Film photography, intimate dinners, and the benefits to saying "no"
Three things I stand by
Film photography has been a great love of mine since my older sister handed down an automatic film camera that I still use today—yes, over ten years later, I’m still using that camera to shoot all my projects. Some photographers might see this as a faux pas, but I’ve grown to know this camera like the back of my hand—and maybe I’ve become a bit co-dependent on it, haha. I truly believe that a good photograph can be made using any type of camera because it’s the eye of the photographer and the way they use their tools that matters most.
This year, I made it a goal to photograph more and design a bit less. I started noticing how much better I feel when I do creative work that doesn’t require me to be on a screen, so I made an intentional shift in how I promote my work. So far this year, I’ve photographed Caitlin Chapman for Flamingo Estate, Cazzie David for the Vanity Fair Oscar’s Party, Chloe Cooks x Happier Grocery pop-up in New York, Year & Day’s spring campaign with GLOAM candles and so much more. It’s been rewarding to work with people who view the range of my creative work as a strength. As my friend Kate says, 'Jack of all trades, master of all.'
I’ve also found that where I get my film developed and scanned can make a big difference in the outcome of my work. For the past year, I’ve been going to Digital Photo Printing & Studio (@thatonephotolab on Instagram) in Glendale. They’re affordable, fast, and extremely careful with negatives—which is crucial if I plan on printing any of them in the darkroom. I feel like I need to do an entire Substack post dedicated to the art of printing color film, but for the sake of sharing, I sometimes print my work at my favorite darkroom in Los Angeles, Night Shift LA (@nghtshft.la on Instagram). The owner, Alex, has done an incredible job reviving the art of printing color negatives. She’s sourced all the old equipment and learned how to maintain it herself—I find that so inspiring.
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INTIMATE DINNERS
This weekend, I had the absolute pleasure of attending an intimate dinner at Psychic Wines in LA. (Side note: I’ve been a member of Psychic’s Wine club, Visions for over two years and couldn’t recommend it more.) The evening featured wines poured and discussed by legendary natural winemakers Anders Frederik Steen and Anne Blauert, paired with incredible dishes cooked by Wilde’s. My friend Chloe, who I went with, described the food as 'comforting as granny’s cooking,' and I couldn’t agree more. The intimate setting of the Psychic Wine shop—transformed into a restaurant for the night—paired with the food and wine, was a true masterpiece. It left me feeling like I was in the most special room in all of Los Angeles.
I love to host, but attending this dinner made me realize I want to do it even more. This week, I’m hosting my first-ever mentee dinner as an experiment for something I’ve wanted to create for a while—a space to critique, collaborate, and exchange creative questions and ideas. It will be three young creatives and me in my living room, with bites, wine, and candlelight. If it goes as well as I hope, I might make it a regular event and open it up to more people. (Make sure you’re subscribed to be the first to know!)
THE BENEFITS TO SAYING “NO”
I wrote a bit about this in my previous Substack, but I truly believe there are many benefits to saying ‘no’ to the wrong projects. I see saying ‘no’ is a positive act—it creates space for the right opportunities that haven’t yet presented themselves and frees me from potential future anxieties. As a freelancer, finding the perfect balance between having enough work and not too much can be challenging. It’s also hard to say no to projects that don’t quite feel aligned, especially when work is slow. But without a doubt, every time I pass on something, an opportunity that actually aligns with me comes my way. I practice an abundance mentality—I believe there’s enough work for everyone, and success comes from being a good person and doing what you love.
My friend Sophie recently shared some affirmations she’s been repeating to help channel an abundance mentality, which I’ve also started verbalizing myself.
I get paid to exist
My existence pays for itself
My presence is a blessing
My energy is expensive and exclusive
My mind is worth millions
Every penny I spend is returned to me ten fold
This year, to help manage feelings of stress and anxiety related to work, I’ve started meditating almost daily using the Open App. I explore a variety of practices—from sound healing to thoughtful guided meditations covering a wide range of topics from letting go, breath, body language, and even death. Here’s one on Scarcity vs. Abundance by my favorite teacher, Manoj D. You can try Open free for a month using my code: MADDY4OPEN.
A LIL’ EXTRA: AFFOGATOS
Affogatos are one of those sleeper desserts I often forget about—until I have one, and it blows my mind. The hot and cold, the creamy with the bitter—it’s all about the juxtapositions, and that’s exactly why it works. This Friday, you can get one (with coffee or matcha) at the Woon x Pour Sport Coffee pop-up from 5 to 9.
I hope to see you there xM