Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Collins.
Hi Melissa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up near my current home of North Branch, Minnesota and fell in love with photographs long before I ever picked up a camera. As a little girl, I would spend hours sitting on the living room floor flipping through my mom’s photo albums, studying every image and memorizing the stories behind them. Those photographs made me feel connected to my family, my memories, and where I belonged in the world. Looking back now, I realize that’s where all of this really started.
In 2008, my husband and I bought our first digital camera off eBay. Up until then, he had been the family photographer, but I became fascinated by creating artistic images after seeing what people were sharing on the newly popular “online web”. Digital photography gave me freedom to experiment because I could take risks, learn, and simply delete the mistakes. What started as curiosity quickly became passion and outlet for my creative mind.
In 2012, I photographed my first paying client, and little by little I began photographing more families, seniors, and portraits while still working full-time as a childcare director. Every dollar I made went right back into learning and investing in better equipment. I spent years balancing motherhood, a 40+ hour work week, photography sessions on weekends, and late-night editing.
Eventually, something had to give.
In 2017, after 18 years in childcare, I took a huge leap of faith and left the career I had built to officially pursue photography full time. The first couple of years were a little messy as entrepreneurship often is and then COVID arrived. Instead of shrinking back, I opened my studio in 2020 and continued building and evolving.
Today, I’m not just a photographer; I’m someone who helps people preserve their stories and see themselves differently. People sometimes assume I “just take pictures,” but I’ve always believed it’s much bigger than that. I want clients to feel celebrated, confident, and cared for. Whether it’s creating artwork for a wall, preserving family memories, or helping someone see their own beauty in a way they haven’t before, that’s the part that matters most to me.
Fourteen years later, I still get excited about new ideas that keep me awake at night. I still believe photographs remind us of who we belong to and where we came from. And I still genuinely love helping people! That part hasn’t changed at all.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m not sure entrepreneurship roads ever really is smooth.
For years I was balancing multiple full-time roles: being a mom of three, working more than 40 hours a week in childcare leadership, photographing clients on evenings and weekends, and editing late into the night. There were a lot of seasons of exhaustion and wondering if I could realistically keep all the balls in the air.
Then came the leap of leaving a career I had spent 18 years in. Walking away from the security of a steady paycheck to pursue photography full-time was exciting but also terrifying. Like many business owners, I had moments of questioning myself and wondering if I was making the right decision. And addressing the elephant in the room: imposter syndrome. Who on Earth was I to think I could do something so bold as this. Was I good enough?
The first couple of years of business ownership were about learning everything the hard way: marketing, finances, systems, customer experience, and figuring out how to wear every business hat imaginable. Then COVID arrived right as I was still finding my footing, and like many small business owners, I had to adapt quickly.
One challenge people don’t always see is that being a photographer isn’t just taking pictures. You’re also a marketer, editor, bookkeeper, customer service rep, social media manager, and business strategist. You can create beautiful work and still have to figure out how to get people in the door.
But every challenge has taught me something. I’ve learned to pivot, keep learning, and trust myself more. I’ve also learned that success isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes it looks like taking risks, changing directions, and continuing to show up even when things feel uncertain or didn’t go as planned.
Some of my favorite things I offer today came directly from those difficult seasons and asking, “How can I serve people better?”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a portrait photographer and memory preservation specialist, but if you ask me what I really do, I help people tell and protect their stories.
Most people initially know me for photography: family portraits, seniors, headshots/business branding, and contemporary portrait experiences designed to make people feel celebrated and confident. I love creating an experience where clients walk in nervous and walk out saying, “That was actually fun.” I want people to feel seen exactly as they are right now.
But over the years, my work has evolved into something more than taking photos. I’ve realized that people often become overwhelmed by years of printed photographs sitting in boxes, digital images scattered across devices, and memories they’re afraid of losing. I help people organize, preserve, print, and turn those moments into something meaningful like photo books, wall art, gifts, and legacy projects that can be passed down for generations. This is where the teacher part of me kicks in – I enjoy sharing what I know!
I think what sets me apart is that I genuinely love helping people. I’m not interested in being someone who simply delivers images and sends clients on their way. I want to be a resource and a guide. Sometimes I’m helping someone choose artwork for their home; other times I’m helping preserve decades of family memories or creating something meaningful for future generations.
I’m also a little different in how I approach the experience itself. I don’t believe you have to know how to pose or be “photogenic.” I help with all of that. I want people to feel comfortable, cared for, and maybe even a little pampered along the way.
What I’m most proud of isn’t necessarily a photograph hanging on a wall (though that part DOES make me giddy) it’s when someone tells me I helped them see themselves differently, or when I preserve memories they thought might be lost forever. Those moments remind me why I started this in the first place.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People are often surprised to learn that there are a lot of ways to work with me beyond a traditional photo session.
Of course, I photographing many genres, but I also help with memory preservation projects like organizing and scanning photographs, creating photo books, and helping people rescue years of memories that have been sitting in boxes or scattered across devices.
I also love collaborations and creative ideas. I’m always open to partnering with other businesses, community organizations, and people who have a unique vision or project in mind. I’m a big believer that some of the best ideas come from connecting with others.
Small businesses thrive on relationships and word-of-mouth. Following along on social media, sharing my work, recommending me to a friend, or simply cheering me on means more than people realize.
At the end of the day, if someone has a question about photos sessions, preserving memories, or they’re not quite sure where to start, I’m always happy to chat.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mjcollinsphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjcollins_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MjCollinsPhotography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-collins-5962aa11b/
