Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa O’Gara.
Hi Melissa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve loved photography for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I used to pour over my parents’ National Geographic magazines. In my travels to Peru and throughout Europe, I tried to tell the story of the people and places I was visiting. But it wasn’t until my daughter became a pre-professional ballerina that I realized I could put my photography skills and passion to work. My daughter and her friends often needed headshots and posed pictures for auditions and social media. Since then, I have photographed ballerinas and ballets for promotional work. My work has expanded into senior portraits, headshots, family lifestyle pictures, and even landscape and nature photography.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the main struggles I face is self-promotion in an oversaturated market. Since everyone has a smartphone with a great camera, it can be difficult for many to see the difference between a phone photo and a photographer’s photo. The equipment I was using was also a challenge. At first, I started with used camera gear and quickly found that I needed to upgrade. I was using a used, top-of-the-line lens for a senior photoshoot, and it died on me in the middle of the shoot! Thankfully my other lenses got me through, but that was the moment I knew I had to invest in new, more reliable equipment.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business is really a family affair. Often my husband and kids will serve as my assistants or models as needed. Most of my work started with me taking pictures of ballerinas and ballet performances. In the past year, however, I have been asked to do more senior portraits, headshots, and special events. My work is different in that it is almost entirely on location outdoors in the natural light. It is extremely important to me that the client is represented as they want to be seen and I try to convey the person’s character and unique qualities. Ballerinas tend to be perfectionists, and I have grown to have that same mindset for my work.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I belong to numerous online photography groups and find that the support and advice other photographers offer is invaluable. There are many kind and generous professionals and serious hobbyists that willingly offer their expertise, and I am grateful for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: melissaogara6.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaogara.photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.ogara/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjskates
- Other: melissa-ogara.pixels.com
