Michelle McSwain
Q What do you do?
“I create images that reflect my personal approach towards life - whimsical, colorful, and lighthearted.”
My photography is an extension of how I view the world - a place to marvel in color and wonder. I strive to not take life too seriously and have this sentiment come across in my work. My focus is on capturing lifestyle, portraits, product, and commercial images.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I'm a really good mix between fun and responsible, creative but logical, and I have a knack for befriending pretty much anyone I meet.
In the creative field, I have found that it's hard to find a good balance between these areas. Running a business requires me to be responsible, communicative, and organized but being creative also requires imagination, energy, and vision. I think I stand out because through years of experience I've been able to walk the fine line between bringing my creative vision to a project while also managing all the logistics to see it to fruition. And I do so by being fun and friendly which I've found is key for a successful shoot and working environment.
Q What are you working on right now?
Recently, I revamped my website with all new work and have begun digging more into my personal projects. Through the pandemic, I became a mom of two and have loved seeing how this new role in my life is shaping my perspective. It's been a deep and meaningful challenge and I have been exploring this through my current personal project called "Motherhood and Coffee Shops".
Q What’s your style?
Fun, lighthearted, bright, and colorful. I love working with people and incorporating human elements into my work.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Build and design pitch decks/treatments for me and set up meetings with agencies. Oh, and a private chef. Not sure if you can get one of those for $20/hr but I sure would love to have some tasty and fresh food easily available all day long...I mean, don't we all want this?
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I believe in saying daily affirmations deeply. I have found them to be the foundation for setting my day up for success and also achieving big goals I set for myself. I wish this was something I would have made time for and been consistent with years ago.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Photography (lifestyle, portrait, product, commercial, e-comm) and directing opportunities
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client is American Eagle/AERIE. I love their brand, their mission statement, and their campaigns. I am a mix of loving to photograph fitness, showcasing all types of bodies and people as well as getting silly and capturing fun moments with kids.
Q What is your rate?
Sample Pricing for Projects:
*These are only samples and vary greatly based on the project, client, and deliverables*
Final deliverables vary per project
Headshots/Portraits: $350 min (30min shoot, 4 retouched images)
1/2 day photography for small brands: $750
Full day photography for small brands: $2,000 (range varies depending on project)
Full day photography for large brands: TBD
This member profile was originally published in February 2019, Updated October 2023.