Welcome to our Champion the Creators interview series with influencers of all niches to highlight their journeys, share their insights and inspire! Today we are talking all about influencing with Madison, a food and photography influencer.
Meet Madison, a food photographer, recipe creator and wellness lifestyle writer. She has 18.5K Instagram followers who see her stunning recipe photos and videos. Throughout her career, she’s been a fashion designer, freelance writer, photographer, and food stylist. We chatted about her unique experience and her life as a traveling photographer who spends her time in the U.K. and the U.S. for work.
Madison has long been a creative. She studied fashion and marketing in college, began her career as a menswear designer and started a blog in 2010. She has also been a wardrobe stylist and a journalist.
“When I say my journey and life has been not A to B or Plan B, it’s always like Plan C, so I just go with flow,” she said.
She decided to transition to photography when the pandemic began.
“I’ve always been interested in photography, but the irony of it is that I used to work with a lot of photographers, but I never thought I’d be one,” she said. “I blogged, and I was doing recipe development, and I just decided to take the leap. And I’ve been doing that professionally now for about three and a half years.”
@ladyofashion Matcha/Moringa tea blend. Tag a tea lover! High antioxidant, liver detoxing and immunity boosting tea! #foodtok #teatoktime #teatok #matcha #smelllikeirishspring #viral #foryoupage #foodphotographer #feedfeed #wellness
♬ BARELY BREATHING - Grant Averill
Madison’s years in the fashion industry have helped her as a food photographer.
“I didn’t have to learn about color theory or composition as much as someone who didn’t know anything because I had already been in the fashion industry, and I had already worked with a lot of brands and art directors,” Madison said.
@ladyofashion Spicy beef chorizo pasta … Quick & delicious! What are YOU having for dinner? #easyrecipes #dinnertonight😊😊😊😊😊 #fyp #ForYouPage #pastalover #pastatiktok #foodontiktok #amsrfood #amsr #Foodtok
♬ Bad Habit - Devin Kennedy
A positive outlook on life has also helped her through major transitions.
“I think what’s helped me is having a good attitude in life in general and then just being grateful for everything.”
Madison’s career as a food photographer keeps her busy traveling for work projects, spending time in places like San Francisco, London, Nashville, California and Toronto, but she feels comfortable moving around.
@ladyofashion A wee herbal infusion of thyme, and whiskey alternative orange amaretto with cardamom bitters! Add a little tonic water or seltzer … It’s amazing! 🥃 Make this mocktail and more with a hint of cinnamon or swap out thyme and use hibiscus! So versatile!Sign-up for my wellness series for healthy recipes and more! [Link in my bio]__#mocktails #wellnesscocktails #cocktails #fyp #cocktailsanddrinks #wellness #mocktailsummer #blacktok #foodphotographer #foryoupage #recipes
♬ Ring the Alarm x Vegas - Hunny Bee 😈
“I’m from a military family, so that’s home for me. That’s just something I’ve been used to, something I grew up doing,” she said.
Her goal is to grow her photography business and potentially create a cookbook.
@ladyofashion This delicious mint-coriander yoghurt will elevate so many of your dishes! A favourite sauce to go on top of grilled veggies, lamb, chicken, etc. __ #fyp #foryou #easyrecipe #dinnerideas #foodtok #foodietiktok #blackfoodie #foryoupage #sauce #recipesoftiktok #plantbased #meatlessmonday
♬ original sound - Global Dance Supreme
“I would love to do more editorial work in the photography and styling arena. I think because once you’ve had a taste of that, you either love it or you don’t. And I found such a love with that, and I found a sort of sweet spot with that, so I would love to get more into that.”
Her advice for aspiring influencers is that it doesn’t have to be a full-time income. It’s OK to have multiple sources of income.
“I think if you’re an influencer and you can make that full-time, brilliant, but for me, it’s just another means of getting to where I really want to be. But for my business, I love to do more of that. So that’s what I’m in the process of doing right now.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Marette Flora is IZEA’s Content Manager. She writes and edits content about influencer marketing and all the latest #TeamIZEA happenings. When she is not at work, she can be found writing her personal blog, crafting personalized gifts or exploring Chicago where she lives with her husband, two daughters, dog and plants.
