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The Art of Photography and Story Telling with Meg Loeks
308 Plays1 month ago
This week on the ReBloom Podcast, we had the absolute privilege of chatting with the incredibly talented photographer, educator, and artist, Meg Loeks. Based in Michigan’s picturesque Upper Peninsula, Meg is renowned for infusing her work with warmth, nostalgia, and a timeless beauty that resonates deeply.
Inspired by her rural surroundings, motherhood, and a passion for classic artistry, Meg’s photography transcends the ordinary. Every frame tells a story—a celebration of life, love, and the everyday moments that connect us to one another.
During our conversation, Meg opened up about the heart behind her creative process, offering a glimpse into how she balances life as a mother of five with her thriving artistic career. She also shared her thoughts on cultivating authenticity in both life and art—a theme that runs through her work and her journey.
Meg’s impressive accolades include serving as a SIGMA Ambassador, Profoto Legend of Light, and 2022 Lightroom Ambassador. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she dedicates her talents to The Gold Hope Project, a nonprofit organization that provides free photo sessions to families affected by pediatric cancer.
We hope you’ll join us for this heartfelt episode with Meg Loeks. Whether you’re a photographer, an artist, or simply someone seeking a little inspiration, her story is sure to ignite your creative spark.
Website: https://www.megloeks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meg_nlo
The Artist’s Eye Workshop: https://www.clickphotoschool.com/the-artists-eye/
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· Jet Creative: A women-owned marketing firm committed to community and empowerment. Whether you’re launching a podcast or building a website, Jet Creative can help you get started. Visit JetCreative.com/Podcast to kickstart your journey!
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Transcript
Introduction to Rebloom Podcast
00:00:01
Speaker
Hey, everyone. Welcome to Rebloom, the podcast where we explore the power of change, rediscovery, and living with intention. That's right. We're your hosts, Lori and Jamie, two friends who really love a good story about transformation. In each podcast, we're going to chat with inspiring guests who've made bold pivots in their lives or careers. They've let go of what no longer serve them to embrace something more authentic, joyful, and true to who they really are.
00:00:31
Speaker
And the best part, many of them reconnect with passions or dreams they discovered as kids. It's about finding the seeds planted long ago and letting them bloom again. So if you're ready for real conversations about reinvention, purpose, and following your creative heart, you're in the right place. Let's dive in and see what it takes to re-bloom.
00:00:56
Speaker
Well, hello, Lori. How are you today? Hey, Jamie. I'm excited to talk with this guest because I am in love with her work. Oh my gosh. I can't wait to hear her story.
Meet Meg Luchs: Photographer's Journey Begins
00:01:08
Speaker
Well, today, everyone, we are welcoming Meg Luchs. She, I think Lori, combines both of our loves, mine of photography and yours of color.
00:01:21
Speaker
ah lady and and Oh, my gosh. So first, let's welcome her. Welcome, Meg. How are you? Hi, thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here.
00:01:33
Speaker
Oh my gosh, thank you. I have been fangirling over you for many, many years. um If anybody has not seen Meg's work, um you must follow her. she has We will have her links, but she is an incredible photographer.
00:01:53
Speaker
And let me tell you a little bit about her before we hear from her. She is a fine art photographer. She primarily focuses on her social media, ah showing her beautiful family. She has five children.
00:02:08
Speaker
And she shares different scenes, very Americana. They're absolutely gorgeous, ah beautiful colors. And she is a teacher. She travels. She does online workshops. she's also She also represents Sigma and Profoto and Lightroom. And she is just incredible. And I can't wait to hear more about her story. So welcome, Meg.
00:02:37
Speaker
Thank you, thank you. I am excited to share a little bit about my story.
Artistic Influences and Early Struggles
00:02:42
Speaker
Meg, I'm new to your work through Jamie and i don't hopefully this is all complimentary, I think it is. It feels like a combination of a little Wes Anderson with a little Dutch masters, with a little Norman Rockwell, with just a little bit of fairy tale and storytelling all mixed together. They're just incredible images.
00:03:09
Speaker
Thank you. Yeah, that's a huge compliment because every ah person that you mentioned has ah influenced me heavily in some way. I love Wes Anderson. I love his use of color, ah his use of symmetry, and just incredible compositions. I am deeply, deeply drawn to everything Norman Rockwell. um I've i've been inspired by his work for many, many years. So all the things that you listed are are heavy ah influences for me. Well, it comes through. So I can't wait to hear your story. So so bring us back to the beginning. Yeah. I mean, most most people that we talk to sometimes pick up a ah ah paintbrush. Did you pick up a paintbrush or pick up a camera when you were young and what started you on this journey?
