Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Lucio.
Megan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My interest in photography began when I purchased my first digital camera when I was a sophomore in high school. I was constantly photographing every day life and the beauty that surrounded me. I would spend hours on end in photoshop creating with the images I had captured! It was always something I loved to do but I never considered it possible to be a career, so I kind of kept it on the back burner as just a hobby I loved. I went to a vocational high school with a choice of Health Occupations as my shop, with the hopes of becoming a nurse after graduating. I spent many years working in the field as a nursing assistant after graduating in 2006, with a focus on elderly care and those affected by Alzheimers Disease. In these years, my love grew more and more for photography, so family and friends influenced me to go to Photography school. As crazy as I thought it was – I enrolled in the New England School of Photography’s professional photography program!
School started in 2009, where I majored in Portraiture and minored in Architecture. After graduating in 2010, I worked three jobs and busted my butt photographing on location and in clients homes getting all of the photo work I could! As time moved on, I found myself becoming busier and busier and I was able to make photography my main source of income. I opened up my first studio in my hometown at the age of 25. Five years later, I have left that studio and built a brand new space at our home, remaining in Avon. The last 8 years in business have been a lot of hard work and dedication, but I wouldn’t change it for a thing! I am so looking forward to what the future holds and am forever grateful for my amazing clients and a wonderful support system.
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?
Definitely not! Working two other jobs outside of running a business was exhausting. There is so much more to photography than just pushing a button, and it takes a lot of time to learn the ins and outs of running a business. There are times, I am replying to emails at 12:30 in the morning because I simply just can’t shut my brain off. That is one thing I wish I was better at! Time management is huge and I have struggled with it all of these years and sometimes still do, though I do feel like I am at the point where I can be a little more flexible with keeping weekends to myself once in a while to enjoy the things I love to do outside of photography with family and friends!
We’d love to hear more about Megan Belanger Photography.
My main focus is portraiture and weddings. I photograph lots of babies and families! Weddings are on a limited basis which I am lucky enough to photograph with my husband Matt who I met at photography school! I have always been strictly natural light, and my work has a light and airy feel to it, with a little bit of whimsical too. I love a mix of candid and posed images but always keep it real. I want people to feel a sense of happiness when looking at my images, whether it’s a photo of a toothless baby grinning, or a newly engaged couple is in love!
Which women have inspired you in your life?
In the photography world, there are so many inspiring women. Sometimes, I find it hard to keep up with all of the amazing ladies out there crushing entrepreneurship! One, in particular, is Heidi from Heidi Hope Photography. I think she may have been one of the first photographers I found online in photo school and said, “wow” this lady is good. She is a natural light photographer and is known worldwide for her beautiful portrait work and amazing studio sets. A wonderful and generous teacher on top of that – she is someone who is a huge inspiration in the portrait world. Another inspiration is Alison Winterroth. Her simple and timeless work is a favorite of mine!
Contact Info:
- Address: 357 East Main St
Avon, MA 02322 - Website: www.meganbelangerphoto.com
- Phone: 508-468-6004
- Email: megan@meganbelangerphoto.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/meganbelangerphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/meganbelangerphotography
Image Credit:
Sweet Connolly Photography
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