Michelle Gabel: Through the Lens, The Evolving Journey of Photojournalist
Michelle Gabel, a veteran photographer whose career spans decades of newsroom work and now freelance assignments, that evolution has been both a challenge and an opportunity one that mirrors the broader transformation of visual storytelling in America.
Gabel’s photography goes beyond making images, it centers on storytelling that connects with viewers on a deeply human level. Through long-form documentary work, she explores the nuances of individual lives while illuminating larger social issues. Her approach reflects a belief that stories can build empathy, challenge perspectives, and spark meaningful change.
A member of Women Photograph, Michelle’s work has appeared in publications such as National Geographic, The New York Times, New York Magazine, USA Today, ESPN, Global Post, and The Post-Standard. Her photographs have been exhibited both across the United States and internationally. More of her work can be found at her website and on Instagram.
Gabel’s story begins in Lansing, Michigan, where she grew up in a household shaped by creativity, labor, and resilience. Her mother was a piano teacher, her father worked for Oldsmobile at General Motors, and her extended family reflected a blend of artistic and working-class roots. “My grandfather was a union organizer, which I’m really proud of,” Gabel recalled. “My maternal grandmother was an artist and a craftsperson. So, in a way, I’m a product of both worlds the union gave my family stability, and the arts gave us expression.”
That dual influence, structure and creativity would later define her career. Like many young people entering college, Gabel did not have a fixed plan. At Michigan State University, she cycled through several majors before finding her footing. Writing had always interested her, and journalism seemed like a practical way to turn that interest into a career. But it wasn’t until she enrolled in a photography class almost by accident that her direction crystallized. “I couldn’t get into an editing class, so I took a photo class,” she said. “And I just fell in love with it.”
It was the late 1980s, a time when film photography still dominated newsrooms and the digital revolution was only beginning to stir. Gabel immersed herself in the craft, taking additional classes and working for the student newspaper. She began freelancing for the Lansing State Journal, gaining early experience in the field. Her first significant job came soon after graduation a staff photographer position in Binghamton, New York. At the Press & Sun-Bulletin, Gabel found what she describes as a nurturing environment. The newsroom was small, the staff tight-knit, and the opportunities to learn plentiful. “It was just a great place to grow professionally,” she said.
That foundation led to a pivotal moment in her career. A call from a photo editor in Syracuse opened the door to what would become a 21-year tenure at The Post-Standard and affiliated publications. Beginning in 1993, Gabel settled into a role that offered both stability and creative fulfillment. For more than two decades, she documented life across Central New York capturing everything from breaking news to intimate human moments. Like many staff photographers of her generation, she thrived in an environment where stories came to her. The newsroom provided assignments, structure, and a sense of belonging.
But the media landscape was changing. As newspapers downsized and the industry shifted, Gabel faced a decision that many journalists confront: adapt or risk stagnation. She chose to step away from her staff position and return to school, enrolling in a graduate program at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School. “I didn’t really know what else to do,” she admitted. “But I had been taking classes in photography and sociology, and it just felt like the right time.”
Graduate school, which she completed in 2018, offered both technical refinement and intellectual exploration. It also placed her in a classroom alongside younger students, an experience she found unexpectedly energizing. “I was self-conscious at first about being the oldest person there,” she said. “But I loved it. I’m still in touch with people from that program. That sense of community is really important.”
Today, Gabel is navigating the complex world of freelance photography, a transition she describes as both liberating and daunting. “If you had an idea at the newspaper, there was a place to pitch it,” she explained. “Now, you still pitch ideas, but it’s different. You’re often reaching out to people you don’t know. You have to figure out what different clients want. It’s a learning curve.” The shift from staff work to freelancing requires not only creative skill but also entrepreneurial instincts something that doesn’t always come naturally to artists. “You have to sell yourself,” Gabel said. “When you’re on staff, you’re part of an organization. As a freelancer, you’re chasing jobs.”
