Meet Madi Napieralski | Creative Director & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madi Napieralski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madi, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Authenticity lies within the core of my brand as a photographer. While in the final stages of my projects, I always consider, “Does this inspire me? Would my younger self be proud of the art I’m placing into the world?”. If there are consistent holes of doubt, I reflect on why the client aligned with my business and what I can provide that fulfills both of our missions!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of moments such as this, where I can shine the light on being a collaborator first. As much as photography is a passion of mine, it wouldn’t be possible without the authenticity and vulnerability from my clients. When I got my first camera, I would post weekly that I am open to free work. There were moments of desperation to have just one creative project to work on. Once I started surrounding myself with likeminded people, I realized the biggest missing component to my success was having a tribe. The constant support of piers pushed me to be confident, but also the support lead to word-of-mouth referrals. As much as having hours of unpaid work was not easy, I cherish having the space to build my confidence in my skillset and my character.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend started their visit Atlanta visit on the weekend, I’d first take them to Grant Park Farmers Market to pick up fresh produce. Once we need our morning pick-me-up, I’d take them to Chrome Yellow Trading Co. to catch up over coffee & pastries. As we ponder over the coming days their trip, I’d recommend visiting SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion, Atlanta Food Truck Park, and Psycho Sisters for new clothes for the festivities!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Before diving headfirst into the creative scene, I was a manager at a local pet store. As levels of unfufilment grew, I took on an internship at REC Philly, a space for creators. There were talks of possible promotion in the coming months, so I called my dad for input. The first question he rightfully asked was, “How many months of rent do you have saved?” to which I had a few months. He replied, “There were so many occasions I was unable to take risks in life because of financial distress, so I want you to go for it. I support anything you believe 100% in”. After we hung up, I resigned from my 9-5 and fought my way up the chain in the company. Without the provided confidence, I would have never met the connects who opened opportunities for my business.

Website: madinapieralski.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mad1ann/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madi-napieralski-5b0368219/

Image Credits
Personal photo shot by Drew Johnson (@drew.j)