I follow Love Photographs Beautifully, an online photography community. Each week they spotlight a photographer, and ask them a few questions and share some of their favorite images from them. Sometimes I like to pretend I've been asked to be a guest on their blog, and I wonder how I would answer the questions they ask.
I suppose it might look something like this...
How long have you been a photographer?
I suppose it might look something like this...
How long have you been a photographer?
I've loved taking pictures since I was a kid. I used up rolls and rolls of film with my dinky camera my parents gave me for Christmas one year. I loved those disposable cameras, too - especially the underwater ones.
When I was about 10, my dad loaned me his super-duper, heavy-duty nice camera to take to a cousin's wedding in Idaho. I hardly knew what to do with it besides press "that" button. I ended up losing the camera while on that trip, and I was absolutely mortified to have to tell my dad. I offered to buy him a new one, but he knew as well as I did that that would never happen.
When I went off to college in 2008, I went through a really hard time making friends and adjusting to being on my own. One day I got a flyer in the mail for a local photography class starting up. It was like my golden ticket - I knew this was how I was going to get out of my depression. The class required you to have your own DSLR, so I pulled together everything I had and made the largest purchase I'd ever made up to that point - and I've never looked back.
Since then, I've grown from photographing myself and my friends, to church members, to weddings, to strangers-made-friends, to births, newborns, funerals, and everything in between.
When I was about 10, my dad loaned me his super-duper, heavy-duty nice camera to take to a cousin's wedding in Idaho. I hardly knew what to do with it besides press "that" button. I ended up losing the camera while on that trip, and I was absolutely mortified to have to tell my dad. I offered to buy him a new one, but he knew as well as I did that that would never happen.
When I went off to college in 2008, I went through a really hard time making friends and adjusting to being on my own. One day I got a flyer in the mail for a local photography class starting up. It was like my golden ticket - I knew this was how I was going to get out of my depression. The class required you to have your own DSLR, so I pulled together everything I had and made the largest purchase I'd ever made up to that point - and I've never looked back.
Since then, I've grown from photographing myself and my friends, to church members, to weddings, to strangers-made-friends, to births, newborns, funerals, and everything in between.
When did you start your business?
I have been the owner of an official photography business since July 2013, so just about 6 months.
What’s in your camera bag?
Nikon D600
35mm 1.4
50mm 1.8G
70-300mm that I never use. I would love to replace it with the coveted 70-200mm one day.
Extra battery, chapstick, lens cloth, macro lens filter
Beat up and battered, though very much loved, Nikon D90. My first DSLR.
35mm 1.4
50mm 1.8G
70-300mm that I never use. I would love to replace it with the coveted 70-200mm one day.
Extra battery, chapstick, lens cloth, macro lens filter
Beat up and battered, though very much loved, Nikon D90. My first DSLR.
What is your favorite lens and why?
The two lens I own are my favorites lenses!
My 35mm is most used around the house, photographing my kid and my personal life.
My 50mm is most used for my portrait sessions.
How would you describe your style?
The two lens I own are my favorites lenses!
My 35mm is most used around the house, photographing my kid and my personal life.
My 50mm is most used for my portrait sessions.
How would you describe your style?
Joy. Uninhibited. Real. Relationship-driven. Emotional.
My favorite shots are ones that come from captured laughter or un-posed connections. This is why I love shooting births the most - I give no direction when I am at a birth. I simply capture the natural movement and love and happiness that comes from welcoming a new baby into your family.
What do you love most about photography?
Freezing time.
My first son is now 20 months old and when I look back at pictures of him as a fresh newborn I think to myself, "There is no way I could have remembered him looking like this if it wasn't for this photo, right here." You just forget. Time gets in the way and photos have a way of bringing a little piece of magic back.
Photographs are priceless to me - they are proof of life lived, love given, tears shed, connections made. They are proof that we are real, that we existed.
My first son is now 20 months old and when I look back at pictures of him as a fresh newborn I think to myself, "There is no way I could have remembered him looking like this if it wasn't for this photo, right here." You just forget. Time gets in the way and photos have a way of bringing a little piece of magic back.
Photographs are priceless to me - they are proof of life lived, love given, tears shed, connections made. They are proof that we are real, that we existed.
Who are some of your photography idols?
Natalie Norton was the photographer teaching the class that inspired me to buy my first camera and make my dream become a reality. Her work is timeless. Real captures, real edits, real people.
I also love the wedding work of Three Nails and Katelyn James; the underwater work of Mark Holladay; the film work of Jonathan Canlas; the art of Brooke Shaden.
I also love the wedding work of Three Nails and Katelyn James; the underwater work of Mark Holladay; the film work of Jonathan Canlas; the art of Brooke Shaden.
Describe your ideal session.
An underwater maternity session. If we ever live on the islands again, I will definitely be getting into underwater photography.
I would also love to be a traveling photographer. It's not really in the plans for me now, with little kids to be had and taken care of, but I think it'd be glorious to shoot destination weddings. I have a friend in Dubai - I'd love to stay with her and capture her life for a week.
For now, though, my favorite sessions are ones that are photo-journalistic in nature - births, life-style sessions, weddings, scenery.
Oh, my friend. There are so many reasons why I love you. And hosting your own "I'm cool and famous" interviews is just one of them. This was delightful!
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration! This is fabulous! Keep up the incredible work!
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