Meet Madelyn Dover

 

We were lucky to catch up with Madelyn Dover recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Madelyn, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

This is an interesting question. I think it’s important to understand WHY you are the only one in the room that looks or acts like you. Sometimes it’s as simple as being told “we like your look.” Other times it is much deeper. How do you carry yourself? Are you professional but friendly in these settings? Do you have a “ready for anything” attitude? Can you show patience and understanding for any changes or random happenings that may occur? These are all things that can help you stand out. People will want to work with you if you show that you want to work with them. Show that you want to be there, that you’re GLAD to be there. Yes, a unique haircut or facial feature can also make you stand out but it really does help to have a fantastic attitude to go with it. They will remember how easy you were to work with and how professional you were. That’s how you get called back and asked to do more projects!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am by no means a pro at any of my avenues, but I enjoy them nonetheless. I love modeling. That is my main artistic focus at the moment. I believe that I would find happiness doing most art types, as long as I have that creative outlet in my life. Modeling is one that helped me build my self confidence exponentially. Outside of wanting to be creative, I also wanted to feel great about myself. I think the modeling and photography communities I have been a part of really helped boost me up. I have worked in different states, but mostly between Georgia and North Carolina. My community in Georgia is very editorial, professional and fashion oriented. My community in NC is very conceptual, artistic and imaginative. I have learned so much from each of these perspectives and I think it has helped make me into the model I am. I want to bring imagination into the editorial world and inspire more professional opportunities for the whimsical world. Now that I’m in Atlanta again, I want to create more. I am planning to do more photoshoots and runway shows. I’m excited to keep going in 2025.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

If I had to pick three important factors for developing yourself in a creative setting, they would be self love, vetting, and community. Self love is important because people can tell when you don’t believe in yourself vs. when you do. People notice and listen to someone who is unabashedly confident. Even if you don’t feel that way, portraying yourself as confident can even get you far. Vetting is also imperative when you work with others in any industry, really. Modeling involves photographing another person, so you want to make sure all parties are in it for the correct reasons. There are people out there who will take advantage of any industry newbies, whether it be monetarily, physically, creatively, etc. Surround yourself with other true creatives. That brings me to the third thing, community. A creative community is so important, especially when trying to break out into an industry. It’s always helpful to have people you can trust for professional advice, real opinions on your work, or even just collaboration. Art does not always need to be a paid project. Sometimes it is necessary to just MAKE something or CREATE something, so why not do it with fellow artists in your community? Build up your portfolio with folks you trust. You can even make friends along the way.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am ALWAYS looking for folks to collaborate with. As long as you are open-minded, flexible and have a good heart, I am sure we can create together. I enjoy both digital and film photography, color and black and white. I have done multiple types of shoots, ranging from product photography to fantasy to boudoir to editorial and many more. I want to work with people from all backgrounds and all shapes and sizes. Bring your creative ideas and let’s work together!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

The first image (me in blue, pink and orange) is by Javane Stewart
The image of me crouching in blue boots is by Once Upon A Photo
The rest are owned by me, action shots or behind the scenes photos
Wendy Newman

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