the love of my life, Rolo, a hound-shepherd mix rescued in 2018. He brought me back. I found the light and joy in my passion for photography again photographing dogs.

Photography is an incredibly tricky business. It is very expensive to start up when you are young and fresh. It is hard to get in and stay in with the in-crowd. It is oversaturated and even finding a niche is challenging. I learned early in my college years in a photojournalism class that it is not always about being the “best” photographer. A very talented photojournalist taught a summer course at the University of Hawaii, where I was studying, who had spent some time at National Geographic. I learned over 1,000 applications ended up at an editor’s desk at NatGeo every day. And, they were bombarded with talented people just looking to be seen and given the go. This kind of squashed my hope for working in my dream job as a photographer. I didn’t push like I should have. I was too scared of failure or being told I was not good enough or that I did not belong.

And, it is not easy for women, something I have learned over and over again professionally and personally – lots of research out there about how many women fail because they feel they don’t belong or things are harder for us. I am not saying this is true for all women, but I let it be a barrier because of the culture of fear I grew up with.

When I did my market analysis in 2019, I knew I wanted to go into either pet portraits or interior design or architectural photography – two niches I was very passionate about and filled me with joy. There were TONS of architectural photographers with serious talent in Denver. It is a quite saturated field, and I did not at the time have expensive off camera lights and the set-up to do this as well as I wanted. But, pet portraits, there were not a ton of pet portrait businesses in the Denver Metro. So, I went all in and had to learn how to create a website and use wordpress. I had to learn about the logistics of starting a business, creating a business plan, a marketing strategy, building a brand, and investing and believing in myself. Much of that is not exciting to me or many creative types. This is where significant tension comes in for photographers who are also small business owners. I struggle with this all the time. It took me a few years to go live with my website because it was not “quite” right. Meanwhile more pet portrait businesses were starting to pop up (even those who may not have as much experience with lighting or photography), but they are doing well because they are hustling and selling. I have never been the type of person to sell or upsell, so I struggle selling myself as a person and business. I prefer more holistic approaches to my life and work, but that does not always jive with getting the clients and sales. A therapist helped me understand the importance of being present instead of perfect. I know this now, but it is just an ideological shift that I must continue working on in all facets of my life. And selling – even in college when I worked in restaurants, you could not make me upsell that cocktail or dinner. It just felt inauthentic and forced.

I have found gains though as I show up honestly and authentically with clients who then help me get word of mouth business. This feels better to me. So, I am not rolling in money or clients, but the ones I have had are usually amazing and help me feel like me in a world where I don’t often feel like I belong or fit it. It is a life-long journey, and I am still learning how to ask for what I want and need. I have never asked a client to give me a Google review, for example. Something that I should do and feel comfortable doing because almost everyone else is and does. I am not a young social media guru. I don’t have the bandwidth in my 40s to engage in that world. I have met beautiful women who are being successful without social media, though, and are helping me understand that it is not always necessary even in a world like we are in. Again, there is tension and fear. But, I am so happy with where I am and the beautiful artwork that I am creating and helping to share with those who also care and want these moments captured through the lens.

We’ve been impressed with Melanie Witt Photography, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I lean towards answering questions that do not focus on the “business” side of my journey, but I guess this is good place for me to push myself towards a little fear and being a little uncomfortable. So, here I go…

Melanie Witt Photography believes that pets are more than that – they can be our world and bring us so much beauty and joy. Lots of people pay for portraits of their hooman children, so I thought why not do the same for people and their pets. I will never have hooman children, so may pets are my fur babies (truly).

I want to create joyous and meaningful moments with our lovies that are physically captured through the lens and can be used to create beautiful artwork for our homes and offices.

I specialize in pet portraits. I have a small studio and do studio sessions there. I can bring a small studio set-up to your home or businesses. I also do outdoor location shoots. I do maternity shoots, pregnancy announcements, incorporating pets into weddings and engagements, and family sessions with people and pets.

I think what sets me apart is a culture of care. I give back to the community by helping to support animal rescues with my photography because my little one prevents us from fostering anymore because she is very reactive and lives with lots of fear. And, because both of my sweet babies are rescues and can be reactive or scared, I am very patient and empathetic of my pet parents journeys and don’t rush portrait sessions. I always plan for lots of sniffy breaks, treatos, and warming up to equipment and me. I think this is what I am also most proud of – I show authentically and that shows for my clients. I love getting handwritten cards that express just this. I want to leave the world with others knowing the kindness and care that I work hard to bring into my engagements with others. I want them to have beautiful photos or their sweet lovies even when they cannot be physically with us.

I love to collaborate with other businesses and people. Always looking to meet beautiful and kind pet parents out there.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I think I love the diversity of how people show up in life, and that people can be who they are and who they want to be in Denver. I do not love how expensive it is and how challenging it can because of this.

Pricing:

• $250 – 30 minute studio sessions
• free – end of life sessions
• Premium packages vary in pricing
• Weddings, engagements, maternity, etc. varies

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melaniewitt.com
• Instagram: @melaniewittphotography

Image Credits
Melanie Witt Photography