Meet Madison C. Gray

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madison C. Gray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madison C., any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Growing up with Bad Kitty Photography, becoming a photographer with it, to then co-owning and now leading the company, I’ve been able to see through the years what can make and what can break a business. My mom says to this day that those who do not evolve, die. Not in the literal sense of course, but as a company fueled by women in self rediscovery, self empowerment, self love and ever changing times of what these things mean, if you do not continue on, you fail. Now the question is to “how do you know” to keep going or to give up. That is a loaded question. For myself, giving up is never an option. Change is always needed, but that giving up? Not for me. Now, if this something is your everything, your passion, your love, your job, or all of these things in one, there is no giving up. If you’re worried, anxious, etc it means you care. If you walk out on a stage and dont get nervous, it’s time for something new. Just keep swimming, great things do not come easy most of of the time. You never know if it will work the way you want it too if you give up too soon.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Let me start by saying this, no it was not easy and it continues to get more difficult, but it’s all so wildly worth it!! Ive always viewed myself as an artistic person. Not in the, “I can paint or I can sculpt artist way”, but more in the way I see things as they are. I think I hear music differently than some. Ive always found looking through a camera lens was the closest way I could explain the beauties in how I see them. Growing up, my mom, Cinnamon Gray, founded and created Bad Kitty Photography. I was surrounded by women in power, women in art and women being women. I then found my love in theatre and dance. I am fortunate to say my family supported me through college with my choice to. be an actor, dancer and photographer. I was a dance major for many years training abroad in Italy, San Diego and New York but decided I wanted more so in the fall of 2018, I was accepted and proudly attended The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. There I was being crafted into the artist I am today. While going to school full time, I also fine tuned my craft as a photographer and took on as co-owner of Bad Kitty in 2019. Right as I thought I was going to graduate and hit the ground running on all my fronts, covid happened. Now I know it took everything from everyone, but we were so close to loosing a company that stood strong for 20 years. We were scared, we didnt know what to do and we thought to ourselves, it’s time to evolve. So we did. Missing my work and not being to act, you could say I hit rock bottom at the ripe age of 25. And with my woah is me mentality, boredom and overall cabin fever, my mom pitched the idea of introducing Bad Kitty to this new app, TikTok. I will admit, I was hesitant at the idea and stuck my nose up to the social platforms, but she was right. So as a team, she and I studied the platform, found things we enjoyed to watch, and realized that we had a vault of 20 years worth of funny stories, experiences, real life drama and chaos that needed to be shared. So then and there, Bad Kitty went digital. Now, nearly 4 years later, we have built an online platform highlighting our studio, staff, clients and real life people as well as myself, my life and my training. If you were to have told me I would have an online presence of clients and fans that would literally ride at dawn for me or my company because of some funny, heart felt or full blown Karen interactions, id call you a liar. But if im being honest, in hindsight, im so incredibly grateful for not only the perseverance of Bad Kitty, and everyone involved with it, but for the opportunities we have had and continue to get through this new era of artistic evolution!

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.
Growing up in San Diego, moving to New York City, traveling abroad to many a different country and now finding myself in Salt Lake City, we’re going outside. Outside it the best time. If my best friend was in town, we’d probably stay up drinking one too many bottles of wine while talking about nothing and everything for hours on end and laughing like a bunch of crazy ladies. Which would mostly likely keep us in bed longer than we wanted the next day, but you know, rotting with your best friend on the sofa is the best way to do nothing. Yes of course we’d eventually pull ourselves together, go grab lunch and get some sun on our skin. But at the end of the day, going out, staying in and trying new things is kinda how we roll.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my chosen family, my fiancé, but most importantly, to my mom. Without, I would not be the me I am today.

Website: https://www.badkittyphotography.com

Instagram: @badkittyphotography

Other: Tiktok: @badkittyphotography