00:04:03
Speaker
um Honestly, it was a little bit of both. I was, I guess, pretty artistic. um You know, when I was really little, I was into art of all forms. And then when I was in high school, I um was in art class. I was in photography class. I was part of the yearbook staff and I developed my own prints. We had a dark room at the high school. I went to And that was like my favorite part of the process was developing my own prints. I really enjoyed that when I was shooting film. But I guess like, you know, from a young age, I've always been pretty artistic and I i enjoyed painting and and all of that. But I never really felt like I was
00:04:52
Speaker
um I don't know, gifted with painting and drawing. And maybe part of that has to do with I was more drawn to photography than I was to like painting and and drawing in general. like i had more of um There was more of like a lure for me to photography. So because of that, I just had more passion.
00:05:18
Speaker
um you know, to be with a camera. And at that time, when I was in high school, I was mainly photographing macro, flowers, landscapes. I used to live, the house that I grew up in was in between two covered bridges. And so I would photograph those a lot um and just spend a lot of time outside.
00:05:42
Speaker
Oh, that makes sense. It comes through in your work. so But you didn't, when you pursued photography, but then you took a little side turn and went into marketing, is that right?
Finding Creative Niche: From Business to Art
00:05:54
Speaker
and get Close. So I ah went to college, changed my major several times. um And originally, I was going for just general business and failing miserably This is not my cup of tea. No matter how hard I worked, I just couldn't get it. I couldn't grasp it. I was um'm taking like i had had to take finance twice. I had to take statistics twice. I had a tutor, so it wasn't like I wasn't trying, but I just didn't get it. And I'll never forget when I met with my counselor, she sat me down and she said to me, I think it's time.
00:06:40
Speaker
that you consider a different major. And I was like, wow so like, I'm already a couple years in. um What do I do now? And so I, you know, started looking through different majors and I was like, what is the most creative business a major that I could have, basically. And I um fell on advertising, actually, so advertising and PR. And I went to a school, it was a liberal arts school, and ah advertising and PR were actually in the School of Communications.
00:07:20
Speaker
marketing was in the school of business. So they were like a separate thing. So I went to school of communications and I got my advertising and PR degree with an emphasis on advertising, which was, you know, ah definitely more creative. And I excelled. I did really well. I got straight A's basically and really enjoyed it.
00:07:39
Speaker
So I ended up graduating with an advertising degree. That's so funny. it's You know, Meg, I feel like we've had we just had a guest, and Lori felt like their their paths were similar. I feel like our paths were similar. I was photographer in high school, got to school. I couldn't understand the accounting. I'm like, OK, why is debit left and credit right? And my brain was not functioning, and I hated i hated accounting.
00:08:05
Speaker
And I became a communication major too. And again, it it I think it's because many of us are visual learners and we love we love the creative side of it. And so how wonderful of your advisor to guide you in that direction and and find your passion and joy.
00:08:23
Speaker
creatively in college. That's amazing. So my question is, what made you decide to go the business route initially? Was that something that you to was that a ah should kind of thing, something you thought you should do, but not that you wanted to?
00:08:41
Speaker
parents yeah so um i My parents are super ah supportive and amazing, but there was um a little bit of a push to go the practical route. um you know Go for a general business a major, um take Spanish, even though I wanted to take French. and I didn't really excel in Spanish either. I do have a minor in it, but I i don't practice it, so I i couldn't speak in Spanish you know very fluently. um So it was one of those things where it was just, I i didn't know what I wanted to do. um And I kept kind of changing. I originally was going to go for social work. And then that shifted to, I'm like, I don't think I can do this. And then my parents said, why don't you go for a general business you know major? yeah And so they're like, it's
00:09:37
Speaker
It's really, you know, versatile, like flexible. I'm like, okay, you know, so that's what I did. And then I struggled. So and that's really what it came down to.
00:09:48
Speaker
But it's smart to pivot. And I have been a university instructor for the past 18 years. And I teach communication. And i love I love that, as I said, that you had an advisor and even parents who are encouraging. It's it's taking the things that you can succeed in. And how how wonderful that, I mean, you were you were in it, but yes, it was a good pivot even while you were there. And so great to find that. And there are good jobs, everyone, in communication. so that Oh, absolutely. So you got the degree in marketing and PR? Did you work for a PR firm then or a
Rediscovering Photography Through Motherhood
00:10:30
Speaker
marketing firm? So what I ended up doing is I graduated and
00:10:36
Speaker
um
00:10:39
Speaker
Basically, if you wanted to work for like an advertising firm, you had to go somewhere like Chicago, which it wasn't that far, but um locally in the city that I ah was you know living at, where my ah college was at, there really aren't advertising firms. so basically what is typical is to just get hired by a company that has like a marketing department. um And so that's what I did. um I worked various jobs um you know right out of college. So when I graduated college, it that's when the market had crashed. So it was a really hard time um you know to be looking for a job. ah And I was super fortunate that I found a job right away.
00:11:25
Speaker
And so I was like thankful for that, but I didn't love it. And I was doing like their marketing, their email blasts, stuff like that. on But not as much as I wanted to. So I ended up finding a job at a health IT company and it was a startup.
