Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Claire Stewart.
Mary Claire, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ever since I was a little girl, I always said I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I loved to paint, draw, and build things with pretty much anything from paper and glue to rocks and mud. I loved crafting stories with what I created, and most of my artistic endeavors had some sort of narrative interwoven in the process. As I approached high school graduation and began thinking about college, degrees, and future careers, I knew I didn’t want to be a “starving artist” and began looking options like graphic design as a viable creative career. At the same time, I started to play around with my family’s point-and-shoot camera and discovered that I loved taking pictures. I continued to avidly photograph every flower, friend, and landscape that I laid eyes on all throughout college, and also began to try my hand at portrait photography. Friends asked me to take graduation portraits, engagement pictures, and eventually weddings. This developed into a substantial side job, but I was resistant to the idea of becoming a full-time freelance photographer until my senior year of college, when I realized that there wasn’t really anything else I could imagine enjoying and thriving in as much as I was with photography. It felt risky, but I decided there was nothing to lose in giving it a try.
So, I graduated in 2014, moved back home, and threw all of my energy into developing my photography business. Around that same time, I had begun to try my hand at videography, and that quickly became a prominent aspect of my business as well. I found that my experience with photography and my eye for composition, light, and motion seamlessly translated into filmmaking. In the five years since I have continued to grow my business and refine my skills in both photography and filmmaking. I’ve photographed over 70 weddings, as well as countless portrait sessions, events, and humanitarian trips. My videography has focused mostly on short narrative and testimony style videos,and has recently expanded into a lot of music videos and live event documentation.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a female filmmaker, I’ve at times felt intimidated by how male-dominated the industry is. Sometimes, I catch myself wondering if potential clients or industry peers viewed me as less capable or qualified because it’s far less common to encounter women working independently as videographers and directors.
Thankfully, I’ve never encountered anything but respect from both industry peers and clients. I have an amazing community of fellow independent filmmakers in Atlanta. It’s pretty empowering to be the quiet, 5-foot-4, 20-something female director, leading a team of 7 or 8 camera operators on a multi-day shoot. I never imaged I would have that kind of influence and respect this early in my career. I think my work speaks for itself, and I’ve learned to trust my intuition and silence the voices that tell me I’m not qualified for this type of position. Plus, I get to work alongside amazingly talented peers, and I try to utilize their strengths and abilities to compensate for my weak spots.
Because I recognize the striking gender imbalance in the film industry, I love championing other female filmmakers. I have my go-to girls that I love having on set with me, and rarely lead a team of camera operators that doesn’t include at least a couple other women. I think the industry is becoming more and more accessible to women, and that makes me really excited.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
In a nutshell, I tell stories through photography and videography. Whether I am photographing a wedding, documenting an overseas humanitarian mission, shooting an artful cup of coffee, or making a music video, there’s always some kind of narrative element. My work is artistic, but not usually abstract. I think in a more linear process, and love delivering a collection of photos that tell us a story, or crafting a short film that takes the viewer on a journey. I’m deeply drawn to the natural world and find the most beauty in things that are untouched and pure.
I think the thing that truly sets my work apart is simply how I see. When people hire me to take their portrait or capture a story on film, more than anything, they’re asking for my point of view. I think life is delightfully beautiful and magical and full of wonder and reasons to have hope. I find the most ordinary and overlooked things to be the most beautiful. I’m absolutely captivated by light. All of those things influence the way I utilize a camera, and therefore is what most sets my work apart from others.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I’m a textbook example of an introvert, so big networking events and social gatherings are pretty much the last places I want to be. One-on-one interactions are far more enjoyable and fruitful for me. Early on in my career, I frequently reached out to other new photographers and suggested a coffee date or headshot swap, as a way to build relationships within my field. I also second shot for a few wedding photographers early on in my career and learned a lot from just watching them work. Additionally, I think social media can be an incredible tool for establishing friendships and mentorships. A couple of years ago, my friend Kiyah and I started a Facebook group for professional wedding photographers in Atlanta, and seeing that community grow and blossom has been really fun. We hosted some dinners early on, so I met a lot of people in person that I’d only followed on social media prior. I hope that even a little bit of intentional effort to create plenty of room at the proverbial table can go a long way in shifting the culture for those to enter the industry in years to come.
Nowadays, I tend to spend most of my energy investing in people who are just getting started with their freelance career, or new to the city, especially if they seek me out for advice, mentoring or simply friendship. Even as their own careers blossom and grow, they’ll always have your back. I truly believe “a rising tide lifts all boats,” and community is far more sustainable and healthy than competition and isolation.
Contact Info:
- Website: maryclairephoto.com
- Email: maryclaire@maryclairephoot.com
- Instagram: @maryclairephoto
Image Credit:
Blakely Schultz
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