We’re looking forward to introducing you to Michelle McSwain. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Michelle, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
This might sound like a cliche, but right now, spending time with my kids (3 and 6) is bringing me joy. This is a big one for me because it’s taken all of 6 years to finally feel/find joy in being a parent. For me, the baby and toddler stages felt like a slog. I found it incredibly hard to balance being the parent I wanted to be while also having the career I wanted. At every turn, all these years, I felt I was lacking in one of those areas. It’s taken so many years of searching for the joy and good times in parenthood and then, one day, in the past few months, I woke up and realized, I had kids now- not babies/toddlers…and I loved it. They’re so fun and a little more independent and I’ve been able to show up as my best self while also having my career. Some people might disagree with this but, it feels important to share in case there is a parent on the other side of this, slogging through the sleepless nights and wondering if it will ever get easier and fun…I swear, it really does. I’m deeply grateful for my children and what they continue to teach me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Michelle and I am a photographer who focuses on capturing joyful and colorful moments with people. I have created images for brands such as Girl Scouts USA, SPANX, Meta, JBL, Boxed Water and several others. Before going full time freelance with my own commercial photography, I was working as a pre-production photo editor for The New York Times TStyle Magazine as well as Yahoo.
I have a deep love for connecting with people and also having fun. I love dogs of all sizes (especially my baby Julep), wine tastings on sunny days, any kind of cake, swimming pools of any shape, beach naps, vegan ramen, Barry’s Bootcamp, warm sunbeams, and super blue skies.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My dad. He never doubted me and always gave me space to pursue my passions and wild dreams, like moving alone to New York City at 21 or investing the first $10k in the first business I started. He’s believed in me even when I didn’t always believe in myself. He’s always encouraged my entrepreneurial spirit and saw the best in me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I actually have “given up” before and it was one of the best decisions of my life. After spending eight years working on a tech start-up focused on photography, with several investors and experiencing massive ups and downs, my partners and I finally decided to stop/dissolve the business. It was heartbreaking and terrifying, as I had no idea what I was going to do next, but we had also let down all our investors. It was a really dark time in my life and I felt so down and lost. Out of that, though, I had the time and space to focus on my own photography, which led me to grow my portfolio, get clients, and now shoot for global brands. It’s definitely not been a straight and easy path, but I’m so grateful for all that I learned from my first business and for having the courage to walk away and build something better.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Being kind and considerate, at all costs, to all people. I really try to live this.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
When I book a job with an exciting or dream client, I am certainly tap dancing to work! I’ve had this experience several times now and each time validates that being on set and shooting is exactly what I love to do. When these opportunities come in, I feel elated and honored to help a client bring a vision to life and I take to the job with excitement and passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michellemcswain.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellemcswain/