For someone who initially turned to photography as a way to overcome shyness, that aspect of freelancing can be particularly challenging. The camera once served as a bridge, allowing her to connect with people and enter their lives. Now, she must make those connections before the camera even comes into play. “The camera gave me a way to approach people,” she said. “But now I have to make the phone call or send the email first. That’s a different kind of leap.”
Despite these challenges, Gabel continues to find meaning in her work. She prefers the long-term project. And understands that long-term photography isn’t about capturing moments, it’s about dissolving the distance between herself and the people she photographs. At times her work has witnessed those who are sick and dying, where time is measured in breaths, in pauses, in the quiet weight of presence. In these spaces, the camera becomes secondary to trust.
She moves within her subjects’ lives, bearing witness to their routines, their discomfort, their resilience, and the small, profound gestures that often go unseen. What begins as observation deepens into trusted companionship. People stop performing for the camera; they simply are.
But the work does not end when the project is completed. Michelle stays in touch, with families, with those who remain, sometimes with the memory of those who are gone. Over time, that continued connection carries its own quiet gravity. Grief lingers, shared in the resurfacing in messages, in anniversaries, in unexpected moments of remembrance. Relationships do not disappear; they evolve. She has become a keeper of stories, a thread that ties past presence to present memory. They check in, they remember together, they move forward in small ways. In those moments, the line between photographer and subject disappears entirely. In that ongoing connection, Michelle believes she is not just documenting lives, she is living alongside them and what remains of them. The photograph documents intimate moments, and those relationships carry forward. Michelle has found that she is not just taken and filing away archived images, but she is gathering new friends, whose lives have become inextricably, part of her own.
She contributes regularly to The Central Current, a nonprofit news organization in Syracuse, and takes on assignments for local foundations and community groups. Much of her work remains rooted in the region, though occasional assignments take her farther afield. Nonprofit photography, in particular, has become an important part of her portfolio. These assignments often involve documenting programs that support vulnerable populations or highlight community initiatives.
“I might go in and photograph a program that helps other nonprofits,” she said. “It’s always lovely work.” Yet the financial realities of freelance photography are difficult to ignore. Editorial work, once the backbone of her career, is not always as lucrative as commercial photography. Gabel has had to reconsider assignments she might have declined in the past. “When you’re on staff, you can say no to certain jobs,” she said. “As a freelancer, you have to think differently. You might need to take that commercial job.” That tension between artistic integrity and economic necessity is a familiar one for many in the creative fields. Gabel approaches it with a pragmatic mindset, acknowledging the need to diversify while remaining committed to the kind of storytelling that drew her to photography in the first place.
At the heart of her work is a deep appreciation for human stories. Inspiration, she says, comes from people, their experiences, their struggles, their everyday lives. “I love being let into people’s lives,” she said. “Every time it happens, I’m amazed.” She also draws inspiration from other photographers, often studying photo books and exploring different styles and techniques. While her professional work is largely digital, she maintains a fondness for analog photography, occasionally shooting with a Rolleiflex camera. “There’s something about large-format and film photography that I really love,” she said.
Outside of her professional life, Gabel seeks balance through nature, exercise, and creative pursuits beyond photography. Yoga, cooking, and music all play a role, though she admits she doesn’t practice piano or guitar as much as she would like. “The older I get, the more I want to be in nature,” she said. Family also remains a central part of her life, particularly as she helps care for her elderly mother in Michigan. Like many in her generation, Gabel is navigating the complexities of supporting aging parents while maintaining her own career and personal well-being. “It’s difficult,” she said. “When I’m there, I can’t really work. And when I’m not there, I feel guilty.”
That sense of responsibility, coupled with the demands of freelance work, underscores the broader theme of transition that runs through Gabel’s story. She is part of a generation caught between the stability of traditional careers and the uncertainty of a rapidly changing world. Yet, despite the challenges, there is a quiet resilience in her approach. “I’m grateful for my recurring clients,” she said. Gratitude, adaptability, and a continued passion for storytelling are the qualities that have sustained Gabel through decades of change. As the photography industry continues to evolve, her journey offers a glimpse into what it means to remain committed to a craft while learning to navigate new terrain.