Today we’d like to introduce you to Madi Roberts.
Hi Madi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey was kind of a roller coaster! My mom got a DSLR back around 2008 and I would go to all my sister’s soccer games and take photos of them playing. I loved the action and the fact I captured that moment in time! I did that for years. Once I got into high school, I took my first photography class. I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. I was so excited to make this a career! But I was sad to find out that this was a field that “didn’t make a lot of money” or “was hard to make money in”. That scared me so much because I didn’t want to be under any financial stress. So I dropped that dream and decided to go into dentistry. I started my college journey at USU going into biology so that I could become an orthodontist. I’m not the best at all that science stuff so I wasn’t enjoying it too much. Towards the end of the semester, I got super sick… like REALLY sick and had to move to SL county to be closer to doctors. I was close to losing my life but my family and friends supported me so much and I was able to get better! (there’s definitely a lot more to that story but that’s for another time.)
Once I got better. I started to go back to school, I just didn’t know what for. I met my husband and got married and I was working in an ortho office, trying to see if I really wanted to do this or not. I was miserable and my husband asked “if you are so unhappy, why are you doing this?” I said, “I didn’t want us to be under financial stress.” Basically, he said that was silly and that I should enjoy my job not hate it and that just kinda hit me in the face. So in 2018, I started switching my major to photography. And I took that same DSLR camera that my mom still had and I started taking pictures again. And… it sounds so cheesy but I felt so alive! Like is this something a can actually do for a living? I was told by so many people that being a photographer is impossible in Utah or that it’s too saturated. And that scared to heck out of me. But I didn’t care. I was happy. So I kept working at it. In May of 2019, I officially started MadRob Photography and I couldn’t believe I was a business owner. I still can’t believe it. But I have spent years perfecting and learning and growing and it never gets old. Photography is everything to me and I’m so glad I live to work instead of work to live.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth? I don’t know the meaning of the word! This whole “running your own business and not knowing where your next paycheck is going to be” is scary. So scary that I have worked so many part time jobs just so I can pay my bills. There are so many unknowns and then throw in some imposter syndrome and you got yourself the definition of a bumpy road. (Also don’t get me started on taxes and contracts and making concepts that are unique and education and equipment cost and….. sorry…. Just blacked out there….) Anyways, it’s my bumpy road and only I have the means to smooth it out. We all have bumpy roads. And only we can fix that. That’s how I’ve always seen obstacles. It takes a lot of discipline and faith, and luckily I have that when it comes to this business of mine.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a fashion and portrait photographer based in Utah. I also do weddings and couples! I currently work full time as a shoe photographer for a local company called KNS International. They have a couple of brands under their belt but I mainly shoot for Journee Collection and Thomas & Vine. After work hours I’m usually always doing my personal business. I thrive doing fashion editorial shoots and being creative with those around me. I love trying new things and showing off new concepts that I think about all day every day. I think I’m known for my bubbly personality. It’s typical for me to be screaming at the top of my lungs at every photo shoot I go to cause I got the perfect shot and I simply can not handle how amazing my clients are. It’s so cool, I can see the final product of the photos once it’s captured on my camera. I know exactly how I’m going to edit, and I can see it so clearly. I run home and know exactly what to do to bring my vision to life and I’m pretty proud of that.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Oooooh, good question. That’s super hard because I am an open book. I will talk about my deepest stories and get you to tell me about yours. I think it’s a great way to relate and learn more about each other. People should talk more about their lives and what they struggle with. For me, knowing people’s stories is a great way to bring those meaningful moments to life in a photo. So some people may not know that about me but they soon will. There are no secrets here in the MadRob fam. Just love and good times.
Pricing:
- Portraits – $200/hr
- Couples – $250/hr
- Weddings – $1,200 (engagements, first look, 6hr wedding day)
- Commercial work – $200/hr
Contact Info:
- Email: Owner1@madrobphotography.com
- Instagram: MadRobphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madrobphotography/
Image Credits
MadRob Photography
