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Meet Trailblazer Ellie Mandeville

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie Mandeville.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ellie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I first found a love for photos by taking pictures on my flip phone back in middle school. I then got my first point and shoot camera in 8th grade and began taking photos of everything I saw that seemed photogenic. Landscapes and nature were my favorite things to capture, specifically sunsets and up-close shots of flowers and plants. A couple of years after that, I saved up enough money to buy my very first DSLR, and my passion for photography grew even more as I learned that there was so much more possibility to manipulate and change the look of an image with more than just an “auto” setting and one type of lens. I started taking pictures of friends, family, dogs and even found a love for self-portraits as I was an introverted, self-conscious teenager who never really went to parties or big outings, so staying home and creating really cool “artsy” photos by myself sounded the most like fun to me.

This is when photography became my life and my way of learning how to express myself creatively. Every time I created a photo that I was proud of, my love for this hobby became stronger and my confidence in myself even grew because I was beginning to see all that I was capable of. Having a vision of a certain photo and being able to create it on my own made me feel great about myself and brought so much happiness and inspiration. But considering that I was only a sophomore in high school, it never occurred to me that I could create a business and a lifestyle through this newfound passion of mine. I wish I could say that I was a natural-born entrepreneur and immediately began brainstorming ways to sell my talent and create a side hustle with photography. It wasn’t until people started asking me to take portraits of them or their family, and some were offering to actually pay me for it, that the idea of starting to charge for sessions.

Fast forward a few years, and I moved from a small town in Virginia to the big city of Denver Colorado. I had never met anyone else who shared my same passion for photography until I got here. Within the first year of living in Denver, I had made friends with a few others who loved taking photos, and we spent all of our free time traveling into the mountains or exploring downtown together to capture the coolest photos that we could. I still wasn’t doing a whole lot about creating a business for myself though, until I was introduced to a few photographers who actually made a living doing what they loved, and this is where I got inspired. I traded my old DSLR for my first full-frame camera and prime lens, and I began promoting myself for portraits, senior photos and family sessions. I eventually found “second shooter” gigs for local wedding photographers, and realized how much I loved capturing weddings as well. A year later, I shot my very first wedding as a primary photographer for nearly nothing. I got a job with a local company who helped aspiring wedding photographers find clients, build a portfolio, and gain experience shooting weddings on their own. I learned so much in that year and went from only having photographed one wedding on my own, to capturing over 20 weddings over the following year. Not only did I gain confidence in myself as a photographer, but I became more outgoing in my everyday life as well. Having to step outside my comfort zone in these weddings and engagement sessions and learn how to be energetic and talk to people I didn’t know, naturally made my introverted self become more outgoing. I feel like I am a completely different person today than I was three years ago, in such a good way.

Since then, my experience and knowledge has grown exponentially. I never imagined that my simple love and interest in capturing beautiful photos on my flip phone would turn into the path that I am on now as a photographer. I have grown so much as a person, experienced so many beautiful places and met such amazing people. I have had the opportunities to work with great brands and was voted “Denver’s Best Portrait Photographer” in 2019. I am so blessed that God put me with the right people at the right time and in the right place that would allow me the opportunity and experience that I needed to grow into the person I am today.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I know I might have made it seem like everything just fell into place when I moved to Colorado. But what wasn’t mentioned was the effort and growth that took place during all of that as well. countless hours I spent researching, watching videos and learning from other people about how to become a good photographer. How to properly use all of the settings on my camera and equipment. How to photograph different lightings and environments. The stress and frustration that came with learning how to work with unplanned weather or technical conflicts during a shoot. How to help people feel confident in front of the camera, not make them more awkward because I didn’t know how to pose them. All of the mistakes I made in trying to write my own legal contracts for clients and letting people take advantage of me because I was a beginner and didn’t know exactly what I was doing yet. All of the free photoshoots that I captured and spent hours editing in order to grow my experience and portfolio. And the constant struggle of comparing myself to all the other photographers out there who were so much better than me, who were always booking clients and going to the coolest places.

I still find myself dealing with comparison and other struggles on a day-to-day basis, and there are so many things that I am still learning and will be learning about for years to come. I am constantly learning from others and educating myself on how to run my own business and become a better photographer, and I don’t think that will ever stop. If you want to do something like start your own company or get that dream job or pursue that passion or hobby for the first time, you have ALL the power and potential to do so! But the opportunities aren’t going to come to you. You have to put in the hard work to learn, gain experience and put yourself out there so that you will be visible to the people and opportunities that you’re looking for. Sometimes that might mean stepping out of your comfort zone. Success in anything requires growth, even when it’s uncomfortable. But it is so worth it in the long run.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Ellie Mandeville Photography – what should we know?
I primarily specialize in portrait and wedding photography, and traveling for shoots is my absolute favorite! I also love food photography, landscapes, and capturing beautiful aesthetic and interior design. I love the diverse opportunities that I’m able to experience through photography. It is never monotonous or boring, and every wedding or photoshoot is always different from the last. Photographing a wide variety of things causes me to use my creativity in a new way all the time.

While posed photographs are beautiful, what I love most about photographing people is getting to capture sincere, candid emotion. I try my best to make everyone I work with feel as comfortable as possible during our photoshoots. I like bringing a bluetooth speaker to my sessions so clients can play their favorite music, and cracking jokes and making it feel just like a fun hangout with a friend. Photographs turn out so much better when everyone is comfortable and having a good time. That’s where the genuine smiles and laughter come out, and that is what I love to capture most.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
I know it sounds so cliche, but that saying “follow your heart” really has so much value. Don’t change who you are or what you do in order to please someone else. Don’t chase a dream that isn’t really your dream. You were given those passions, desires and that exact personality that you have for a reason. If you want to take a risk and pursue a dream or a career that you’re passionate about and that brings you joy, go for it! Work hard, learn as much as you can, push yourself everyday, and don’t give up. But do it the way you were designed to do it. Don’t let someone else tell you how to live or what to do if it doesn’t line up with who you are. There is so much pressure to do things a certain way and change who you are because everyone else is doing it. But that doesn’t make you, YOU. That makes you like everyone else. At the end of the day, it’s your life and your decisions. You don’t want to look back in 50 years and regret not doing something or taking an opportunity because you were afraid of failing, or of what others will think. You only have one chance at this life, this year, and this day right now. Don’t let others dictate your decisions in a negative way.

Pricing:

  • Portraits – Starting at $350
  • Weddings: Starting at $1,800
  • Engagements and Elopements: $400 – $1,500

Contact Info:

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