Today we’d like to introduce you to Melle Houston.
Hi Melle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2016, we planned a trip to California to travel along the coast, starting in the Redwoods, to Yosemite, Big Sur, and on down to L.A. I had a friend with a spare DSLR, so I asked her to borrow it for the trip. Coincidentally, the friends we visited along the way, were photographers, so I had a chance to pick their brains, get some technical advice, and beginner tips. The photos were terrible, but the whole experience piqued my interest enough to pursue classes and training. I discovered Atlanta School of Photography, and consequently took classes there throughout the next year to learn camera basics, direction and posing, lighting, Lightroom and Photoshop education, and more. Then, I continued to focus on portraiture, practicing with my own children and personal network, finding unique locations, and creating any opportunities I could to advance my craft. Raising kids, working part-time at a restaurant, and juggling home and personal commitments, made for a slow build into a full fledged business. We bought our first home, then Covid hit, and time slowed down. At home, I decided to document the everyday moments, kids at play, the first spring in our new backyard, and so on. Since all the work paused, I took the opportunity to focus on home projects and business education, i.e. marketing, sales, and content creation. This time also allowed me to network with other creatives, albeit online, but I was able to connect with local photographers via mentorship opportunities. This led me to an influential mentor in Bonnie Heath, shout out Bonnie J Heath Photography, the queen of ATL Headshot Photography. She took me under her wings with practical guidance to refine my skills, professional advice for business practices, and assisting opportunities. Once I was able to add these skillsets, and thru a series of referrals from Bonnie, I was able to add corporate work to my resume and go full time with my photography business. Since then, I’ve been able to work with clients such as Emory School of Law, PR South, IHG Hotels, Keller Williams Realtors, Axios Media, Atlanta Business Chronicle, and Caren West PR. I say all this, because finding a mentor was a huge part of my growth. I highly recommend any one who is pursuing photography to reach out to industry professionals you admire and inquire about mentorship opportunities. Thankfully, there are professionals in our community who are willing to lend their time and knowledge to inspire others.
For my portrait work, I’ve continued to evolve and curate my style for more lifestyle and editorial work. I’m obsessed with vintage clothes, and I will often collaborate with my dear friend Keri Workley of Gun Street Goods (who has the most epic collection of vintage) to help me with styling clients. Feminine pieces, floral accessories, and locations off the beaten path are a few of my favorite things.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest lessons to learn was self belief and the confidence in my work. In the beginning, I struggled with imposter syndrome, wanting to be light years ahead of the work I was putting out. I would get approached for certain jobs and want to shy away from the work. Thankfully, I had a partner at that time who was my biggest cheerleader and pushed me to keep going. I say this to reiterate how important it is to surround yourself with people that light you up. I am eternally grateful to have had someone in my corner.
There is also the reality of being a freelancer. The work is often seasonal, and you have to be sure to manage your money throughout each year to accommodate for the slower months of work. Thankfully, I’ve grown beyond these parameters and supplemented with real estate photography and school photography throughout the year.
And, finally, the education never stops. Most photographers should be told in the beginning–“Learn business basics first….’ I started the opposite way of learning photography into then figuring out how to be a proper business owner. I’m continually growing here, as both a photographer and business owner. It’s as equally challenging as it is rewarding. I am continually pushed to be better and think outside of the box.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in portrait photography, providing a range of services including individual, family and children’s portraits. This also includes headshots, creative sessions for artists, and branding sessions for entrepreneurs and business owners.
I am most proud of carving out a path for myself to thrive in a creative business. With a background in hospitality. I worked in a variety of Atlanta restaurants, lounges, nightclubs, and bars for over 15 years. What was once a part time job in college to help me cover expenses, turned into a long time career ranging from front of house service staff into management. I loved the social aspect of working in restaurants, connecting with all walks of life, while managing the chaos that comes with these environments. But, then I got pregnant, and well, that life was not sustainable. Picking up that camera in 2016 changed the trajectory of my life. I never dreamed of working as a photographer and then the vision appeared.
Having this experience gave me a huge advantage with clients. It’s important to know how to communicate while being assertive. You have to be able to direct people and guide them on how to pose properly. Making real connections with people, putting them at ease, and sincere conversations help clients put their guards down, get comfortable in front of the camera, and produce the authenticity that I always want to capture.
And when it comes to people, my favorite are the little humans, I absolutely adore working with kids. My career goals are to shoot editorial and commercial work for kids and teen brands. Oh, and I want to have my own studio for kids headshots and creative portraits. I genuinely have the best conversations with kids! They (typically) like to open up and get curious with their world. I’ll encourage dancing, singing, skipping, flower picking or tree hugging… you name it!
Finally, when it comes to locations in Atlanta, I’m obsessed with colors, vibrant murals, and flowers, anywhere they bloom. Georgia has so many natural wonders, and the seasons here offer so much variety. It’s the art of noticing the magic around us that keeps me inspired these days.
What does success mean to you?
At this point, success is living with ease. Ease in your daily routine, ease in your workflow, ease in relationships, ease with money, ease with creating art. I’m not saying success is easy, but building a life with ease is the true marker of success for me.
Oh, and the ability to stay present. I’ve spent a lifetime overthinking, and these days, I am really working on noticing the everyday magic of rainbows twinkling from the prism in my kitchen window, my kids’ kindness and growing curiosity, glowing sunsets, and the dog snoring at nap time. Little moments that light me up. ‘Glimmers’ is the nouveau term these days.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mellehouston.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mellehouston/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Melle-Houston-Photo-100067621477587/
Image Credits
Melle Houston Photo
