Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Gabriel.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Melissa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I, like many of my generation, have always had a passion for photography. It wasn’t until about 2011 that I took this passion to the next level. I went from just taking my camera to parties and events, to carrying it with me everywhere I went. I lived in NYC up until a year and a half ago when my husband and I moved to New England. I had a pretty hefty commute to work from Queens into Manhattan but I still made it a point to wake up and hour and a half earlier than normal at least twice a week to spend some time walking around the city taking photos. Suddenly, I became a morning person. This passion only grew with time and led me to portrait photography. I started sharing my work on social media and soon started going on portrait meets. I have encountered so many talented and interesting people through my photography and a lot of these people have become my close friends. It started as a hobby and grew into my way of life.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anyone has a smooth road. I think art (in any form) is not done because it is easy. It’s such an internal and personal creation that you never feel is good enough. So, it becomes an emotional process and sometimes even an obsession. If it’s something you truly have a passion for you will have highs and lows and highs again and still not feel it’s perfect. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to the same spots over and over because I felt like the shot wasn’t perfect.
If you are lucky enough to find a passion. Learn it, practice it, take risks and understand that you will never stop learning and evolving.
What should we know about Mimi Gabes? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Photography is not my career, I am actually a video editor. I have found that I am at my best when I am able to tell a visual story. I don’t know that I specialize in any one thing other than a project really needs to catch my eye for me to put my time into it. Because when I am working on something I love, I will work on it day and night until I feel it is great.
As a video editor, I am most proud of the diversity of projects I have worked on. I have worked on jobs from super bowl commercials and award-winning short films to documentaries and investigative television.
As a photographer, I am most proud of the self-discipline that I’ve developed and the amount of growth I’ve made in the art. I don’t think I am the best at it by any means but what I do makes me happy and being able to have a creative outlet that makes me feel great is more than I can ask for.
I believe for one being a woman sets me apart. I also believe my upbringing, culture and the places I’ve lived have a lot to do with how I see things. I am a New York City-born Puertorican, Indo – Jamaican, Colombian – American. I was raised in Puerto Rico, moved back to Manhattan as a teen and now live in Maine. So many different experiences, people, and sights and I carry them inside of me.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
Well, to state the obvious you have to work twice as hard to get there. I have been very lucky to have been surrounded by strong women my entire life. I was raised by a single mom. Went to an all-girls high school where the teachers really enforced how much we as women can really achieve and my mother in law owns two businesses in a male-dominated industry (construction). So, I have seen firsthand that women, in general, have to work harder and be tougher than their male counterparts. But, I have also seen first hand what women can do when they REALLY have to. One of the biggest challenges I believe is simply believing you can do it and you are worthy of it. I am a true believer that we can be one of our biggest obstacles.
Contact Info:
- Website: melissamariephoto.com/blog
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mimigabes/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelissaGabes
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-u4eMpaPGHWH1rr5tNsaUA
Image Credit:
Greg Gabriel, Lacey Wilson
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