00:11:42
Speaker
which was amazing. um They were so fun and creative and we're really small company obviously being a startup. And so I did a lot of stuff there and but in marketing, again, advertising, email blast, stuff like that. But I also like worked on the apps that we had and like design and stuff like that. it was It was a really great job and I did that for a few years.
00:12:11
Speaker
Nice. So while you were doing that, were you starting to were you still continuing your love of photography and taking images? and That's a great question. So what happened is actually when I went to college, I stopped. I didn't really pick up my camera anymore at that point. um And so all through college, I was not umm doing any sort of photography, really. And I had a photography scholarship that was given to me. Oh, wow. But I didn't pursue it. um Because at that time, I thought like the only job for me as a photographer was a wedding photographer. And I was like, I don't want to work on the weekends. i was yeah and stuff So that's that was my like skewed view of it, like that there there are other other things. So it wasn't until I started having children that I picked my camera
00:13:06
Speaker
You know, back up again, I think that's kind of a natural thing, right? You know, to be wanting to like photograph your children. So I started getting into it again a little bit more and I switched to digital at that point, um you know, so because previously it was film. And so I was doing that and I wanted to take better pictures of my kids. So I was.
00:13:24
Speaker
working at this health IT company, but also taking classes on the side, like online classes on the side, to just get better at my photography um and and photographing my children. When you were taking the classes, which I think is so important, was there, because you know most people when they're taking pictures of their babies or their kids, they're just you know like, oh, and you know they're down there just taking a normal shot with their iPhone or they're ah or a camera.
00:13:53
Speaker
What was the switch for you that was lit up in those classes that made you think, I can be really creative with my children's photography? Or was that just something that was in your heart? I at that time, really, my photography was just different in general. So for me at that time, it was more so like following my kids around with with a camera and um I was much more of like a documentary photographer than I am today. So at that time I was doing that, but also there was some fine art in there too, because if if we were within the house and I was photographing them, documentary. But if we went outside, it was more of like a fine art kind of thing. And we would get outside like every morning for a walk and I would photograph them.
00:14:44
Speaker
um We live in the country, still do. And so um that was like really good for all of us just to get outside. And I used to just love you know doing that, for you know following around following them around with my camera.
00:14:57
Speaker
Um, so it was just kind of different than at that time. I also realized while I was photographing them that I could, you know, that I might want to make this a business. And so I started a business on the side, uh, where I was photographing clients, mainly families, children, all of that. And then the company that I worked for, the health IT t company that I worked for.
00:15:22
Speaker
Uh, was bought out. And so I, at at that time was very pregnant. I was like seven months pregnant or something like that. They were being bought out. I didn't want to have to interview, um, for a new job at that point. I was like, you know what? I'm going to stay home more with my kids and I'm going to start a photography business. Uh, and so that's what I did. Um, basically kind of just worked out, I think beautifully yeah using my job, but at the same time,
00:15:51
Speaker
ah doing something that I really enjoy doing on the side. Interesting. Sometimes the universe does that. They point you in the right direction and they make changes for you that force you towards something you should be doing. Absolutely. absolutely So what did your first photography business look like?
00:16:10
Speaker
It was mainly um children, families, newborn, some maternity. ah And they mainly came to my house. um yeah We had a big meadow and stuff and I would photograph them there. We'd go to a park or whatever. But I also had a studio in my house and I actually at that time specialized in like posed newborn, which is so different from what I do now.
00:16:38
Speaker
um But I took classes on like how to safely pose newborns, wrapping them, doing the different poses, all of that. It's really hard work. like That's the only thing I didn't love about it is a lot of time a lot of the time you you had a baby who wasn't tired or whatever, so it's really hard to do those poses when they're not tired.
00:16:58
Speaker
So eventually, you know, I did that for a while, but then I realized, you know, I really love in-home sessions, like going to the client's house and photographing them there, like more lifestyle. I also like, like the outdoor shoots, but I really love the in-home sessions. So I started trying to kind of to transition my business a little bit, not doing as much of like the post news newborn, but going to the client's house, photographing their family there. And I think a lot of the time the families loved it too because they didn't have to go anywhere. They were comfortable at home. I came in, brought everything in. So it was really nice and I really enjoyed that part of my client business. Well, how long did you do that?
00:17:44
Speaker
Um, I did that, gosh, several years. I stopped in 2016. I closed my client business in 2016. Okay.
Challenges During Son's Illness
00:17:57
Speaker
And why why why did why did you choose to close that in 2016?
00:18:01
Speaker
So I closed my client business in 2016 because everything was going pretty good, but I also was not very good with like some of the business aspects. Surprise, surprise, right?
00:18:18
Speaker
um oh I was overbooking myself. Like I was getting exhausted, right? yeah I wasn't charging enough because everybody was my friend too. So I was overbooking. I wasn't charging enough at all. And I was spending so much time editing these client images and giving them so many images. um I was making like no money.
