Meet Madisen Martinez | Photographer & Social Media Manager

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

Hi Madisen, why did you pursue a creative career?
The doors that have remained open in my life led to my ongoing pursuit of a career as a creative. I grew up loving art projects and experimenting with my mom’s camera, but it wasn’t until college that I began to comprehend how beauty can change the world and have a desire to pursue this path.

Through a variety of opportunities, I discovered the beauty of stories. As a part-time sports writer for the local newspaper, I shared the stories of local athletes through photography and post-game interviews. As a volunteer running the social media for nonprofits and student-led groups, I would craft unique perspectives of the goodness that took place through these organizations. These tastes of creative work led to my first role after college as a Creative Content Coordinator for a D1 women’s basketball team. The beauty of getting to know the women on the team closely and the challenge to share their stories beyond who they were seen for on the court as players was so exciting and life-giving for me. I saw this as a small step to changing the world through creativity by going deeper than what’s on the surface of our social media feeds. I was excited to wake up and see how we can show the world who the team is rather than what they do. While the social media statistics grew substantially and the team advanced far into the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, I was captivated beyond the numbers and stat sheets by the stories of each player, this team, and all who poured into the program.

As I created with the team, the opportunities to pursue my passion for photography grew as I received inquiries for senior sessions, weddings, and events. This was the start of my photography business, Snaps by Madisen (a name I came up with and have kept since high school, haha!) coming to life as I encountered a new sense of wonder and awe through this creative venture to preserve slices of their stories through photography.

I continue to pursue a creative career as both a Photographer and Social Media Manager because of the potential that the beauty in each of these will change the world. I will continue the pursuit of my ever-growing desire to tell stories with my heightened sensitivity to the beauty that comes with each of these roles.

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.
Something that may be considered unique is how I don’t let my identity lie in creative titles or the statistics that could so easily define myself and my work. While these are important when it comes to reports and pitches, my why and deeper identity in the Lord grant me the grace and joy to continue to love what I do, to continue creating, and simply to play in the Kingdom. This is what keeps my excitement each day to take on the work at hand for the day.

While touching on how I got to where I am professionally earlier, it was not easy, and my teenage self would say “no way” to all it took to end up where I am today. There were a lot of challenges in the constant demand of this industry, a lot of cross-country moves and the doubts and insecurities that creep up along the way. These were overcome with a lot of trusting in the process, and by being surrounded by those I love who know what’s best for me – even if it is doing the hard thing. By overcoming the big and small challenges throughout my professional career, I’ve had formational experiences that have crafted me to be the person I am today. Despite the difficulties and unknowns, I would not change one part of the journey.

All I would want the world to remember about me is that “she is the one who loves Jesus.” I hope this is evident in the work I do and in the slices of joy, the slices of heaven, captured in social media content and photography. I hope there’s a radiating joy as I continue pursuing what I love, sharing the beauty of stories that will change the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would delight in showing my best friend the stops along my daily routines and several unique spots to Atlanta, especially because I am from small-town South Dakota. We would have brunch and drink coffee at local coffee shops, frequently swinging by Valor Coffee. We would eat at the Cheesecake Factory or cook our own meals in my southern home after a Costco run. We’d hang out at the parks north of the perimeter. We would go on a tour of the Coca-Cola Factory and explore the zoo and aquarium. I would love to go to an Atlanta United MLS game, cheer for the Braves, or check out Mercedes Benz Stadium during a Falcons game. One of the most fun spots is Activate Games in Roswell!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Despite my love for and the gift of being a creative, what goes deeper is the identity I would hope to be remembered as “the one who loves Jesus.” I dedicate this shoutout and all the work I’ve ever produced and that will be produced to the one Creator who gave me the desire to pursue a creative career because God is the sole provider for me when I am lacking creative juices, in the joyful moments where I wonder “is this real life?” and in the times I forget the why.

Shoutout to each individual who has been a part of my story as well. My parents and my brother Brady have seen me through it all. Friends and coworkers that I have the honor of sharing stories with, and especially all the creatives I’ve crossed paths with and never stop learning from. I appreciate each of you for who you are.

Website: https://sbmadisen.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisenmartinez

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/