We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michelle Russ. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michelle below.
Michelle, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
As a freelancer, maintaining optimism can indeed be a daily challenge, particularly in our current economic climate. However, my optimism is consistently renewed by focusing on two key areas: the tangible end result of my creative work and the intrinsic joy I find in the process of creating.
Seeing a successful campaign or a perfectly captured moment provides a powerful sense of fulfillment, and that, combined with the inherent satisfaction of the creative process, is what ultimately sustains my personal optimism.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My photography journey ignited in high school, where my school was fortunate enough to still have a dark room, and after developing my first pin-hole camera photo, I was hooked. At the time, my older sister was showcasing her incredible artistic talent through drawing and clay sculptures, so in comparison, I didn’t think of myself as a creative person. I couldn’t draw more than a stick figure. But this photography class opened something inside of me that I didn’t know I had.
My photography journey continued into college, where I developed a strong interest in fashion and beauty, and moved to NYC to pursue this passion. During this development, I spent my spare time volunteering at animal shelters, little did I know where this would eventually lead. But a few years later, I made the shift to combine my two greatest loves: photography and dogs.
So, for the next seven years, I photographed hundreds of dogs throughout San Francisco’s beaches, rolling hills, and fog-covered bay and created keepsake art for pet parents. But after a collaboration with a local hotel in creating a 100-page coffee table book, I realized I missed the conceptual development that I got from my fashion photography days.
In 2019, I excitedly took on a new challenge to focus my attention on commercial animal photography. And today, as a photographer and director, I partner with pet brands and creative agencies to create dynamic yet playful audience-resonating imagery.
My yellow brick road was certainly not a smooth one, but I’m glad to finally feel at home with my work and who I serve.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As a photographer, the most obvious answer is the technical skills needed to understand your camera and shape light. But for animal photography, this foundation is crucial for capturing fleeting moments and the nuances of their movement and expressions. Mastering your gear allows you to react quickly and creatively to unpredictable animal behavior. My advice for those starting out is to truly immerse yourself in the fundamentals – experiment with different settings, understand your lenses, and practice light control in various situations. Don’t just learn the rules; understand why they exist.
But it goes beyond just that. Within photography, my primary subjects are animals, and just as a portrait photographer needs to be a people person, an animal photographer needs to be an animal person. When I made the transition from photographing fashion to animals, I knew I needed to develop my animal communication skills, so I set out to do just that. I read all the books, worked with animal trainers, and volunteered at local shelters. And I can now confidently say, yes, I speak dog. For those early in their journey, dedicate time to learning about animal behavior, observing their body language, and be patient and respectful. This understanding will not only build trust but also allow you to anticipate their actions and capture truly authentic and engaging moments.
In addition to these skills, I’d say one of the best qualities to develop is persistence. Just like the cowboy who constantly gets bucked off his horse but keeps getting back on again, you will get knocked down, but you just have to get back on the horse. It’s a bumpy ride. Celebrate the highs and learn from the lows.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
For anyone on their creative journey, especially in a visual field, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of never stopping the cycle of play, practice, and skill development. Just like a puppy explores the world with boundless curiosity, we as artists need to constantly experiment, try new techniques, and push our creative boundaries. Your portfolio is a living document that should evolve alongside your growth. So, embrace the “what ifs,” dedicate time to personal projects, and never underestimate the power of continuous learning to shape and strengthen your unique artistic voice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michelleruss.com
- Instagram: @michelle_russ_photo
Image Credits
Michelle Russ (all my photos)
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