Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Mayer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Adam. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I initially picked up my camera to document family trips throughout middle school and high school, and quickly became interested in taking portraits of my friends in Michigan. We would put together little mock-photoshoots, dressing each other up and doing hair and makeup, before whipping out the fan and putting on our “fierce” faces. Starting out with friends this way gave me a lot of freedom to explore and have fun with my photography. When I graduated high school and it came time to make a decision on colleges, I chose to pursue a degree in molecular and cellular biology at UC Berkeley for my freshman and sophomore year. During this time I completely dropped photography (and almost all other creative endeavors) from my life. After my first year and a half there, I had a health emergency and was forced to return home to Michigan to undergo a procedure. From this downtime I realized that life is too short to not do what you love, and I knew I needed to pursue a career in the arts. I researched a little and found the great fashion photography program at Columbia College Chicago, which is how I ended up in the city. Shortly after beginning the program, I started working with modeling agencies in Chicago including MP and Ford, and was able to establish my photography business as I wrapped up my education and graduated.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Between my own personal struggles with Crohn’s disease and the often harsh and unpredictable nature of the industry, I have definitely faced my fair share of challenges. With regard to the industry first, getting the door to open was a challenge. The most established agencies are going to want to see a lot of experience and technical skills which take some time to perfect. Being eager, I of course reached out the second I had decided to pursue photography and got to the city, with only images of my friends in my portfolio. There were a lot of “no’s” the first time I reached out, but after putting in a great deal of time and effort and working with more professional models and styling teams, I had the agencies reaching out to me. Once I made these connections, the biggest struggle became learning how to balance demands so I don’t run myself ragged, while still staying open to opportunities. My instinct was to always say yes when asked to shoot, but I have learned that there will still be more opportunities even if this one isn’t the right time or the right fit. It is important to prioritize time to catch up and recover, especially while trying to stay healthy!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a fashion photographer, and most of my shoots are either editorials for fashion and beauty magazines, or test shoots for models represented by agencies to build their portfolios. My style and approach to photography is classic, with a twist. I try to combine elements from both commercial and high-fashion photography, so that each image tells a story while still showing off the model and products in the best light. This has seemed to fit in nicely with the Chicago market, which is somewhere between the high-fashion market of New York and the commercial market of Los Angeles. What I am most proud of as a photographer is seeing my work published in the magazines I used to dream about seeing my work in, and helping launch the careers of up-and-coming models, stylists, and hair & makeup artists in Chicago.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was very outgoing and loved socializing. My creative side was also something I embraced and I was drawn to musical theater at the age of seven. I pursued this all the way through to my senior year of high school, auditioning every year for shows at my school and in the community theaters, and often earning lead roles. It was through musicals that I found a strong community of friends that has lasted to this day. While I was very focused on musicals and challenging myself academically, my main priority was spending time with this group of friends and doing creative activities together like making videos, taking pictures, writing songs, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.adamdmayer.com
- Email: adamdmayer.photo@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/adamdmayer
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