Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Hubbs.
Hi Madison, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started photography in college at Liberty University. It all started with a social media management job, which led to me learning the basics of photography. Then, I shot a few grad sessions, and Madison Hubbs Photography was born. I started out doing shoots and weddings in VA during the school year and then in East TN when I was home for the summers. Over the last four years, it’s grown into my full time job!
While planning my own wedding I realized how much effort and thought is put into every single detail of the day. I think it’s only fair that brides are able to have a photographer that puts just as much time and thought into capturing all the details! My clients only get to live their wedding day once, and it may be the only time all of their friends and family are together in the same place at the same time. There are people photographed at my wedding that are no longer living and I cherish those photos deeply. Because of my personal experience as a bride with my phenomenal photographer, I see it as my responsibility to help preserve those memories with the bride & groom’s favorite people forever.
I moved to the San Diego area a couple of years ago for my husband’s job in the military, so I moved my business right along with me. Through the goodness of the Lord, kind recommendations from my amazing clients, and the power of Instagram, my business grew beyond just Southern California. I am honored to get to do amazing shoots not only at the stunning beaches of San Diego, but to also travel the country to photograph people’s biggest moments. Some of my favorite places I’ve been able to travel to take photos are Yosemite, Catalina Island, Michigan, North Carolina, Montana, and Hawaii.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This journey has been all-consuming, ever since I decided I wanted my “side hustle” to become the main hustle. I am so grateful for the community of photographers I came from in East TN, and their commitment to cheering each other on, despite being “competitors” in the same industry. I’ve also met a lot of photographers in San Diego that take the same approach. Building a business that serves its clients well and runs efficiently is a challenge, and it requires a lot of research, investment, trial and error, and mentorship from peers that have been in this business longer than me.
The biggest challenge was marketing to an entirely new part of the country when we found out we were headed to CA. Leaving my current client base behind in TN and VA, it was scary to start over in a new place and hope that people would not only find me, but choose me over the thousands of other photographers in SoCal. Once again, the Lord was faithful to provide some wonderful clients who told their friends who told their friends, and so on! Social media is a wonderful tool for marketing in specific locations, but boy I could not be more grateful for clients that recommend me to their friends!
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 am primarily a couple’s and wedding photographer. I photograph a lot of proposals, engagement sessions, weddings of course, and elopements too! This is where my passion truly lies. To me, marriage is such a special thing that we get to witness and experience. My wedding day was such a special day as I got to enter into the covenant of marriage with my sweet husband! I see my client’s wedding days the same way! It’s a big deal and deserves to be celebrated!
I also do quite a few senior sessions, family sessions, and maternity sessions each year, and those are equally as special to me. I think it is important to be grateful in each season and see the ways the Lord has blessed us, so I love getting to capture people’s memories in various seasons.
One of my favorite parts of this job is to help people see themselves the way others see them. So many of the inquiries that I receive mention that they’ve never had professional photos taken, or they aren’t super comfortable in front of the camera. I get that, and I see it as my job to make my clients feel comfortable by encouraging them and providing direction. I’m there to tell their story, to preserve their memories. I think the thing that makes me feel the most proud and like I have done my job correctly is when I deliver a gallery and I get responses or reviews like these:
– “You CRUSHED. We are absolutely amazed. Wow… couldn’t be more perfect. You truly captured the joy we felt. So candid and sweet.”
– “I’m emotional looking at these photos. I’ll say it over and over again. You are AMAZING! We can’t get over how amazing and beautiful these photos are…Thanks again my friend!”
– “During the shoot, Madison was not only kind and encouraging but also incredibly skilled. She guided us through countless poses while effortlessly capturing our most candid, natural moments. Her ability to balance direction with spontaneity made the entire experience feel seamless and special. Me and my fiancé are both camera shy and a little stiff-awkward but she made us SO comfortable and I cannot emphasize how nicely the pictures turned out. Honestly, go check out her portfolio on her website; I didn’t think I could ever look like the other ppl in her website, but the results exceeded all my expectations. She is a beast! Madison is truly a gem, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. Thank you so much, Madison!”
– “Madison is INCREDIBLE!! When my fiance proposed, he surprised me with an engagement photo shoot by Madison and she went completely above and beyond! She was highly skilled at keeping the whole moment a surprise while my fiance got down on one knee and still captured the key moment beautifully! Afterwards she guided us through so many great shots, paying close attention to detail and helping us with our poses the whole time. Her turnaround time with the preview photos was literally so fast. She is so professional and will make even those who may not feel comfortable in front of the camera feel VERY comfortable! You have to book Madison!”
My goal is not only for my clients to love the final product, but also to love the experience. So when they say that it was so fun having photos taken AND they love the gallery, I feel like I’ve given them the best possible experience.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My parents cheer me on, share my Facebook posts, hand out my business cards, tell every engaged person they know that their daughter photographs weddings, and so much more. They have always encouraged me in my entrepreneurial endeavors. When I was a kid and would start little businesses like lemonade stands and an at-home “spa” with their own supplies and then ask them to be my paying customers, they would participate and encourage me.
My husband, Joshua, has always been in my corner and challenged me to be the best that I could be. He often gets dragged to shoots that I book on our vacations and ends up carrying my gear around, but he never seems to mind. He also tells everyone he knows that is dating or engaged to book with me. He’s constantly encouraging me to invest in this business and to serve my clients as best as I possibly can.
Hannah Murray Karr is a sweet and talented friend from high school who has mentored me in this business along the way. She started her photography business in high school, and she photographed my own wedding. She let me shadow her so I could get experience in posing and directing a session, taught me how to edit, constantly encourages me, and helped me navigate moving my business. She has been such a cheerleader and friend, all the way from East TN.
I am also grateful for my time at Liberty University studying Integrated Communications. The connections I made and experiences I had there are still impacting my personal life as well as my career. Through my studies there, I learned how to build a brand, market myself, and effectively communicate my mission.
Every single client I have ever worked with has also been a huge part of shaping this business. Every follow, like, share, review, and recommendation means the world to me.
Last but certainly not least, I am so grateful for the Lord and His faithfulness to provide incredible clients all over the country. He gave me this gift of capturing people’s special moments, and He deserves all the glory.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.madisonhubbsphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madisonhubbsphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077992121907
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadisonHubbsPhoto
