Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Van Zile.
Madison, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was gifted a camera in 2019 for Christmas my senior year in college to take with me on my upcoming study abroad trip to Italy! I spent the trip figuring out my camera and taking pictures of literally everything. When I got home, my friend asked if I would take her graduation photos with my new camera. Word spread after this first session and I ended up booking over 50 graduation shoots my last semester of college. I also shot my first wedding the following summer! I was able to quit my day job a year later and I’ve been a full-time photographer ever since! I was born and raised in Kentucky and met my husband in college. We both have always entertained the idea of moving to the beach and when our best friends moved here last year… it seemed like a no brainer that now was the time to make the leap! So I slowly stopped taking bookings in Kentucky to prepare for this big business transition to a new state. We’ve been living in Jacksonville Beach since November 2024 and we have absolutely loved every second of it. We’re mad it took us so long to make the move!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have been extremely fortunate with my photography business really falling into my lap. I never really underwent a dry spell of bookings ever since I started charging for sessions and I have always felt surrounded by a wonderful photography community happy to help with any questions I ran into! My biggest obstacle to date as a photographer has been moving to a new state where I don’t really have the name recognition or word of mouth aspect to grow my business here like I did in Kentucky. Which I expected! I’m excited to get started with growing my business in Florida!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Over the years I have photographed truly everything you could imagine. I have found that the photography niche I’m most at home is definitely boudoir photography. I love spending time with women, encouraging them, complimenting them, and creating safe havens for them filled with positive energy and gentle direction to make them feel the most beautiful versions of themselves! It’s just the best. I’m very proud of the business I’ve built and how many women have trusted me over the years to capture them at their most vulnerable. I do not take it lightly and it’s been a huge honor!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the last 5ish years I’ve slowly transitioned to boudoir photography because it’s where I’m happiest and what I love to capture the most. In 5-10 years I hope I am still capturing boudoir sessions and even dabbling into the education space of uplifting and teaching future boudoir photographers! There’s enough room for us all in the industry!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mdvzphotography.com
- Instagram: @_mdvzphoto
