We recently connected with Miranda Deblauwe and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Miranda, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?
Connecting with others brings so much joy and purpose to my life. When I was little, I talked to everyone. A true social butterfly, my family had a running joke that we couldn’t go anywhere without seeing someone I knew. Even on a family trip to San Jose, Costa Rica, I managed to connect with a friend who had grown up there but was only briefly in town. It came naturally to me.
I’ve always been a communicator… although it wasn’t always effective. As I got older, I started to receive “feedback” from teachers and peers that I needed to be more concise. They said I talked too much. It became a sore spot for me, feeling like I was taking up too much space. Once that insecurity set in, it was hard to find the balance. I wanted to talk to people, but I was afraid of saying the wrong thing or just saying too much. I lost some of that desire to talk with anyone and everyone. But eventually, I had to realize that NOT talking was holding me back. Although I’m grateful to have learned to be more concise, putting a dam on my self-expression was ultimately wrong.
Running a business and creating photographic art has become an essential form of communication for me. As someone who feels the world very deeply, I appreciate being able to funnel all of these intense emotions into my art. In a way, photography has helped me learn to communicate in a more concise way without feeling suppressed.
My ability to communicate well has only been strengthened by running my own business. Through face to face interactions and marketing, I’ve thought a lot about how I present myself. I’m a strong communicator because I believe that people have stories worth sharing, ones they might not recognize as meaningful until years down the road. And I work to show my clients how important it is to cherish your stories and preserve them before they’re gone.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My photography is an exploration of the human experience, captured through intimate moments and the small details that often go unnoticed. I am drawn to the connections we form—with each other, with nature, and with our own inner worlds. My work seeks to capture the rawness of emotion and the quiet beauty of life’s fleeting moments, inviting viewers to slow down and truly see.
People are at the heart of my practice. I am fascinated by the vulnerability and strength found in human connection, and I believe that through authentic, honest portrayals of individuals, we can see ourselves more clearly. Whether it’s a fleeting glance, a quiet gesture, or a shared moment in nature, I strive to show the depth and complexity of human relationships—both with one another and with the world around us.
The environment plays a central role in my art. Whether it’s a sweeping mountain view or a city park, the landscapes and natural environments I photograph are not just backdrops but active participants in the stories I tell, reflecting the same vulnerability, strength, and depth that I find in people. Through my lens, I seek to create spaces where both the subject and the viewer can feel seen, understood, and connected.
I aim to create images that resonate with authenticity and invite a deeper reflection on what it means to feel and be alive. Every frame is an attempt to tell a story—one of quiet power, deep emotion, and shared humanity. My hope is that my work sparks a moment of recognition, offering a glimpse of something familiar yet profoundly moving. A moment that reminds you what matters most. 🙂
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three things that have most impacted my journey are people, mental health, and practice.
1. I know it’s cliche, but the people you surround yourself with genuinely have a profound influence on you. It’s so important to find the right people to have by your side, within your industry and in general. I’ve had many, many clients find me through my web of connections. Good community is priceless. If “networking” feels difficult or shallow, try talking to your friends and family about your ideas and goals. They’ll feed off that energy and end up networking for you! It might surprise you who shows up in the end to support you.
2. I’ve struggled with my mental health for nearly half my life now and there’s no denying that it has deeply impacted my business. I’ve grown at a slower rate than some of my peers because I’ve been held back by fear, anxiety, and mood swings. The biggest issue, for me, has been diligence. My personal conditions and journey has made it difficult for me to stay focused and diligent when also having to juggle side jobs. If you can resonate with this, just know you’re not alone. We are all trying to figure this out and there’s no perfect recipe for success!
3. Speaking of diligence, the last impactful area I find worth mentioning is practice. I went to college for music and would spend 4+ hours a day in practice rooms alone, playing scales, etudes, excerpts, etc on my french horn. Sometimes I loved it, sometimes I hated it… but the practice was good for me. When I switched to photography as my primary art form, I was burnt out on practicing. I’m not locking myself in a room and memorizing my camera menus or studying philosophy of composition, but I do still try and implement forms of practice into my craft. For example, when I wanted to learn how to create cool shutter drag (or motion blur), I tried it out for just a couple of minutes at every shoot until I felt like I had it figured out. I’m always trying to improve in small ways across all aspects of my art, but having one thing to focus on as my experiment for that day has been huge.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
We’ll be a great match if…
– You value authentic human connection and love.
– You believe that love is love and everyone deserves the freedom to express themself in their own amazing way.
– You value authentic, joyful, emotional memories over posed, traditional photos.
– You want a photographer who you can welcome into the fold. Someone you know genuinely cares about getting to know you.
– You’re drawn to a vintage, romantic style with a modern, artistic twist.
– You’re drawn to digital and film format photography.
– You value nature, adventure, and living a full life – however that looks to you.
– You’re weird and want to hire someone who is also weird! 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mirandakatecreative.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mirandakatecreative
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mirandakatecreative
Image Credits
Miranda Deblauwe
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