00:18:41
Speaker
And you also have at this point three children, four children at home too? Three. Three children at home. So I mean that, you know, and I think that's a classic thing that we do is that we think, oh, we're going to give it away or we're going to, you know, it's just a friend. But people also don't seem to understand how difficult I mean, how much work it is as a photographer? I mean, it's a ton of work. And I think they think, oh, it's just easy. Come bring your camera. No, it's not only the session, but to your point, the editing and everything. It's a lot of work. It's a lot of work. It is. Yeah. And so ah with all that said, i'm I was doing that and then I was offered a teaching job.
00:19:29
Speaker
um to teach photography online. So I was teaching, which I loved, and I was doing my client business, which, you know, it was okay. And then my oldest son um started having some symptoms. He was like limping on and off, um just getting kind of nauseous at times, random fevers, bloody noses, stuff like that. And it happened on and off for like a few months.
00:19:58
Speaker
And so we were like, okay, maybe we should get him into the doctor. Maybe it's like growing pains or something, but it was only in one leg that he was having pain, not both. which is um actually a symptom of leukemia, ah specifically ALL, which is what he has. And so um we we had brought him in and then he ended up getting diagnosed with leukemia at that time. So I was like, I can't ah can't do all of this stuff. like I can't yeah maintain my client business business, which I'm not making as much money off of that, right? And it's taking more up more of my time. I'm making way more money teaching, I enjoy
00:20:32
Speaker
ah teaching. um i'm I'm utilizing my time better like just right you know I'm like so I let go of the client business it just made the most sense because it was honestly like working two jobs and that was obviously not something I could do especially after he was diagnosed and everything.
00:20:51
Speaker
Right. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my gosh. How is he doing now? He's doing really good. um So now he, so he had a three year treatment and then he ah became cancer free.
00:21:07
Speaker
And then a few years later, I think it's like a few years later, he was diagnosed again. So um he has leukemia again. um And we're about a year and a half into this treatment. So we've got about a year and a half left. um But he's doing good. He's in an easier part of the treatment um now. The first year is the hardest. um And so this one especially was harder than the first one because ah Even though it wasn't a relapse, they treated it as a relapse, which means that the the treatment in general, the drugs, everything are much more intense. like um and He was in the hospital for longer, all of that stuff. so Everything was just more intense this time around, um but he's doing really good right now.
00:21:55
Speaker
and That's wonderful. so yeah So with all of that, because that's a lot, a lot, a lot. Were you also at that time transitioning or what at what point were you transitioning from more documentary style photography to more of the style that you're doing now? Yeah, that's a great question. So it really for me was while I was taking classes online. So I was teaching but But I was also taking classes myself. And so I just learned a lot about myself. um So those those early, early years, I was doing some documentary, but it wasn't really that long before I started like, just getting more into portraiture and fine art.
Transition to Fine Art Photography
00:22:43
Speaker
um I also did a like a lot of still life. um At that time, I don't as much anymore. um I go through phases ah of different
00:22:52
Speaker
you know we all do genre i do i know yes So um I was doing all that stuff and I just realized that I really enjoy this. I like i really love this part of photography, um the fine art part, the portraiture.
00:23:10
Speaker
I felt like it filled a creative void for me. And so that's something that I like really needed. um And so it it was really almost kind of therapeutic. ah Being able to style and um you know come up with like ah a cohesive color palette, a harmonious color palette, that's the kind of stuff that I really enjoy.
00:23:33
Speaker
So i that's really honestly, it was probably around just before my my son got diagnosed. So 2015, 2016 that I found my voice. Well, I think, and thank you for sharing, you know, bravely sharing your son's journey because I do think that, you know, having that creativity in our life when we have stress in our life, I know I found my creative voice with florals and styling because it was an escape. And I think in order for us to be strong mamas or strong individuals, sometimes we do need to gift ourselves that creative space. And Lori and I have talked about that. She she has creativity in her life every day, but it's important to find it, whether it be in drawing or painting or styling or photography or nature, that we find that because that
00:24:32
Speaker
I don't know. For me, Meg, i um when my kids were teenagers, it was really challenging. And I needed that. I needed it. And I'm sure you needed it, too, when when your son was really ill. And you need that you need you just need to you need to find the strength. And so creativity helps me to find it. Did it did it help you as well?
00:24:55
Speaker
Yeah, I think what I always like to tell people is like, for me, it's self care. And I think for a lot of people, it is self care can be so many things, you know, I think sometimes people get, um you know, hung up on, well, self care is like getting your hair done, or, or getting a massage or whatever. And those things are great. And I i definitely think those are self care things. But self care comes in many forms. And sometimes It's like going out for a walk. It's spending time with my camera. It's spending time in my garden, um you know, pulling weeds. I enjoy cleaning my chicken coop, which is such a dirty job. it's
00:25:37
Speaker
you know But i it helps clear my head and keep me grounded when I'm out there doing like hard labor sometimes. like So I don't know, it's I think self-care comes in many forms. So for me, that you know that it was like an outlet to like um give myself a little bit of time to, you know like this is my time, this is Meg's time, just to spend time on the camera and be creative.
