Life & Work with Mj White of Phoenix Arizona

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mj White

Hi MJ, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Nashville and started taking photos in high school. I did a project on color theory and took a series of portraits that portrayed the science and emotions behind each color. I immediately fell in love with the chaos of planning, styling and shooting. It was the perfect creative outlet and I ended up switching my major to photography a couple weeks before starting college. In school, I found a new love for the look and process of developing film. During COVID I even taught myself how to develop film at home. While I mainly shoot digital now, I’ve found that my editing style is heavily inspired by the look/feeling you get from film photography. I did a lot of assisting and shooting on my own throughout college, and made the move to Arizona in 2022. Building clientele in a new city was very daunting, but after 2 years I get to work on something I love everyday.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I decided I wanted to take photography more seriously, it definitely wasn’t as smooth as I had hoped. For months, my work schedule was constantly changing and it became difficult to find the time and energy to figure out where to start. When I was ready to shoot again, I felt so removed from any sort of personal style. I wasn’t even 100% sure I knew what I wanted to shoot anymore. I knew I needed to reassess my portfolio and ended up completely rebuilding it. I knew booking anything that interested me would be difficult with nothing to show for it yet. I’m so grateful for the people who took a chance!
Starting from scratch was terrifying, but I knew it would solidify which direction to take.
(And of course slow season! Arizona summer is no joke!)

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in portraiture and editorial-style photography. I think what sets me apart the most is the relationships I build with my clients. Getting to hear so many people’s stories is one of the best parts of my job. Not only does it create a fun environment, but it also makes the photos feel so much more engaging and genuine. Nothing makes me more proud than showing someone an image of themself that they absolutely love.

How do you think about happiness?
My family and my friends make me the happiest and motivate me more than anything. Almost all of my friends and family have been roped into modeling for me at some point. My mom is a business owner and has been my biggest inspiration since starting this journey.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @halfpeach

Image Credits
Oscar Villanueva