Art & Life with Meredith Joyce

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Joyce.

Meredith, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve always loved art, but I was never particularly gifted with, what I grew up considering, typical artistic endeavors such as drawing or painting. I studied engineering in college to put my creativity toward problem solving in a very ‘concrete’ way. Once I had my first child, I picked up my husband’s DSLR (“big camera”) and began to play with it to try to capture the phases of baby-hood that were flying by. I realized quickly I couldn’t always get the result I wanted with the auto setting. And finally, one day I decided I had to figure it out.

I began with a basic class at my local camera shop, where we lived then, in Austin, Texas. That was about 7 years ago…and the rest is history. My progress was relatively slow when my children were very small, as I continued to work full time. Once my third baby was born, we moved and I eventually began to stay home with all three of my children. The birth of my photography business happened soon after that. Since then I’ve just taken thousands of photos of clients and friends and mostly my own children. Documenting their lives has turned my interest into my passion. Capturing our lives beautifully brings me so much joy!

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I photograph families. I create art. I strive to document love and connection as I tell the story of growing families; whether that is with a newborn as he meets his older sister for the first time at the hospital, or a family with two toddlers as they play in their home or their favorite park, or even teenagers with mom and dad as they get ready to let their big kids leave the nest. I call it ‘lifestyle photography’.

When my clients view their images, I hope they remember the moment and exactly what they were feeling in it. When others view my work, I hope they feel something as well: love, wonder, nostalgia, hope, or something that transports them to a moment in their own lives when they relate to the image. I photograph families in a variety of locations, but my favorite sessions are in your home, photographing your family as you do what you love in the space you are most comfortable. It is not pure documentary photography, I definitely direct your family into nice lighting and encourage interaction that will meet my vision, but then I let moments unfold.

Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Does what you love! My business is just about three years in, and most days I feel like there is still so much to figure out, both artistically and business-wise. But each year things are a little easier. Every month I take baby steps toward ‘figuring it out’. I know there’s no end point there, and I rejoice in that, the joy is in that journey.

My favorite advice is probably a quote from Marie Forleo, “everything is figure-out-able”. Whether it’s a session that just didn’t quite meet my vision, or last year’s tax paperwork that I have to get over to my accountant, I can do this. So, can you!

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My website is the best place to go to see my work. I post regularly there and update my blog with recent work. {www.ajoyfullifephotography.com} I also update Instagram almost daily with my favorite images. @ajoyfullifephotography, I can’t wait to create art for your family! Visit my website to learn more and inquire.

Contact Info:

• Address: serving Greater Dallas area and Northeast Texas, based in Rockwall, TX
• Website: www.ajoyfullifephotography.com
• Phone: 469.458.0010
• Email: info@ajoyfullifephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajoyfullifephotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ajoyfullifephotography

Image Credit:
Meredith Joyce

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