M. Chase Narrative Photography

The Artist: Madison Chase

This is my story….

I am a 2008 graduate of VCU’s School of the Arts – and in a way – my story begins here. I was the second shooter for my high school photography teacher my senior year and during the beginning of college–shooting in film. I shot my first wedding in 2006 while at VCU for a friend using two film cameras. One that held color film & the other black and white. Her wedding will always be a favorite of mine.

I am a portrait artist, first and foremost, and that has taken me in several directions. For the past 8 years, it’s always been just for myself.  Creating portraits and stories that speak to me, except for the one wedding in 2006.

As an artist, I have this need to create. It’s a process, I find myself doing, because I have to. That sounds weird…I know. But, I know you can relate.. some people write, sing, drive, or feel the need to hit something… haha… I need space to create. My desire to be behind the camera (and more specifically, in the darkroom) is part of satisfying my soul, following through on the ideas in my head, and letting myself speak through images. That’s what photography is for me personally, as an artist.

Another direction I’ve taken, is to become a teacher… a fine arts teacher, and more specifically, a photography teacher. Wanting so badly for my students to realize how much power and potential they have when they find their voice — creating, building thoughts, their own thoughts, and speaking using words and images. I care for them. I want them to find themselves (their passions, their strengths, their voice) and there’s a part of me that really feels responsible in helping them get there.

But, it wasn’t until 2010 that I found it necessary to become a business owner.

The Friday before Spring Break (April 2010), I was asked to come into the Principal’s Office. I was told that I would no longer have the venue to be a teacher and artist in that same capacity that I was accustomed to (that’s putting it nicely). I was told that I would no longer have a position anywhere in the County and that it was not based on my performance, but simply, I was the newest teacher hired. I had just purchased my first house in January. I had been teaching for two years. I had been nominated for “Teacher of the Year” …and this is where I found myself.

I was devastated… absolutely devastated.

Still in a bit of a fog, I began to plan. I would open a photography business, I would work as many part-time jobs during the summer as a I could, and I would apply to surrounding Counties for another art position.

By May 1st, I had my business license. Along with… a website, new software, business cards, and portfolio and I had no real set of expectations…. only that, I was going to continue to do what I love to do. I knew it wasn’t going to pay the bills, but I wasn’t going to be employed somewhere and let my passion for photography be stifled. I would take the same concepts that speak to me… portraits, characters, and stories and infuse that into this new work for clients. After all, this is my skill set, this is what I know and love, this is what I preach to my students, this is how I think and feel…. so, this was the time.

So, M. Chase Narrative Photography began. I’m an artist, I’m a teacher, and I’m a business owner. Who knew?!? It’s exciting and I love it all.

The Process

The bulk of my personal artwork has always been story telling.

Therefore, I’d like to offer the same narrative quality I create in my work to be a driving force in the way I approach photography for others. It can be a non-fiction or autobiographical. Or, it can be completely imaginative. I want to help you develop your story, remember the details, show the beginning, middle, and end, and showcase the “characters” in your life.

I will do little post-processing when shooting digitally. It’s important to me that I get the composition and proper exposure in the camera, and I also try not to take a bi-zillion images either. It’s not how a film photographer operates – quality over quantity is key. I’m a lover of film (no, really, a LOVER of film), but understand that my clients needs are met digitally. Often I will shoot with both digital and film formats at portrait sessions, but will shoot completely digitally at weddings and larger events. My students work in a wet darkroom and I exhibit my personal work locally. I found that I have the best of both worlds.

Self Portrait “Early Bird” Digital Test Shots, 2011

Thank you so much for stopping by! Please let me know if I can photograph your story.

Madison Chase Fairburn, Owner