Today we’d like to introduce you to Madi Thiel.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Madi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My whole photography journey started when I moved back to San Diego after going to school in Los Angeles for a few years for animation. I had an early 20’s crisis of what do I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I have never liked sitting behind a desk for eight hours a day. I like to be moving, be creative, and try new things to challenge myself. During this whole process, I had changed my major at least five times, trying to see if something would stick. Nothing did until I picked up my first camera.
After getting settled in, I started to enjoy going to concerts on the regular. I started to listen to all the bands I grew listening to and had a blast! Whenever I would go to a show, I always wanted to take a picture to remember the night, but phones just don’t do it justice. I then saw photographers roaming around the venue. I thought ‘that seems like the raddest job anyone could ever have!’
After that, I started doing my research on cameras, lenses, and how to be a concert photographer. There was just so much to learn. I decided to join the photography team at my church. I was able to gain experience behind the camera as well as working with difficult lighting.
Fast forward a year and a half to where I am now. I have been constantly learning different types of photography, working with bands and building relationships with them, as well as having my work shared. My most recent project was with Isla Vampira, a theatrical haunted house experience where shipwrecked pirates meet vampires.
This past year and a half has been a climb, but I am so in love with the journey. I have been making amazing friends along the way and slowly but surely getting my worked seen by publications and bands posting my work. I can’t wait to see where I’ll be in the next few years!
Great, 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?
The road has definitely not been smooth sailing. In the beginning, you are trying to learn the basics of photography but also trying to be able to work in the field. For me, I was behind the camera as much as I could be. I also interned with Ernie and Fiona Wedding Photography. They helped me take my firsts steps in the photography world and helped teach me different styles of photography like portraits and weddings. In my own time, I played with settings and tried different angles for better ways to capture an image. What I struggled with was editing. The first band I ever took photos for, I had no idea how to edit and boy let me tell you, THE LIGHTING WAS AWFUL! But that’s concert life.
I had nothing but harsh blues, reds, and greens. Lightroom was like a foreign language to me. This is how I learned everything I know now. I threw myself in the deep end because from there I would see if I would sink or swim. Could I handle the pressure of doing something I didn’t know how to do right off the bat but be willing to learn and work at it until I did. I am definitely no pro, but I am proud to see how far I have come.
Another struggle I deal with is getting work. When you’re just starting out, It is hard to really market yourself when you don’t have a portfolio or experience. That is when you ask your friends to take photos of them, wander around your city, or do whatever you can now to build a portfolio for the kind of work you want to do.
It’s hard work, but so worth it. Times will get tough, you will question whether you should keep going. All I can say is keep pushing and working hard for what you love. Never give up!
Please tell us about Madi the Mad Photographer.
I specialize in concert photography. I love capturing moments in time. Just the idea of someone looking at my photos from 100 years from now is wicked! Don’t get me wrong I’m falling on love with doing creative portrait shoots but I’m a candid girl. My best work is capturing the moments in between each pose or a band performing on stage. Taking photos to remember what made that night so special. When you’re on tour, you’re taking photos of the same band every night. To keep the photos from getting repetitive you get yo use your creative mind. Capturing different angles, different emotions, you focus on headshots, wide shots, feet, you name it.
When I’m taking a photo, I don’t just focus on taking a photo, I love to capture emotion and personality. That to me is what helps make a photo come to life. It is not just a picture of someone playing guitar, its a picture of someone playing guitar showing their passion and energy from that night as well.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
You know I haven’t dived into the reading aspect or podcasts yet. When I was working as a wedding photographer I would look at ‘The Photographer’s Guide to Posing: Techniques to Flatter Everyone ‘ by Lisa Adler. For me, I am more of a hands-on learner. I love taking workshops by photographers that I look up to. I was fortunate earlier this year to have been able to attend Adam Elmakias’ workshop in San Diego. I am also going to be taking a few classes in photography so I am looking forward to the literature that I will be reading!
Pricing:
- $250 for 1.5 hours of taking photos plus 25-35 edited photos
- Add ons are an additional fee based on individual requirements
Contact Info:
- Website: www.madithemadphotographer.com
- Email: thielmadeline@yahoo.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/madithemadphotographer
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/madithemadphotographer
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/madithemadphoto
Image Credit:
Dead American, Josh Morico, Gabriel Kuri, Geena Lorenzo, All Hype, At The Skylines, Natural Disasters, Saving the State
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