Today we’d like to introduce you to Margaret Soss.
Margaret, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always been the family documentarian. My mother bought me a little plastic 35 mm when I as about 7 or so, and it was constant. I took pictures of everything. Both grandfathers were career military and both took many photos when they were dispatched overseas during WW2 (I now own their cameras), so perhaps it was in the DNA? My parents were Foreign Service and were big on slides, Polaroids, and film. So I had a lot of inspiration to draw from as a child. My mother used the two large drawers in our coffee table to collect the images that defined our lives. We never used albums. I spent hours digging through the drawers to look at the pictures, never in any particular chronology. Polaroids, old paper shots, slides – a veritable smorgasbord of family moments and travel pics. Even then I was acutely aware of the ability to stop time in an image. I still love the idea that I am able to capture singular moments that could potentially define a generation for a client.
I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to be when I grew up. As such, I spent many years pursuing interests that didn’t satisfy. I chose to attend UCLA at 17 and learned much. Maybe too much. I became overwhelmed; I was still very young. It made it difficult to settle on a “life’s pursuit”. As I moved on to a corporate life post college, still with no concrete goals, I became less and less enamored with the idea of spending my years in an office environment. It did nothing for my creative tendencies, to say the least. I finally made the leap to photography as a career about 8 years ago – it is proving to be one of my better life choices.
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?
Nothing one is passionate about should ever be smooth. If it’s easy you’re making a mistake somewhere. The arts in particular are one of the most difficult careers to endure. Money is scarce. Opportunity is typically self-generated. And you have essentially chosen to be judged by a merciless public. We creatives are often sensitive souls who pour our personal traumas, baggage, triumphs, love, secrets, and purpose into our work. Then promptly ask people to give us their opinions on these most personal of experiences. It’s self-flagellation at its finest. I struggled a lot at the beginning with what people thought of my work. And to this day I agonize over every image. I often lose sleep waiting to hear from my clients when I deliver their pictures. A friend recently referred to “Imposter Syndrome” when discussing her profession, and that resonated with me. You never step questioning whether or not you’re good enough to succeed in your field. But I’ve learned that at the very least I shouldn’t compromise. All of my successes and failures are equally responsible for making me the artist I am today.
First advice is to remember that you are never going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but you will definitely be at least one person’s shot of whiskey and those are the individuals you’re looking to inspire. Photography is a male dominated field, true, but some of the finest image makers in the world, past and present, are women and are household names: Annie Leibovitz, Anne Geddes, Dorothea Lange, just to name a few. So don’t let your gender determine your belief in success. Storytelling is universal, so gender is not a factor. My only other bit of advice should you want to pursue photography is to shoot. A lot. And then shoot some more. Never stop honing your craft. There is always more to learn.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Margaret Soss Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
My studio is primarily focused on wedding photography and portraiture. It is the main vein, our absolute jam, and we are really good at it. I have a small team that works with me and they are amazing at what they do. I wish I could take solo credit for everything wedding that comes from MSP, but I am truly backed by incredible people. I produce images that are typically outside the box. Many brides seek to be on trend when they plan their big days, and I respect that totally. But the MSP approach is different. I create visual stories that are a little darker, a little more unique, and have been specifically sought after in Southern California (and beyond!) for just those reasons. I have made a name for myself as an offbeat storyteller.
I prefer a collaborative approach to my work. I want my clients to be a heavy part of the process and aesthetic for each project, whether it’s a wedding, a family session, or a graduating senior. I want them to see themselves as more than just subjects. I also want each person I shoot to have an experience that transcends their images! People tend to remember how you made them feel more than the work you produced. I love that.
When I’m not shooting love stories I’m shooting everything else. I have a particular love of landscapes and desert towns as it allows for me to careen around in far flung places. I am never so happy than when I’m on some unmarked road with some cold tea and a classic rock playlist blaring. Pure bliss!
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
As previously mentioned, my field has historically been dominated by men. And photographers in general tend to be a mercurial bunch (artists, remember?), so it has been my experience that those who rise to the top are those who embrace the industry in an inclusive way, those who are collaborative and want to share their knowledge. As a woman I feel it imperative that we support each other’s successes, regardless of field. There is power in numbers. We should pay homage to those who blazed trails before us and recognize how much more difficult we would have things without their pioneering efforts. Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in heels. I find this to be a fairly accurate representation of the continued struggles women have in male dominated professions. But there is hope, friends! The generation we are raising now seem to understand far better than their predecessors how to shape a world that recognizes talent in all races, creeds, and genders. The best I can do is to keep kicking ass and working tirelessly to show the up and comers that what matters most is the skill and dedication that you bring to the table.
Pricing:
- Weddings packages begin $3500
- Hourly rates for individual or family sessions begin at $400
- We offer a wide variety of product and print options – prices vary
Contact Info:
- Website: www.margaretsoss.com
- Phone: 310-994-7478
- Email: photos@margaretsoss.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsossphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaretsossphotography/
Image Credit:
Margaret Soss Photography
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