Today we’d like to introduce you to Meme Urbane.
Hi Meme, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
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 afterward, I found myself seeking out creative outlets to stimulate my desire to make something – drawing, writing, and 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 a 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 crave 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. It’s so rewarding to be able to capture love, and it’s an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to tell a love story artistically. This combined with my love for travel and adventure is what has ultimately propelled me towards where I am today. I started my business in Dallas, and I’m still getting my feet wet here in Austin. I love that I’ve been able to grow and expand over the past few years, and I can’t wait to see where things take me in the future.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
2020 presented a lot of unforeseen challenges. It honestly completely turned my business upside town, and forced me to shift gears entirely. Covid not only transformed the way I run my business, but it also forced me to grow very quickly in terms of forward thinking and business savvy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a documentary-style photographer. So, very real and authentic shooting style, with fun pizzazz and flare.
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 them to keep for a lifetime. 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 people” 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.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
When searching for a mentor, I recommend reaching out to the creatives who inspire you the most. Have some solid questions ready when you do, and ask to shadow on a session of their choice. This worked well for me in the past, and it was amazing to be able to connect with and establish long term relationships in the industry.
Pricing:
- Weddings – Start at $4000
- Elopements – Start at $3000
- Engagements – Start at $600
Contact Info:
- Website: www.memeurbane.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memeurbanephoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/memeurbane
Image Credits
Meme Urbane Photography