00:26:01
Speaker
And you're not being selfish. Me time is good time. Me time is strength time. And I think sometimes people confuse that. They think that me time is selfish time. No, sometimes me time is just the air that you need to breathe and the strength that you need to give to yourself so you can be stronger for everyone else. And Yeah, Lori wanted to. so So you found your voice and it's a beautiful voice. Yes. So so I don't know a lot about fine art photography and all the avenues. Like, what what does your business look like now? are you i I believe you're still teaching. Yeah. Are there are you have like, do you have any plans to do a book, which I think a book would be beautiful. um Just kind of lay out what you're doing now.
00:26:49
Speaker
Yeah, I, you know, the past, I would say, couple years, it sort of felt like maybe survival mode. Like I have all these hopes and dreams um that I definitely try to manifest. But like, at the same time, like my husband was deployed and for a while. And so I knew basically it was like,
00:27:10
Speaker
I was just staying afloat, you know, with him being gone and five kids and trying to run a business. And then he came home because my son got diagnosed while he was away. And so then there was all of that. And so this year's felt really good. Like ah we still have challenges, of course, is with his health and everything else.
Future Aspirations and Projects
00:27:30
Speaker
But we there's been more time for just so many things from family vacations to just like normalcy, you know like being able to be home more. And then um also for for me business wise, being able to accomplish some things that I've been wanting to like accomplish. um And so, yeah, i'm you know i I hope to come out with a new class next year. I really enjoy doing in-person workshops. And so I plan to continue doing that and traveling
00:28:06
Speaker
um to those. ah And I do love the idea of a book. I just, I don't know about now, but I feel like that's a great long-term goal. It's honestly been something that's been on my radar for many years. um For now, it's ah more so like my new class. It's also, i'm I'm building a studio. So I'm trying to get that done. um And I also might be picking up client.
00:28:33
Speaker
work again. How about that? I know. So that's huge because it's been 10 years. yeah It's been a long time. You'll charge more. Now you're going to charge more. The business girl is has learned. i i yeah and I'm going to heavily limit the amount of client sessions I plan to do. I already have one booked for next year in July. Ideally though, my dream client session is And the only, I'm just going to only be advertising for it is in-home sessions. yeah i'm not Not as much like outdoor in a beautiful field where I want to do in-home. And I only think I'm going to book about five next year. So very limited. um But I want to, I want to get back into it um slowly. So will you bring the voice that you've honed into your new client work?
00:29:25
Speaker
I think so in some ways um I will not be doing like, so some of the work I do is is heavily styled, like it takes hours to style, plan, whatever. And so I don't plan to do that sort of thing. At at least I don't think so unless a client really wants that. i More so for me, it's going to be like lifestyle um sessions, which is some of what I do with my own family here and there, um especially like just out and about around our house, like photographing my kids, feeding the chickens and stuff like that. So that's the kind of stuff that I also really enjoy. So I do plan and hope to do you know those types of like photos
00:30:10
Speaker
with the family. So not not so much styled, heavily styled, more so lifestyle. Let's take a quick minute and thank our amazing sponsors. Our podcast is proudly brought to you today by Jet Creative and Urban Stems. Jet Creative is a women-owned marketing firm committed to community and empowerment since 2013. Are you ready to rebloom and build a website or start a podcast? Visit jetcreative dot.com backslash podcast to kickstart your journey.
00:30:43
Speaker
They will help you bloom in ways you never imagined. And bonus, our listeners get an exclusive discount when you mention Rebloom. And a huge thanks to Urban Stems, your go-to and our go-to source for fresh, gorgeous bouquets and gifts delivered coast to coast. Use Bloom Big 20 and save 20% on your next order.
00:31:08
Speaker
And don't forget to subscribe to this podcast and follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Rebloom Podcast. Thanks to our sponsors and thanks to you for joining us today.
00:31:21
Speaker
So for our ah for our listeners, when they look at Meg's beautiful work, Meg, on average, when you're looking at one of your fine art um photographs that you've done with your kids, how much time on average goes into one of them between setting it up and styling and editing? I mean, it's not just a snap and go. there's There's a lot that goes into it.
00:31:50
Speaker
So I would say a quick setup for me would be about an hour. Um, I would say on average, you know, two hours is typical just to style. Um, so that's setting up my lighting and styling. Yeah. The shooting process takes like 10 minutes. It's super short. Um, it depends on if I'm doing composite work and all that kind of stuff. So it's, it's a very quick process, the shooting process, and it needs to be if my kids are involved because attention spans and all of that want to make it really quick. um And then after that, ah God loved my husband, he ah takes down everything for me. So I don't have to do any of that. He will take care of all my lighting, on the whole setup, everything, because I usually have to go lay down after I'm done with a photo shoot. And then editing, it it does depend, but I would say like on average, an hour and a half.
