Mel Willis

Mel works in a male-dominated field, but that didn’t stop her from overcoming her fears and carving out the exact career path she wanted for herself.

What makes you feel proud?

If you would have asked me five years ago what my dream job would be, I would have answered with exactly what I'm doing today. I started photographing architecture as an in-house photographer for a local design firm. It was then that I learned how to overcome the challenges of photographing design, but I didn't know at the time that being an architectural photographer could be a full-time career. Fast forward 14 years, and I'm now doing what I'm passionate about everyday.

What keeps you up at night?

Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about emails that I haven't yet had a chance to respond to.

Who is the biggest influence in your life? Why?

I have many influences that have changed the course of my life. My Dad was the person who bought me my first SLR camera when I was 17 years old, my Mom and sister have always been my biggest cheerleaders and my brother was the one who sparked my initial interest in architecture and design. My husband was the one who made me believe starting my own business was possible.

What’s the single biggest problem you’d like to solve in your community?

I recently went on a retreat with several other women from around the country who photograph architecture and interiors. The sense of community that I received from connecting with other women who do what I do was incredible. If that were something possible on a local level, I think that would be so impactful.

One year from today, how do you hope you’re different?

I hope one year from today, I'll be a little more free from my desk. My husband and I recently bought a shuttle bus that we're currently converting into a tiny-mobile home in hopes that we can travel more frequently and I take my office on the road.

“If you would have asked me five years ago what my dream job would be, I would have answered with exactly what I'm doing today.”

What’s been the biggest obstacle in your life so far?

My own self-doubt can sometimes be debilitating. With the amount of information I see online of imposter syndrome, I know I'm not alone in that feeling. It ebbs and flows, and knowing that the feeling is fleeting helps on those low days.