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20 on Tuesday | Final Post | Abbie McFarland

August 30, 2011

Tuesdays have been my favorite during the past year. I’ve been inspired and have learned something new from each and every person I’ve featured on my 20 on Tuesdays. It has been my way of giving back to those individuals that have helped me along in my journey in photography as well as passing the inspiration on to all who have come across my little blog. I’m honored to have been able to feature Wedding photographers, lifestyle photographers, newborn photographers, food photographers, pet photographers, child photographers, sports photographers, and even my favorite weekly photography show. Thank you to everyone who so graciously answered my questions and provided beautiful images for us all to enjoy. I know the questions took time to contemplate and to answer and the images to cull and organize and send. So thank you.

I’ve been contemplating this feature over the last few months and have come to some decisions about the direction my business as well as my blog will be going. As much as I’ve enjoyed 20 on Tuesdays, they do take me quite a few hours to put together each time and I seem to be running out of hours in the day these past few months. I have decided that today’s feature will be the final 20 on Tuesday for me. You can read interviews from amazing individuals in the photography industry on other blogs, including Bloom, and I look forward to our upcoming features.

It’s because I’ve loved meeting and being inspired by other photographers through this avenue that I’ve decided to launch a new journey beginning in September. You will continue to see fellow photographers but in a more personal and meaningful way. I’m SO excited about this project and about my first feature that I almost want to a announce it today! ….. Almost……. Stay tuned here and on Facebook in September for my first post.

**** **** **** **** ****

Film is making a comeback. I’m sure you already know that. I started with film years ago. I never fell in love with film. When digital appeared I fell in love with digital and that’s where I’ve been for the last five years. When I began following film photographers this past year I was intrigued. I was curious. I was interested. But I didn’t fall in love.

Until this session was posted by Abbie McFarland in the Bloom Forum. And finally I fell in love. And I bought a film camera soon after. And am now intrigued, curious, interested, and in LOVE with film when it’s done well. And that’s the part that I’m working at. Shooting film well. It’s my newest passion. Abbie shoots film phenomenally well! That’s why I thought it fitting that I feature Abbie today as my final 20 on Tuesday post. Because she is the one that inspired me to fall in love with film. And isn’t that what these interviews started as? Inspiration.

All the way from DFW, Texas, meet Abbie!

Hi, Abbie!

Tell us a little about Abbie McFarland

I’m busy living the crazy life of a wife and mom. I’m married to my best friend, I’m a mom to three sweet daughters, and we have three dogs (a Rottweiler, an English Mastiff, and an English Bulldog). So, needless to say, it’s a houseful. We are working our way towards building a house on land we own just west of Fort Worth, Texas. I’m a small town girl at heart, living in the suburbs, so we are really excited about the change of pace that moving will offer us. I’ll turn 34 this weekend – I’m amazed at how fast life flies by, and how many things I want to accomplish.

When and how did your photography journey begin?

I’m not one of those people that can say I’ve always had a camera in my hands. It really began for me several years ago as an outlet, something I could use to celebrate my family, but also something that was just mine. I wish I could tell you that I had some great talent for photography from day one, but that’s pretty far from the truth. I’ve grown and learned a lot through trial and error, and I feel like I’m really just starting the journey I want to be on.

I know you recently switched from digital to film. Tell us how you made that decision.

I kept running into the film discussion in various settings, which made me curious about it. I had no prior experience with shooting it, other than an old Olympus that my grandparents bought me when I was younger. At first I dismissed it as something I would be too chicken to try, but it is hard to deny the beauty of it. When Jonathan Canlas released his FIND Guide, I bought it and an f100 immediately. I really loved the simplicity of it, and just found that it was becoming more and more of a pain to shoot with my digital camera. My experience with film is limited, but I’m really loving my results.

What has changed since the switch?

In addition to spending far less time on the computer, it has caused me to be more thoughtful about each individual frame that I take, and far more concerned with what it is that I really want to shoot, and how I want to approach it. By nature, I’m more likely to see things as a big picture, rather than having an awareness of small details. I think film forces you to notice small things and be more willing to critique yourself.

