Meet Micayla Gilligan of Micayla Jean Photography in Eliot, Maine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Micayla Gilligan.

Micayla, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My first memories of photography are when my brother and I were quite young and used to play basketball in the basement. By playing basketball, I mean my brother would dunk on the little tykes hoop and I would photograph him. I had no fancy camera but I was so impressed by the ability of this little tool to freeze motion. When I was in high school, I got my first DSLR as a gift and it was the best thing I ever owned. I was amazed yet again by this tool but this time, I was amazed by its ability to capture super close up images of flowers. I never took any photography classes but it was always something I loved to do in my own time. I think it was a kind of therapy for me.

Growing up, I never thought I was “one of those artsy people”. I played sports and went to school for nutrition (even though my greatest love in life was writing). After graduating college, I bought a car and drove out to Colorado where I lived in Breckenridge for a few years. I spent the next two years, traveling, skiing, meeting all kinds of incredible people, making incredible friends, working odd jobs, blogging, waking up to photograph sunrises on a daily basis and overall just growing more independent, confident, enlightened and amazed by life everyday. I had made a promise to myself to spend my 20s living in new place and never saying no to an opportunity to travel. Although, I wasn’t entirely ready to leave this life in CO, I knew I had another adventure ahead. So, I made a goal to see all 50 states by my 25th birthday. I sold almost everything I owned, packed up my jeep and cruised around the country. I landed in Alaska, my last of the 50 states, two days before my 25th birthday.

About six months before this, I had applied and accepted a work visa to go live in Australia. Five months after landing in Alaska I hopped on a one way flight to Indonesia with intent to travel SE Asia with a final destination of Australia. About a month into my travels, I woke up on an an island in Indonesia at 2 AM, a few hours before I was supposed to hike a volcano and I had an epiphany. I was supposed to go back home to NH. And, I was supposed to start my photography business. So, instead of hopping on my flight to Malaysia the next morning, I boarded a plane for Boston. Today, a year later, I reside in Eliot, Maine and I am the photographer behind the lens at Micayla Jean Photography. I continue to write on my blog beyondmyhome.com and I am currently, in the process of writing my first book. I am obsessed with hearing and telling peoples’ stories and my greatest passion in life is finding a way to relate with everybody I meet.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh jeez, haha! Definitely not smooth as in, this is where I thought I would be. If you had told me a year and a half ago that today, I would be living in New England, dating my childhood neighbor, running a photography business and writing my first book I probably would have said “um what”. If you had told me this five years ago, I would have been so confused. And ten years ago… I’d have been speechless, haha! When I graduated from college, I had a nutrition and food sustainability degree and in my mind, I was confined to a box of choices that were found only in association to what I had spent the last four years studying.

A few years after college, I thought I would just travel spontaneously forever. It was the only thing that made me feel alive and like I was growing. I thought I’d be a writer, too. But photography? Man, did that come out of left field. I can’t even really pinpoint when and why this idea of a photography business came to me. I just love it. I’ve stuck with it. I am good with people. I enjoy learning. And, the support that I have encountered from so many incredible photographers, entrepreneurs, friends and family has just been overwhelming. The biggest struggle I have had is believing in myself sometimes. But again, with the support system I have grown into, it has been almost impossible to give up.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Micayla Jean Photography is run solely by myself. I reside in New England but I am always destination ready. Most recently, my focus is on weddings and I am hoping to move into a direction of mostly elopements and small weddings, specifically with adventurous couples who want to travel or experience their “special day” somewhere out of the ordinary. I’ve always been into doing things “for the story” and doing things that your average person isn’t doing. So, if you or somebody you know wants to get married in the longest tunnel in Europe (it’s near Flam, Norway!!!), situated among breathtaking fjords, in a tiny home (that’d be cute), on top of a volcano in Indonesia or in a giant library… I don’t know!!! Anything! Just send your ideas my way and let’s MAKE IT HAPPEN. The backbone to my business is: “If you saw yourself the way the rest of the world saw you, you’d be astounded by your own beauty”. I’ve struggled with body image and believing that I am beautiful my whole life (as so many of us do), so I understand the fear that often comes along with having your photo taken.

But, I also know that when you see a photo of yourself that you LOVE, that your life can be changed and your attitude about yourself, your beauty can become more positive. I truly believe that my talent as a photographer and an individual with a passion to relate and bring out each persons’ individual beauty is what makes me and my business unique. That is what I am most proud of. That is what sets me apart. And that is what I specialize in. People. Their stories. And how we can connect.

What would be the most memorable experience that you’ve encountered as a photographer?
This past December, I was sitting at my parents’ house in Amherst, NH in the middle of a snow storm and I got a message from a photographer who was in desperate need of a second shooter to accompany her at a wedding on the cliffs of Maine. Her original second shooter did not want to drive in the snow and she needed somebody to commit to being there. Cliffs along the ocean? Snow?! Wedding?!! Who in the actual heck would I be if I’d said no to this adventure. It was indeed the biggest snowstorm of the year, but when a once in a lifetime opportunity arises, you say yes. Not everybody does. But, I do. That is what I am most proud of. My ability and desire to put myself in unique situations. And of course, gain some beautiful work for my wedding portfolio, work with another photographer, make new connections AND get the adrenaline pumping during a white knuckle driving experience. I actually almost got in a really bad car accident driving home after the wedding. My normal 1.5 hour drive took 3 hours just to get halfway home. Fortunately, I had a place to stay along the way. I will not lie that drive was in the top 3 scariest moments of my life. But, I strongly believe that this is life, we have one shot so, let’s make the best of it. Let’s take chances and let’s live as presently as we possibly can. I am proud of that.

Contact Info:

• Website: micaylajean.com
• Phone: 603-345-0311
• Email: micaylagilligan@gmail.com
• Instagram: @micaylaajean
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/micaylajeanphotography/
• Other: beyondmyhome.com

Image Credit:
Alex Brandon – Photo under headline

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