00:32:47
Speaker
um to call and edit. you know so But if I'm doing several composites, then it might be more like two, two and a half hours of editing. It's a it's a lot. And i I was fortunate I just took one of Meg's classes online. And for anyone listening, if you're interested in photography and storytelling, it's a brilliant class. It's really great. And I know she's teaching it again.
00:33:13
Speaker
i in the future, but she really talks a lot about color and styling and she got me thinking about it in such a different way. And it's, I'm sure too Meg, do the ideas come to you and then you just like try to see if you can make it happen? I mean, is it a little trial and a trial and error or is it, you know, just what what tends to inspire you to make make the stories or do the stories that you do?
00:33:43
Speaker
So i i I will say, I feel like majority of everything that I do is inspired by like a real life moment, ah something that happened with my family. It's usually the case. ah Sometimes it is something that I saw like a Norman Rockwell painting or whatever. I'm like, oh, that I love that. But then typically what I do is I'll take that inspiration and then alter it in a way that,
00:34:11
Speaker
fits my narrative and fits my family lifestyle a little more. So I changed things up in that that regard just to make it more me. you know And so ah the inspiration is honestly deeply rooted and in my family and my children and just the phase of life, especially that I'm in, which I find you know kind of come comical because parenting can be really comical at times. and we've got You know, my oldest is 13 and my youngest is two and a half and it's kind of chaotic. And um I don't know, there's a lot of funny moments and every day. So I get inspired by that. I love it. Are your children creative?
00:34:55
Speaker
Some are, yes, and some are not. like it' like I shouldn't say, so I feel like they're all creative in their own way. like ah My oldest son, he loves science. he's He's so into science and Legos, and he ah can build these like amazing things with Legos. My second son, ah Woody, he is the creative artistic one. like He's a really good singer.
00:35:20
Speaker
artist, he likes to write. um You know, my, my third son, he's really good. He likes basketball and just sports in general, he's just really athletic. So they're all kind of like different in what they're good at. But I would say the most artistic would be my second son. ah But he hasn't really expressed any interest in photography. um But he enjoys watching me edit. it So I don't know where that will go. He he he always asks me questions like, oh, what are you doing? And he likes that sort of thing. So I don't know. Maybe he'll be a digital artist artist someday. You know, do you get ah do you get eye rolls from them when you say, OK, kids, put on the sweaters and the scars and off we go. Or are they willing participants sometimes? so No, not too bad because I don't really photograph them a lot anymore. So my older boys, they I hope like once a month.
00:36:15
Speaker
for a photo. So they actually are pretty cool and good with it because it doesn't happen often. um My youngest is actually the hardest to photograph.
00:36:27
Speaker
He's just um wild like runs around, doesn't stay put. um He's a bit of a bulldozer. So I like the youngest of five. Yep. blesses he is ye so ah video do video with him. Like just, yeah you know, I find that easier with him and it it's a way for me to like document him without you know, it being stressful and like having a lot of weight on my shoulders, you know, in regards to getting him in front of the camera. So I like to do videos of him like feeding the chickens and stuff. He likes to do that.
00:37:05
Speaker
I on I love it. Well, and people ask me this about my my my social media, my Instagram, because I take florals and you take photos of your family. I do it purely for my joy. I'm not doing it for anyone else. And as we've already said, it's my creative outlet. You're doing that as well. the The documentation or the the portraiture that you're doing of your family is purely for you. Correct. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I mean,
00:37:35
Speaker
At the end of the day, if we took away like the my teaching and all all of that stuff, my in-person workshops and stuff, I would still be doing it. you know so that's i you know I know that to be true, so um that wouldn't change at all. um and and Part of me as my kids get older, it has started to shift in realizing too, like that I'm going to need to shift what I'm documenting. um And so I have been doing more self portraits than I used to, um which I really enjoy. that'sran yeah so i i I have always done them, but I feel like I've really the past couple years pushed to do them like heavily, like more than I normally do. And it's been very therapeutic.
00:38:24
Speaker
Well, and they're beautiful and they're beautiful. And, you know, it's interesting. I love how you say that if you were to take it all away, because I will always say my my Instagram is my portfolio. And I do other, I teach, I do other things, but it really, that's my portfolio and that hopefully leads people to know what my joy is. um and And if they want to see other things that I can do, I'm happy to show them. But I don't think I could ever give that up. I mean, I just, and that to to your point, I mean, just the ability to create the way you want to create it with no boundaries. No one's telling you what to do. You get to decide what it is, tell the story, create it, have fun with it, and then also capture your beautiful kids. So it's a win-win all the way around. And your chickens. i love And your chickens. I love how that's part of the scenes a lot. I love that. Yeah, yeah they are. um
00:39:21
Speaker
Well, and and yes, some of them are are well behaved and some of them are like a little bit more standoffish. It just depends on the chicken and the breed. But like, in general, I do really adore them and our docs.
