Meet Madison Wilson | Photographer & Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madison Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madison, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting out as a hobby and way for me to express myself creatively, photography began as something I wanted to share with my friends and family. It wasn’t until I developed a greater skill set that I realized it was also something I could make money from. Through the support of the handful of people who admired my creativity and passion, I was able to create CriedJoyCreation. Developing the name for my business was instinctual and I wanted it to convey my personality in some way. The name CriedJoyCreation derived from my middle name which is Joy, and from the fact that I am known to be a pretty emotional person, and may or may not cry a lot. I liked having two sides of my personality as my business name because it shows me at my most authentic self.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My personal style can be best described as soft, airy, and textured. In my photographs I try to incorporate light and airiness, which is aided by the film lens that I use. This technical style transcends into my digital artwork through my incorporation of vintage styles and techniques. My professional career began with a lot of trial and error of trying to figure out how my personality can shine through in my work. It also required me to look at design and art in a broader sense. In developing my undergraduate degree in design, I looked at people from an anthropological lens to better understand how culture informs design preferences amongst different people. Throughout my studies, and my interactions with clients, I have begun to notice people as products of their environment, and the role biases play in my own attempt to meet a clients needs. I would say a challenge that I faced was learning how to place myself in the shoes of a client and create work that they found both useful and pleasing. As a lifelong learner, I still have a long ways to go and a lot to learn. My brand is ever-evolving as I grow in different areas of knowledge and am rewarded with meeting new people.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am currently a student at Austin College in Sherman, Texas and while Dallas offers a lot of great experiences, I like to think I have found great spots to visit in the small towns of Sherman and Denison. To begin this little adventure I would take you to any of the amazing coffee shops we have like The Loft Downtown, 410 Collective or Cj’s Coffee! Each of these shops as a certain charm that you can only find in a small town. Next up is a hike around Eisenhower State Park. There are tons of great trails around Lake Texoma and it’s my favorite way to get some exercise. Afterwards we’re going to be a little famished so we have to go to Cafe Blackbird on Denison Mainstreet. This little café has some of the best sandwiches and brunch foods, and the atmosphere is the perfect place for a cozy afternoon break. For a late afternoon relaxation we could go sit on the beach at Lake Texoma and look at the those beautiful Texas sunsets over the water. For dinner I would take you to a great brewery called 903 brewers. This place has some of the best hand-crafted, and wacky beers you can try. Not to mention there wagyu burger is *chef’s kiss. One of the days we would have to check out our neighboring city, Mckinney. They have a great downtown with lots of shops and brunch spots. North Texas offers so many ways to meet fellow creatives and people of all backgrounds. Everyday is a new experience and I have made so many amazing memories living here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout God for giving me a gift and talent that I get to share with all kinds of people. None of this would have been remotely possible without the guidance and support of a few seasoned photographers early on in my life. When I first started this journey, Kayla Salazar took me under her wing and let me be a second shooter at a wedding. She took a leap of faith and showed me the ropes of photographing people, and capturing special moments. Thank you Kayla for seeing the potential in me! Another shoutout has to go to my dear friend Ashley Renfrew, and her camera. Thank you Ashley for loaning me your beautiful Pentax camera, and trusting me to steward it well. There are so many more people in my life that deserve shoutouts, and I am so grateful to have such an amazing group of supporters who never stop believing in me.

Website: https://www.criedjoycreation.com/

Instagram: @criedjoycreation

Linkedin: Madison Wilson

Image Credits
CriedJoyCreation