Conceptual Photography

Hi! I’m Melinda from Melinda Mae Photography. I started photography when we moved to Belgium many years ago.  I was lonely and needed something to do, and I’d always loved taking pictures. But I could not take a portrait to save my life.

I started practicing on the neighbor kids, and finding online free things on how to edit in Photoshop. As I learned how to photograph others, and then later my own kids, I realized that my heart was no longer into only documenting them playing on the playground or in the woods. I was leaning more towards conceptual photography work.

What is Conceptual Photography?

“Conceptual photography is all about ideas, symbols, and themes. It’s the perfect way to express yourself and make the most of your creative freedom. For good conceptual photography, you have to come up with an original idea. Then you have to edit your results in a way that communicate your vision.” https://expertphotography.com/conceptual-photography/

And so, my photography journey took a turn. I love the storytelling ability in conceptual photography. I can create images that aren’t right in front on me, but that I can visualize pictures in my head. Then, I figure out how to make them come out on my screen, or by playing around with a print of an image that I have created. It is pretty fun and cool to see where a picture began and what the end result is. There are definitely things I still struggle with in Photoshop. But by playing around with an image either digitally or in physical form, I am able to get a result that is uniquely mine (and I mean how cool is that?).

Conceptual Photography Isn’t Always Self Portraits

Conceptual photography doesn’t have to be self-portraits. I have chosen to do self-portraits because I am always around. My kids are not as patient with me. And I enjoy working through the images. Sometimes I will sketch out an image and other times I just have an idea that comes to existence after I shoot. I don’t always get what I am looking for and that is okay. It is about trying something that stretches my thinking and also my photography.
I hope that I have piqued your interest into a different type of photography. One that involves imagination and vision. My new Hello Storyteller course dives into my process and how I work through concepts to create images. I would love it if you would take a chance and come and play with me and see what you can create.

You can find the course here!

And you also can find me on Instagram!