Today we’d like to introduce you to Meme Crayton.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Some people are fortunate in that they’re practically born knowing what they want to do with their lives. Me, not so much. In elementary school, I wanted to be a veterinarian. In high school, I wanted to be a pediatrician. I graduated from college with aspirations of going to medical school, but afterwards, I found myself seeking out creative outlets to stimulate my desire to make something – drawing, writing, music. As a graduation gift to myself, I bought my very first DSLR camera, and the rest is sort of history. Oddly enough though, when photography finally came around, it was honestly just like deja vu. It didn’t feel new or foreign, and felt completely in step with me as a person – almost like just purchasing an extension of myself, if that makes any sense. Once I started teaching myself how to use my camera, it suddenly became extremely apparent to me that, this was more than familiarity – it was just, me. I recalled that even as a little snot-nosed kiddo, and even on up into adolescence, I’d always had some sort of camera in my hands, whether it was a little disposable Kodak, a tiny point and shoot, or a Polaroid. It had never occurred to me until much later, that this was actually something I had knack and affinity for. It’s just so funny to me how things happen exactly the way they’re supposed to.
Anyway, it didn’t take long before my friends began asking me to take their photos, whether it was for their graduations, their other special moments, small businesses, blogs, etc. I did a little bit of everything before I started live performance photography, which would later segue to couples and weddings. Shooting artists onstage challenged me creatively, forced me to be able to create in less than optimal situations, and taught me how to craze that rush and exhilaration of capturing things in the moment. After years of shooting concerts and festivals, I later discovered that I also truly had a passion for capturing nuptials, and couples who were wildly in love. This combined with my innate penchant for travel and adventure is what has ultimately propelled me towards where I am today.
Please tell us about your art.
It’s just all emotion, man. Raw, real, emotion. I love movement, I love honesty – that’s what I aim to capture each time I have two lovers in front of me. I’m a documenter of love’s purest form, and I curate a visual medium for it, to say the least. I create art for the passionate, and I aim to tell a unique story with each and every couple. My style’s often been described as romantic, modern, photojournalistic, and at times a bit whimsical. I’m a super goofy person, so I like to make things fun, but I also aim to make sure my clients walk away with an experience they can’t find anywhere else. What I do is unconventional, yet unequivocally timeless. I give my clients imagery that they’ll be able to look at decades from now, and their senses will still be evoked – I want them to be able to hear, taste, see, and feel the moments we’ve captured together – forever. After all, I’m helping them make their heirlooms, their keepsakes – and I want it to be done as authentically as possible.
Honestly, I simply adore people. People are art. And, I love, love. The human experience is what I live for, so to be able to have any part in the story of another human gives me this ridiculously huge sense of pride. Being able to hear love stories from folks of varying walks of life, is just so cool to me. Hearing all about how they found their forever person on this big old planet of ours, makes my heart swoon. It’s a blessing that I absolutely cherish, so, when I’m asked to capture that essence by these kindred spirits, I take it very seriously.
I am crazy passionate about what I do, and equally so about working with couples who are madly in love with one another. I’m pretty unrelenting when it comes to making sure that my clients are receiving EXACTLY what they want. I work tirelessly to make sure that our sessions together are documented accurately and truthfully, from start to finish.
My goal is to make a genuine connection with my clients. I want them to understand that I am 100% willing to be their soundboard when it comes to their ideas, and I want them to know that I will absolutely be their best friend through this entire process. I dub myself as a “professional third wheel” but I also let my couples know that I’m so much more than that. I’m here to help them from everything to their outfit choices, vendor referrals, to timeline customization. I try to make it as personalized and seamless as possible.
Essentially, what it all comes down to, is that I want people to see my work, and think, “man…this photographer TRULY cares about her clients.” I want people to see my images, and see intention and dedication. At the end of the day, I want my love for people to shine through my work.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Some sound advice that I have for other artists is to simply believe in your abilities, dude. Like seriously. It seems so cliche to even say that, but it truly does make a world of a difference. I had so, so many people tell me for literally YEARS that I had what it takes, but my own fear and lack of confidence stifled me from taking the leap. Yes, once you decide to commit, nothing else will ever be the same, but life is too short to work a job you don’t like, or honestly to pursue any career other than what you truly believe you were meant for.
For those who are considering taking their passion on full time: A lesson I wish that I had learned early on, is to truly make time for what you love and to not put it second to everything else. Give it the attention it deserves, and don’t let your day job consume you to the point where your desire for your passion begins to dwindle. Yes, that may mean more late, sleepless nights, or no days off over the weekend, but the end result is so, so worth it.
Lastly, don’t play the comparison game. Just don’t. I totally get it, that’s much easier said than done, as I actually continue to struggle with this myself. Be honest with yourself and realize that there will always be someone more experienced, more knowledgeable, or more successful than you are at any given moment. Despite that, not one single person on this planet will ever be you, can do what you do, or will create what you’ll create. Accepting that as fact, I’ve found, is the best way to keep pushing forward and continuing to improve and grow. You can say all day, “my only competition is myself,” but something truly beautiful happens when you actually start believing it.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My work can be seen here on my website: www.memeurbane.com. People can also check me out on Instagram @memeurbanephoto where I often post to my stories, so you can follow along with me and my sweet couples. I also occasionally do giveaways and freebies, so make sure you’re following so you don’t miss out!
People can support my work by liking, commenting, or sharing here on my Facebook: https://www.
You don’t have to be married or engaged for us to create magic together. You just have to love each other.
Bonus points if you’re planning a destination wedding or an elopement, though!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.memeurbane.com
- Phone: 9036919100
- Email: memeurbane.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/memeurbanephoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/memeurbane
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/memeurbane
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/Memeurbane/
Image Credit:
Meme Urbane Photography
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