Join us in congratulating a true talent, Megan Springer on becoming an Unraveled Expert Artist!!

Megan's path to photography started about 2 years ago, as a rewilding of sorts. A bit desperately lost in the confines of motherhood with four kids under four, she picked up a camera as a means of reclamation, to awaken parts of her that were long dormant, and has since embraced the side of her that loves creation. She is rooted in small town Athens, Ohio surrounded by rural poverty yet she finds solace in the understated beauty that it has to offer. Megan likes the slow paced, simple life she and her husband have been creating for their kids where she spends majority of her time yelling at them to put on pants before they run outside. She feels immensely connected to mothers and is hopeful that she can use her work to facilitate meaningful conversations and empower them to feel like the incredible powerhouses they are. Other times she just wants to create whatever weird little ideas transpire, whether with her children, findings in the woods, or by taking self portraits.

Megan inspires us more than she knows! Her images are so soft, sweet and full of magic. Megan brings a sense of nostalgia and timelessness to every images and they are true treasures. We absolutely love having her in our community and now as an Unraveled Expert Artist!!

For more inspiration from Megan check out her social links below:

Here is Megan, Unraveled…

What inspires your art?

I am inspired by so many things. On the surface, I would say I'm inspired by other artists and my children. But on a deeper level I find inspiration in the books I read, the music I listen to, and from slowing down and taking in what is around me. I feel like inspiration kind of just seeps into my skin not only when I'm actively looking for it, but subconsciously all the time. It is nature, in my house, in my philosophies, experiences, and in my little simpleton, ramshackle, Appalachian culture.

What do you shoot with? Camera body and favorite lens?

I shoot mostly with a Canon R and a Sigma Art 35mm 1.4.

What other ways do you express your creativity?

I express my creativity through mostly through writing and drawing. I keep a hand written journal and am relatively good at keeping up with my blog. I think my brain is always on 100 making up random stories and talking to itself so getting the thoughts out of my brain and on to something tangible- whether a note, a drawing, journal entry or photograph- well, it helps keep my sanity a bit.

How do you de-stress at the end of the day?

At the end of the day my all time favorite way to de-stress is to send my kids to bed, turn on reality tv and eat food without being bothered or having to share.

What kind of music do you listen to while editing?

Ooooh... depends on my mood. Jewel and Alanis Morissette are almost always stuck in my head. But honestly while I edit it's usually to the sound of Bluey and conversations amongst children.

What is your favorite book?

Toughy!! Is there such thing as just one?! Umm- okay so I love memoirs not necessarily about celebrities but just real life folks sharing their experiences with the world. Some I liked were "Educated" by Tara Westover and "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed and "Hold Still" by Sally Mann... gosh I keep thinking of more to add to the list. I'm a fan of Elizabeth Gilbert and Glennon Doyle, sometimes I like books where I can just kind of escape to another land without being a super complex storyline to follow or anything too deep- for example I recently read the novel "Once There Were Wolves" and it was one that stuck out from other novels I've read. My dad is an art-history professor so for as long as I can remember one of my favorite things has been to read through his textbooks which I know is really weird but some of them almost feel like walking through a museum when you flip through the pages.

Name one movie that inspires you.

I'm actually not much of a movie buff and I'm sitting here racking my brain trying to think of some inspirational movie that moved me and it's just not there. I know, it's really lame and I should probably at least google something real quick so I have an answer here.

How do you handle self-doubt or creative slumps?

I feel all the feelings! I might even get frustrated enough to cry. I can usually feel a slump coming, and I try to let it be. I feel like I know usually after a slump, I reach a new level of growth, and that keeps me motivated to let things play out. Sometimes I take a pause from social media which eliminates the option to go down the rabbit hole of negative self-talk and comparison. I don't force myself to pick up the camera or try to create something. I think resting is so important to the process and usually rest comes when the self doubt and creative slumps kick in, almost like they're a signal to my body that it's time to turn inward.

What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey?

The most difficult part has been learning to navigate creating for others vs. creating for myself. I feel like my best work comes when I'm working without fear of rejection, when I am letting go of expectations, and embracing what feels right in my artist heart which I feel like teeters between two personalities of weird/raw and on the other side it's more romantic. Figuring out where I "fit in" or see myself as a photographer/artist has been a real struggle for me, I am not sure if I am someone who is meant to serve clients, or how to better marry what I want to create with having a business. I think there are pieces I am not creating because I don't allow myself to "go there" for fear of being too odd. I think I've been my biggest road-block in unlocking new depths and I have to continue to work past those to let myself find where I actually fit in and what is going to work for me in terms of service/creation.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Pepperoni, bacon and fresh mozzarella.

What is your most favorite kind of light and why?

My favorite light is harsh natural light filtered through windows. I like being indoors and playing with dappled light and reflections, also seeing how the mood can change depending on where you place your subject in relation to the light source and shadows.

Who is one of your favorite photographers?

So many tough questions! I love Sally Mann. I know that's an obvious answer. Francesca Woodman. Lisa Sorgini is someone I really admire, her work feels like such a raw interpretation of motherhood that I so love. Dorothea Lange. And the number of peers I could list here in just insane. The way social media allows us to be connected and share makes it impossible to start a list of those I admire.

What is your favorite course or lesson at Unraveled?

I loved Sasha's Practically Magic- it made me think and I definitely fan-girled and sent her my mood board for her feedback which she was so gracious about. Other courses I find myself revisiting are Teresa Vick's Tapping Into Your Unique Style because it also was really in depth and made me think. Wild Woman by Jackleen Leed. Yeah again, so many favorites. One that I revisit frequently that I feel like helps me with client work is Ace's Newborn's for the Non Newborn Photographer, I find it's such a great approach.