Check Out Melissa Dozier’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Dozier.

Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started taking photos at the age of fifteen years old. I remember it like it was yesterday as a yearbook photographer. It’s funny because I remembered how much I didn’t like taking photos of my yearbook class. I pretty much only liked the fact it got me out of class sometimes. My real love for photography started more with Myspace, believe it or not, and yes, with those hilarious selfies of ourselves with all the angles and photos with our friends, haha. I would get so many comments on my photos. I started to take more photos of outside scenery and people. It became an outlet to express myself as a young plus-sized teen. After high school, I had many people reach out and tell me, hey, you have an eye for this. Why don’t you go to school for photography. I was already going to a public college for my AA degree, and I loathed every part of it. I just wasn’t great at school. Actually, at the age of ten, I was diagnosed with SLD (Slow Learning Disability) so every academic class was hard for me, it took me twice as long as a normal student to understand common things, but I worked so hard to get good grades and graduate high school without any special help from the school. So going to school for another four years for some degree I wasn’t sure I wanted was like torture to me. I finally googled one-day “Photograph art schools near me” or something along the lines and found IADT. I was instantly excited to call them and tour with them.

A lot of families had doubts about photography being a career path and if I would make money, but in my mind, after touring the school in my heart, I knew it was the place for me. I enrolled at IADT and met some of the most amazing teachers/ photographers that I am still friends with today. They became mentors and friends, which I am forever grateful to have met. I remember one of my teachers Kathy telling me in my very first class thereafter a project that If I wanted to make it in the photography community I could not give her the same work I just did. She said, “The photography world is hard, and you have to want this and work for it” That day forever changed me as a 19year old. I decided that day I would always work hard and practice until I was good enough and proud of my work and doing this as a job full time. I have replayed that time in the back of my head for the last 12 years and has motivated me numerous times to work harder, be better, and keep my passion alive.

I opened up my business that same year I started school, which I named M.A.D. Images, Inc. I went on to graduate college with my Associates degree and then for my Bachelors In Fine Arts in Digital Photography. Having a business, no matter what the age, has taken a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get to where I am today. I’ve had a lot of help from other photographers that are some of my best friends that also helped mentor me and forever changed my life. I always feel that we should never stop learning and perfecting our craft, and it’s impossible to know everything, so it’s okay to be friends with other photographers in your area and and so important to also support your local photographer friends. The last 11 years being in business has been the hardest, most beautiful time of my life and I’m forever grateful and humbled that time after time I get the coolest most kind couples that trust me to capture their big day, family sessions, newborn sessions, and so on. If this crazy exciting artist life has showed me anything, it’s that all your dreams are possible if you just dream hard enough and keep working towards them no matter how hard it gets. If you believe you will do it, you will. Never ever think differently.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think going into business period is never a smooth road, let alone going into business at a young age. There are things you have to work out as well as prove your worth/value in the photography community and even more so to your clients and future clients. I can tell you no matter how bumpy this road has been, it has and will always be 100% worth it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a wedding photographer located in Tampa, Florida. I travel anywhere my clients take me, and I love what I do so much. I’m most proud of the work and passion I have put forth in my work. Every couple or person who steps in front of my camera means so much to me and I will forever strive to make sure they know this and I always want to show them just how beautiful they truly are. Nothing is better than empowering another human to love themselves and be themselves. The thing that sets me apart from others is my drive and passion for what I do. I live and breathe my business. There isn’t a day that goes by I’m not either talking to a client, trying to make some awesome creative photo happen, or sitting on the computer for hours editing. I always want my couples and clients to know they can count on me when they have a question or need suggestions for their big day or a session.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I use Notes on my iPhone pretty much every day. From putting what session needs to be edited next on a check-off list in the notes app to having a photo shot list on a wedding day, it is 100% my go-to app for my business the most. I also use a lot of Facebook and Instagram to book clients. I’m probably posting on there way too much, but it’s how it works in the wedding business world.

Pricing:

• My wedding collections starting at $2,400

Contact Info:

• Email: melissa@madimagesinc.com
• Website: www.madimagesinc.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/madimagesinc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/madimagesinc
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/MadImagesInc

Image Credits
The portrait of me at the fair was taken by Every Magic Moment- Kristen Marti The rest of the images are my photo’s I captured of my couples or clients.