Creative Experimentation and Quirky Portraits
00:39:34
Speaker
And I just the other day, I actually just had a photo shoot with just my chickens. Like I just had three of my chickens like in front of the backdrop and photograph them. I That's what I was thinking when you said your kids are growing up and what's the next? I'm like chickens. You still have the chickens. Yeah, yeah, I do. I do love them. And um I think they're just so quirky and funny um and enjoy like having them in our portraits too. And like, you know, having things be a little bit, you know, silly, I guess. um When our chickens are especially involved in our ducks. But i'm I'm enjoying like
00:40:14
Speaker
dabbling in different things ah the past couple of years, especially. Well, I love your quirky portraits on your website, the one where she's holding the chicken. Like I just, I guess in my head, I went to seeing some of your client work where their portraits, but maybe they're holding things that are from their homes or, you know, the way that you do that that, that make them so unique, almost like, like kind of those weird Renaissance paintings where people would hold things that were odd. I don't know.
00:40:45
Speaker
It's a bit like surreal. I think there's a little surrealness mixed into it. Yeah, exactly. Which I love. i you know And nowadays, i get the I get the comments of like, is this AI? And I'm like, ah no, never. you know I don't use AI. but um it But at the same time, I don't want to say I view it as a compliment, but I i love that people could see that surrealness, you know, they're like, yeah it's almost like it's otherworldly. And yeah, he yeah, yep. So I tried to take it as a compliment of like,
00:41:22
Speaker
you know, they're just seeing that. You just do it the right way. or yeah not know just I don't want to bash AI. There's good things about AI. There are, but it's it's beautiful the thought and the story. I think what's really magical about when you look at one of your portraits is that you feel yourself immersed in a scene or a story and you can feel it. You feel the the powder or the, the cake that you know, if you're making a cake, you can feel, I mean, you just feel like you're part of that emotion that's happening at that time. You not only capture the imagery, but you capture the emotion. And that's hard to do, capturing
00:42:06
Speaker
Yeah. well i think I think the key to that is like authenticity and when you're photographing something, um you know either tying it back to your life in some way, um having it relate to your life in some way or your subject's life in some way. And when you do that, when you photograph ah things that um you know are personal to you or to your subject, they're heartfelt. You know and you feel that ah emotion.
00:42:35
Speaker
people are i mean I It's one of those things or when we're studying a photograph, people know. They can see when things are forced and when they're not forced, you know? yeah And so I think it's really important to to remember that, you know? yeah That's actually great advice. it is It is great advice. So you've pivoted along the way and you've taken classes. What are you looking towards artistically or professionally for yourself in the future?
00:43:08
Speaker
I know you said you were going to start working with new clients, but what else are what else are you doing personally to grow or pivot? Yeah. So I would love to take a class of my, I haven't, it's been many years actually. So I haven't taken a class in, well, I shouldn't say that. I shouldn't say that. um It's been a couple of years, but I did recently take a class on lighting um and ah to learn more about lighting. um And I'd like to continue that. I'd like to continue taking
00:43:38
Speaker
some classes here and there in regards to lighting but not only that um also photoshop just learning more about it because it's actually the one program where i i'm am self-taught and um i know there's a lot more that i can learn um in that program so i'd like to learn more about photoshop and just Color grading to as well because I love color grading and I know there's also a lot that I don't know. So I'd like to continue down that path and and learn some more stuff about, you know, just altering tones and in colors.
00:44:14
Speaker
um especially I feel like since my work has gotten more vibrant lately, past couple years, i it keeps getting more vibrant and more colorful every single year. and i and like it my Am I like pushing this too far? you know Am I going like over the top here? but oh No, no, no. Your color faces everything. I mean, everything is just so rich and beautiful. And even when you were in your class, you're like, okay, change. I'm like,
00:44:42
Speaker
Wow, we're spending a lot on green. Well, I have a thing about green too, but you're like, okay, take the yellows down. do I'm like, brilliant, brilliant. out know You can never have too much color. Color is wonderful.
00:44:58
Speaker
Well, I think what you just shared is a really good tip for our listeners is that if you're interested in something, going to find a source to learn more about it is one really great step. Just dip your toe in whether it's, you know, a basic class of something you're interested in or anything. Just dive in and just see how it feels. And the more you learn, the more you grow. Oh, yeah, absolutely. You have to put in the work. um I like over the years, I've spent so much time, you know, getting up early, staying up late ah to take classes, but then also just experiment myself.
