A coffee with Madison
Welcome to the club! To begin, who is Madison?
Hi! I’m Madison, founder of 35mm Co. I’m 25 and live in New York City.
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I grew up in Melbourne, Australia and moved to New York City a year ago!
What sparked the idea for 35mm Co?
I listed an old film camera for sale on Facebook marketplace, where it sold for five times the listed price! This sparked my interest in buying and selling vintage cameras during my first year of university, despite not knowing anything about photography at the time.
I resold vintage cameras for a year before running into supply issues, and quickly turned my attention to developing a film camera of my own. In 2021, I launched The Reloader to market - a beginner friendly, easy to use and super chic reusable film camera! It fills the gap left by single-use disposable cameras. I dropped out of university and sank my life savings of $50,000 into the first shipment.
What drew you to New York originally?
The opportunity! I had never visited America prior to moving to New York, but I was so intrigued by the city, the market, the people and the culture. I wanted to experience it myself and be on the ground to truly understand how startups grow and thrive in the US.
What were you thinking most about when first founding 35mm Co?
Keeping up with demand! I didn’t have a long term plan or idea of what I wanted to do with the company - I took it day by day, tackling problems as they arose.
What’s your favorite photo you’ve ever taken, and what’s the story behind it?
Oh! I love these fashion week photos I took. It was our first year working backstage and I had so much fun capturing the nerves, excitement and chaos of fashion week on 35mm Co. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8T2m6WRngS/?img_index=2&igsh=MWgyd3MwMjNtMTB0NQ==
How do you relax after a long day?
I love infrared saunas! I always take a book in and read for an hour - it’s the best way to calm my nervous system after a long work day.
Before we wrap up, we have to ask! How do you take your coffee?
Iced matcha latte with almond milk and honey!
