Meet Megan Arndt | Fine Art Photographer and Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Arndt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work/life balance is not easy to achieve, as anyone with a career knows! I think the idea of true, everyday balance between our work lives and our home lives is a myth. Over the course of a year, there are weeks or months when a career will take precedence, and there are stretches of time when family will necessarily become more important.

This idea of balance between the two spheres of our lives is something I’ve discussed often with my photographer friends, particularly those fellow mothers. I think along with parenthood comes a certain amount of guilt. Am I giving my kids what they need? Am I focusing too much on my career? Am I letting these years pass me by?

As a mother of 4 boys who are growing up way too fast, my priority has always been my family. I want to arrange my schedule so that I can be there for their important milestones, so I can chat with them at the end of the day and hear their successes and failures. However, I also recognize that I am my own person with my own goals and drive. I need to be able to feed my spirit in a way that’s fulfilling and separate from the needs of my family life.

Over the course of many years of traveling without my family and closeting myself away in my office during busy seasons, I have come to realize that I am a better, more patient, and more loving person when I give myself the gift of a career. I can fill my cup through creating art and teaching others to do so, which in turn means I have more to give to my family. Being away from them means I appreciate them all the more when we’re together, and the time we spend together is quality time. (I think we can all understand the need for quality time versus quantity time after being shut in together during the pandemic!) And being able to lean on each other during busy times means that we recognize that we’re all equal partners in this family, and gives us all a sense of ownership over our family unit.

And so I find it easier to navigate the (im)balance of work and home life by knowing that having one enriches the other, and that while there may be stretches when it seems as though one aspect is taking over the other, it will all even out in the end.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always loved photography, even as a young child. I have forever had a camera in my hand and been the self-proclaimed family documentarian. I never considered it as a possibility for a career, however, as I didn’t go to art school or have the credentials that I considered necessary to become a professional photographer. I had a separate career in teaching (which it turns out isn’t all that different from what I currently do!), and only decided to get more serious about learning the art of photography as a hobby so that I could document my kids growing up in a beautiful and meaningful way.

My career has developed really organically, and was not something I ever thought I would be able to accomplish (even though in my heart of hearts I always wanted to be a photographer). As I dove deeper into the world of photography and art, I discovered a true passion for it that quickly became an obsession. Pursuing this passion has led me down a road I never envisioned for myself, but I am forever grateful for.

I am somewhat of a restless creator. I love to try new things and to shoot every genre. I find joy in the process of learning and discovery, and love fostering that spark in other photographers. However, whether I am shooting landscapes, macro, food, or portraits, my art all has a common voice. I am drawn to contrast in all forms: light and shadow, warm and cool, close and far, motion and stillness. I think capturing the yin and yang of life shows the beauty of all the highs and lows of the human experience.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live just outside of Chicago, which is one of the most amazing cities in the world. There is nothing like Chicago in the summer! If I had a friend visiting, we would spend all of our time downtown. I would take them on an architectural boat tour down the Chicago River and onto Lake Michigan to learn the history of the city and its buildings. We would spend a day at Museum Campus, visiting the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium, and the Shedd Aquarium. We would take in the skyline at sunset from the lakefront by Museum Campus, and watch the fireworks over Navy Pier. I would be sure to take them to the top of the Hancock Observatory to get the most amazing views of the city and the lake, and then have a drink at the Cloud Bar.

Of course we couldn’t miss walking through Millennium Park and seeing Cloud Gate (or “The Bean,” as it is known around here), and afterward the Art Institute would be a must.

And oh, the food! I could talk for days about where to eat and what to get. There is a never-ending supply of amazing restaurants here in Chicago, from hot dog stands to Michelin-starred eateries. I think you can’t come to Chicago, however, without trying the classics: a Chicago-style hot dog, a beef sandwich (with spicy giardinara!), a deep dish pizza (Lou Malnati’s is the best), and Garrett’s signature popcorn.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have influenced me over the years and inspired me to do what I love to do. First, of course, is my husband and family. They have been incredibly supportive of me chasing my dreams and working hard to pursue my passion for photography. I count myself lucky that I have their unwavering love and support!

I wouldn’t be where I am without all of my friends and mentors who have been a part of my journey, celebrating my successes and listening to me cry over my failures. From Melissa Wilson, who first took me under her wing and taught me to shoot in manual mode, to Kristen Ryan, who is my go-to photography friend and travel buddy, I am beyond grateful that these people have come into my life and enriched it beyond measure.

And last, one of the best things to come out of my career has been finding my photography community. Having a group of like-minded female artists to work with, bounce ideas back and forth with, and be inspired by has been key to my growth. I am a photography mentor at Click Community, where almost 10 years ago I joined a fantastic and supportive group of female photographers and educators that I am proud to call myself a member of. I have also loved having the opportunity to teach with Click Photo School for the last several years, as well as teach in person with Click Away Conference. All of these outlets have allowed me to meet and befriend countless photographers from all over the world and give me a network of support that has been invaluable.

Website: www.meganarndtphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganarndtphotography/

Image Credits
Andrew Arndt