Embracing Mistakes in Creative Growth
00:45:36
Speaker
um Nothing really came very easy for me. ah You know, it just wasn't like
00:45:42
Speaker
you know Oh, i I got it. you know No problem. It was a process. And some some days I would spend all day on my computer playing with the different sliders and seeing what they do. But in that process, I learned so much about the programs by doing that. And so a lot of times people you know want want you as a teacher, they want you to tell them what to do. ah But a big part of it is really just the need for them to sit down ah and yeah of course, you know, take these classes of stuff, but then experiment themselves and and
00:46:20
Speaker
um you know, ah have play dates and stuff. I do all the time. I have play dates where I set up like a new lighting that I've never tried before and I make a lot of mistakes. I mess up. I fail all the time and things don't work out the way I wanted them to, but in that process I learned so much.
00:46:40
Speaker
yeah Yeah, that's great advice. it's okay It's okay to fail. It is way okay to because if you don't try, I mean, you're not going to succeed every time, but you will learn from your failures too. So I love that. I love that piece of advice. Well, speaking of advice, Meg, um what would what small piece of advice do you like to tell your students or would you like to leave our listeners with today? I think one of the biggest things for me is that there when it When it comes to learning anything new or wanting to to grow in regards to something, it takes time. And I think we forget that and we live we live in a society that glorifies busy and is like now, now, now. And really and truly um the process is like an artist. It's like ever evolving um and it takes time. It takes so much time.
00:47:39
Speaker
I put in so many hours, and again, mentioned like the failures, the mistakes, all of that, but nothing was overnight, ever. It was it took years. and And my voice four years ago as an artist is so different than it is now, and it's going to continue to change.
00:47:57
Speaker
It's just how it is. um If it didn't change, I would be concerned. like i would I would feel like I plateaued and that I'm not growing as an artist. So I do like to see that change. I'm proud of that change. But I do think it's important to know that things do take time. i'm And i I know that sounds maybe cliche, but I think we sometimes forget that.
00:48:20
Speaker
No, I think that's so true because we're in an instant gratification society are. Yeah. Yeah. There were math, the old masters, like they took years and decades to really hone their skills. It doesn't happen overnight. You're right. Yeah. And I, that brings up like another point too of but like, I create my best work when I take my time. yeah I create my worst work when I'm rushed. Now, Not everybody's that way. I should mention that, but I think sometimes people under pressure do really well. And sometimes I do too. But when it comes to like a styled portrait with lots of detail and a complicated lighting and everything, I need to have ample time to just set things up, take test shots and just take my time, you know? Yeah. Yeah.
00:49:09
Speaker
And not only take your time to learn, to to grow, to enjoy the process of creating, I hope for our listeners too they will take the time to just sit with one of your beautiful portraits because there's so much that went into each and every one of them.
00:49:27
Speaker
And they deserve more than just a quick like. They really deserve just just take a moment and look at the work that went into it, the color choices, um the fun that's happening, the feeling that she's created. Each and every one of them are a little mini masterpiece. They truly are beautiful.
00:49:49
Speaker
and was it I ditto the book someday. Someday it will come to you. It will be there. I'm manifesting that for you. I know. If I picture it, like I want it on my studio. I want it on my coffee table.
00:50:06
Speaker
yeah Absolutely. Meg, you are an absolute delight. Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your beautiful creative journey with our listeners. And we hope that everyone feels um inspired by you because we certainly are. Absolutely. Thank you, Meg. Thank you. I'm honored to be here and I really appreciate this time.
00:50:29
Speaker
Thank you. Lori, my heart is so full just listening to Meg. I have loved following her and to just have this opportunity to really dive in deep and listen to her process and her journey. it it just It's so inspiring, ah everything about it. Oh, I agree. And i I particularly love hearing about how much time ah the journey in developing and honing your voice and your skill and focusing in your ah your own authenticity and your own story. And she has built such a beautiful career that's focused around her her beloved family and the the lifestyle she's living with the chickens and the chicken coop and
00:51:21
Speaker
There's just so much richness there and I think that's what makes her work just so beautiful to look at because every image that authenticity and that story just comes through. It does and our our world is rich with layers and I think Meg ah shows us all the beautiful layers of life.
00:51:42
Speaker
in each and every one of her photos, whether it's humor or depth or ah or even, well, basically truth. She shows us the depth of truth in each and every one of her photos. And it's just, we, what a joy. um Everybody, we will have more of Meg's, ah all of Meg's links for you to see her beautiful work and follow along with her on her journey. with her family. And we thank you all for joining us today. ta you Thank you. And until we meet again, peace, love and rebloom.
00:52:18
Speaker
Life is too short not to follow your passions, so go out there and let your heart plant you where you are meant to be and grow your joy. We will be right here sharing more incredible stories of reinvention with you. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode of Rebloom. Until next time, I'm Jamie Jamison. And I'm Lori Siebert. Peace, love, and Rebloom, dear friends.