Daily Inspiration: Meet Madison Stringfellow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Stringfellow.

Hi Madison, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I spent my childhood posing my toy dolls together, documenting everything in my fleeting youth, and taking “professional photos” of anyone who would let me.

By the eighth grade, I had acquired my first DSLR camera. I brought it to class, school functions, the neighborhood park, the pool, etc. I was the weird camera girl.

I experimented with my creativity for years and began working as a nanny and lifeguard to save money. Summer of 2014, I was entering my junior year of high school. I used my summer break to purchase better equipment and build my portfolio with free portrait sessions. I obtained a website domain and designed my first site. I began marketing my business on social media.

By the fall of 2014, I was generating profit. I continued to nanny and lifeguard while taking on any photo sessions I could book. My time was limited by high school and two jobs. My dream was to work for myself full-time.

I had become inspired to travel the world after high school. I aspired to understand the world and document it to process and share. I hoarded money and cultivated my freelancing skills throughout the second half of high school.

Upon graduation in 2016, I left for Australia. I have since visited 32 countries, across 6 continents, along with 35/50 U.S. States. While I was traveling, I documented experiences and knowledge, maintaining my focus on photography and writing.

In 2017, I spent time in Raleigh growing my business and skillset while beginning to remotely study for a degree. I traveled often.

January of 2018, I drove across the United States to Los Angeles, California. I survived in Los Angeles for several months, networking and testing my skills in a saturated market. The reality of day-to-day life in Los Angeles caused a longing for more global experiences. I used the last of my savings to attempt and achieve a goal of visiting twenty countries before I turned twenty years old.

By 2019, I established a system of traveling back and forth from Raleigh to Los Angeles to maintain relationships in both cities. I continued international travel and published my first book, Compass Diaries by Madison Stringfellow.

I naively set off to Asia in mid-January of 2020. I made it less than six weeks before being escorted onto a plane back to the United States due to the global pandemic. I was working on photojournalism projects.

During the first half of 2020, my business struggled to generate income. I put my focus into my studies. I neglected the book I published. Publishing a few articles and blog posts was the highlight of my writing career. I achieved my TESOL certification and taught English online in my free time.

After several months, I decided to drive back to Los Angeles and take a chance at an opportunity to upgrade my abilities and resilience with business, networking, and photography. I took my time returning to the West Coast and exhausted myself by visiting national parks along the way for five weeks.

From 2020 – 2021, I completed long-term and short-term photography work in several major cities across the United States.  

At the beginning of this year (2022), I traveled to South America to complete my undergraduate thesis with an independent study. I long-awaited the couple of months I resided in Peru and Colombia. I won a research award and traveled to Serbia for another photojournalism project. I obtained a degree in International Affairs from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Today, Raleigh is where my base is for my portrait business. I am scaling my portrait business one day at a time, with plans to integrate a copywriting sector. I have stacks of ideas to cultivate, and I am enthusiastic to move forward!

I am currently taking portrait session bookings for Raleigh, North Carolina, and surrounding areas through December 2022!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The challenges began almost immediately. Throughout my teenage years, I was bullied and mocked by my peers for my work. More difficult challenges include sexual harassment, fearing for my safety, and predatory scammers.

Being a young woman in a male-dominated industry has brought obstacles. I have struggled with disrespect and scrutiny of my business processes and photography skills. 

Ages 16-20, I learned lessons the hard way with clients who refused to pay or didn’t show up. I spent those years completing projects, earning an average of $10 an hour, only for individuals to become aggravated that an 18-year-old thought she was worthy enough to be charging $150 for a one-hour photo session.

Those who have never engaged in operating a small business, don’t recognize the cost of doing business. 30% of my income is put directly back into my business to maintain it. My rates reflect my skills, years of experience as a photographer, quality equipment, editing software, marketing, website, photo storage, travel cost and time, booking software, credit card processing fees, taxes, admin and customer service, time at the session, and time culling and editing your gallery (2-6 hours).

It has been a challenge to effectively manage cash flow. Nine months out of twelve, I have a reliable and sustainable stream of income. The disproportionate amount of self-generated income can be tedious to organize efficiently.

Example: 

January = X
May = 11X
September = 5X
October = 11X

The goal is to achieve my cost of living at X, my lowest earnings month of the year.

Photography is one of those crafts that appears simple on the surface but has a colossal iceberg of layers lurking below. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is people won’t take you seriously until you take yourself seriously. With anything in life, there are hindrances and challenges. I wouldn’t have done anything differently!

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 overwhelmed by the avenues of photography. The niches. The styles. There is a special importance for photography in society. 

I recently completed two exceptionally rewarding photojournalism projects. I am inspired to construct a humanitarian photography portfolio and apply my knowledge of international affairs to the projects.

Portrait photography will remain the occupational focus for now. Over the years, I have gathered enough data to manage the yearly workflow of being a professional photographer.

The demanding seasons are (April – June) and (September – December). In the off-season months, I travel, write, study, and improve business strategies.

I have directed nearly 600 photo sessions over several years with an upward trend each season. It is a continuous balance of nurturing business practices and the creativity of photography.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I am a jump and grow wings on the way down kind of person. Any goal, not just with business and photography, is a combination of acquiring knowledge and applying that knowledge with action steps.

I studied a completely different field at university, but I am successful with my photography business.

There are surplus resources available for anyone interested in business or photography. I worked with a business coach to scale my strategies, but the bulk of my knowledge is from years of trial and error.

If you are not yet in a place where you can hire a formal mentor/coach, consider online courses and books! Start by writing down every question you can think of and then chip away with your own research, answering each question.

I recommend joining social media groups relevant to your niche and following entrepreneurs/artists that inspire and resonate with you!

Pricing:

• Single Portrait Session starting at $255
• Group Portrait Session starting at $320
• Events starting at $300
• Brand Content starts at $300

Contact Info:

• Website: www.madisonstringfellow.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/heystringfellow
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/Compass-Diaries-Madison-Stringfellow/dp/1095886339