Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Fossum.
Melissa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I graduated from ASU with a BA in film and media production in 2010. My final year was dedicated to a capstone film project. Concerts were a great way to relieve stress. I started reviewing concerts and discovered my passion. I loved doing the reviews and knew my stories would be even better with high quality photography. I bought a Canon XS and began requesting photo passes. I slowly upgraded my gear and continued honing my craft. I combined lessons I learned in film school with practice and experimentation. As the years progressed, I defined my style. I also see it as ever evolving. I’m great at anticipating special moments. I love shooting events like concerts because there are so many unknowns and no two shows are identical. I can go in with a general idea of how it will play out based on previous experience with the venue and looking up live photos of that musician. I never know what the specific lighting situation will be or how the musician is feeling. Perhaps all the elements are right, but the crowd’s energy is off. Sometimes you have the perfect storm of everything going right and end up with a phenomenal, career-defining photograph. Other times, you’re adapting to making the most of the limited time you have with a subject. Thanks to concerts, I’ve become a pro at shooting in low light. It’s a great skill to apply to other disciplines. Shooting in low light helps me be more discrete when shooting a shy toddler. Stealth helps me blend in while trying to capture candid moments.
Has it been a smooth road?
The biggest challenge has been an oversaturated market. I think film school helped prepare me for how difficult it is to work as a photographer. In order to pursue a fun career, you must demonstrate your value and fight for it. There are so many hobbyists out there who will work for free. Photography is also a bit of a luxury. It’s a nice thing to have, but not everybody can afford to hire a photographer for every birthday. I think a lot of people get discouraged after they had a family member shoot their wedding for free, because it leaves a bad taste in their mouth for the industry. I’ve set myself apart through empathy. I understand that my services are a luxury, but in the years to come, it’s worth every penny to preserve the memories. We as humans are constantly growing and evolving and changing. Photography is a way to capture and preserve a moment in time. It’s been incredible to capture first birthdays, weddings, and portraits knowing that these photos will be cherished by people for the rest of their lives.
Please tell us more about your work.
I’m a bit of a photographic mercenary- I do it all! The common denominator is people. My first love is concerts. When I started shooting, I was able to photograph musicians I had looked up to, which is amazing! That feeling never gets old. I branched out to taking candid photos of people enjoying concerts. I started asking people to pose for photos as a part of my duties at Phoenix New Times. I’m very extroverted and love meeting new people. It was cool to expand beyond my indie and punk circle. When I think of who I was in 2010, I don’t think I would have necessarily gone out of my way to attend a rave or fashion show. I’m so glad my contributions to New Times, Arizona Republic, Echo Mag have given me opportunities to go pretty much wherever people were hanging out. It helped refine my interests. Now I adore fashion and love how my music tastes have shifted more toward pop and rap.
Prior to COVID-19, I would photograph two to four events a week. I met a lot of people and quickly realized that interacting with people at events is a great way to pass the time, network, and even make new friends. I’m a very loud and smiley person who stands out in a crowd. I think everybody is interesting in their own away. I feel like me being so bubbly helps loosen up clients’ nerves.
A lot of the personal touch and impact of my photography comes from post production. I make light cosmetic edits to my subjects. I want my work to look natural. I’ve heard so many people complain about looking fat in photos. I think being a fat woman helps break the ice. I love being in photos, which is tough when I’m the one behind the camera. I feel like I’ve become a pro at taking selfies. The key is not taking it too seriously.
Whenever I spot someone who looks uncomfortable, I try to break the ice with humor. I dispel the “I’m too fat” comments by giving pro tips on how to pose. The things that make a person look thinner are what also make them appear more confident. It’s all about good posture and attitude.
With post production, I keep people as they are. I think about the photos I select as selfies. I grew bored of having a mechanical, fake smile. The shots where I’m truly smiling and cracking up about a weird face, I just made are the winners, even if I wish my face was a bit thinner.
During quarantine, I worked to clear the 30,000 photos I had stored on my phone. It was a bit of a pain, but also a great way to go down memory lane. I realized that the best pictures of me were the ones where I was ‘ugly laughing’ versus copying poses I’d seen online.
My ultimate goal with photography is capturing people exactly as they are. The end result always impresses my clients. I think my people skills are really what makes my work shine. During shoots, I’m able to make people laugh and tell great stories, which is a way to help bring their guard down so that I can get a beautiful snapshot of their true self.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think it’s only going to get harder. My strategy is the same as it’s always been- adapt. My newspaper work has steadily been decreasing over the years as budgets are slashed, staffers are laid off, and assignments decrease. I’m afraid to see what the industry looks like after the pandemic. In the short term, I’ve adapted by shifting the focus of my work. I put out a notice to my neighborhood and posted on social media about a porch photography project. I offered to photograph neighbors on their porches as a way to capture them during this strange time as well has help raise some funds. Spring and fall are usually my busiest times of year. My calendar was booked up with event work, but it all disappeared after mid-March. I got creative by working with clients that I could shoot from a distance.
There will always be a need for photography. It’s a critical part of journalism to have a visual representation of the story. People will always have a need for photography. The events will continue one day, and people will continue having birthdays, graduations, weddings, and gatherings. I foresee myself continuing to adapt and finding a way to make it work.
Contact Info:
- Website: melissafossum.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: fossumphoto
Image Credit:
Melissa Fossum
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