Crafting portraits with purpose: Meg Loeks
Meet Meg…
Meg Loeks is a celebrated portrait artist known for her evocative, Americana-inspired photography that captures the beauty of family life. Her work and workshops inspire artists to blend creativity with entrepreneurship.
Known for her evocative and timeless photography, Meg discusses her journey from discovering photography as a teenager to building a successful career capturing life’s beautiful, everyday moments. Together, We discuss how to transform creative inspiration into a profitable career, from refining technical skills like lighting and composition to cultivating resilience through personal challenges.
Home Life At the center
Meg’s art is all about capturing the heart of home life, and it’s so inspiring! Back in 2016-2017, she really dove into studying art and fell head over heels for Americana. Her absolute favorites? Norman Rockwell and George Hughes! Their art celebrates middle-class family life with a touch of humor—something that resonated deeply with Meg, especially as a parent with young kids at the time.
What’s really cool about Meg’s work is its range. Sometimes her pieces are lighthearted and playful, full of humor that’ll make you smile. And then, out of nowhere, she flips the script—no sugar-coating, just raw, honest storytelling. It’s this mix that makes her art so real and relatable!
Overcoming creative Blocks
When Meg hits a creative block, one of her favorite tricks is to dig out her old work—and it’s such a game-changer! Like all of us at some point, she sometimes wrestles with imposter syndrome and feels like she hasn’t made much progress. But flipping through those older pieces totally shifts her perspective. It goes from “Ugh, I’m stuck” to “Wow, look at how much I’ve grown and improved!” It’s such a great reminder of how far she’s come and the amazing journey she’s on.
making a living not selling photos
Meg is such a talented portrait artist—it’s incredible! She takes these stunning photographs, but here’s the twist: she doesn’t make her living from selling the photos themselves. Instead, Meg’s built her career by teaching others who were drawn to her work in the first place. She’s the perfect example of how artists can create and share their passion, while earning a living in a totally different but related way.
Her career thrives on teaching, hosting workshops, and organizing retreats. It’s such an important reminder, especially for artists who feel stuck trying to sell their art. Sometimes, we get so focused on making money from the art itself that we forget there are other ways to succeed while staying connected to what we love. If selling your art isn’t working out, that doesn’t mean you have to give it up. You can keep creating, keep sharing, and still build a fulfilling career by pivoting into something else that ties back to your passion.
TUNE IN NOW TO HEAR MORE ABOUT:
Strategies for building a distinctive brand and voice in photography
How Meg’s seasonal and home-centered photography style evolved into her signature
Practical steps to overcome creative blocks and keep inspiration flowing
Insights into balancing authenticity with business growth in the creative industry