Do clients know the difference between digital and film? Do they seek you out specifically because you shoot film?

Not right now, although as film continues its resurgence, I imagine that many photographers could start getting those questions from clients. People do notice the softness and beauty of it, though.

What’s in your camera bag?

contax 645 + 80mm 2.0 & 45mm 2.8

nikon f100 & d700 + 50 1.4, 60 macro, and 135 2.0

contax g2 + 35mm + 45mm + 90mm

fuji gf670

Now that film is making a comeback, there are more and more labs to choose from. What has been your favorite so far?

Richard Photo Lab. No questions asked.

Talk to us about film. What are your favorite types of film and why?

I’m still at an experimental stage, but I’ve been leaning toward Portra 400 and 800, and I love Ilford 400 and 3200 for black and whites.

How did you learn film? Books, workshops, classes?

In addition to the FIND guide, I’ve also found Jose Villa’s book to be very informative (and filled with beautiful images). Formspring can be a great place to find information, and generally just paying attention to information that experienced film photographers put out there on their own blogs. And then, most importantly, getting out and practicing on my own. I’m also headed to FIND Chicago next summer, which I’m so excited about.

Talk about the difference in post processing with film vs. digital.

what’s post-processing?

seriously, I haven’t been doing a darn thing to my film images, other than a very occasional s-curve or color balance. It’s liberating to not sit at the computer for hours on end.

How has your typical session changed now that you work in film?

I generally know about how many rolls of film I want to use, so that of course determines the number of exposures I have to work with. Before I switched, I had already started to reduce the number of images I was taking at a session, and I have been pleasantly surprised by the ratio of usable images I get when I shoot with more purpose. Also, no more staring at the back of my camera.

What does your ideal session look like?

Is it okay to say that I haven’t defined that yet? I really enjoy working with seniors and newborns, and I really enjoy shooting on our land. We’ve got a few hundred acres to work with that are only shared with a few horses and cattle. Ideally, I will be able to have indoor/outdoor studio space to work with once we move out there.

If time and money were no object, what project would you love to tackle?

My husband’s family has been in the Aledo/Weatherford area for 5+ generations, and his great-grandfather was one of the co-founders of the Fort Worth stock show. I would really love to put together a collection of black and whites that tell a bit about his family history for our kids.

For me, personal projects are crucial in feeding my passion for photography. What has been your latest personal project?

Well, shooting film, for the time being, has been my latest personal project. Our kids are finally old enough now that we’ve gotten to do a little traveling this year. We went to Hawaii in May and to L.A. and Santa Barbara this summer, and in both cases, I took only film equipment along with me. It’s been a great way to experiment without pressure, and it’s fabulous to have vacation pictures that are print/blog ready right at download.

If you could work with any photographer, who would it be?

Although I could give you are really long list of photographers that I admire, my great desire to find my own voice, and put together a body of work that I can be proud of. That’s hard to do if you are paying too much attention to others.

Salty or sweet?

um, both?

What’s the last book you read?

the latest Sookie Stackhouse novel

What is your favorite television show to relax with?

You will probably notice from my answers that my husband is in charge of the remote: True Blood, Sons of Anarchy, and Breaking Bad. Maybe those aren’t relaxing, but they are most definitely engaging. Also, especially with fall right around the corner, I should note that I love my Dallas Cowboys, and when we aren’t attending the game, it’s most definitely going to be on the tv.

If you had to choose your last meal, what would it be?

My husband grills the best fajitas ever. Saturday nights are for cheat meals, so we head to Central Market for fajitas, tamales, chips & queso, bacon-wrapped jalepenos with cream cheese, and mexican cokes. I know, I’m hitting all the important food groups there.

What quote best represents you right now?

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

I never did anything big in my life, but I tried to do small things every day.

my grandfather

You can see all of Abbie’s work HERE.

Thank you, Abbie!

Happy Tuesday.

Tags: 20 on Tuesday, Abbie McFarland, bay area photographer, film photography
Posted in 20 on Tuesday | 14 Comments »

Fifty-two Fridays | Danville California Portrait Photographer

August 18, 2011

This year I’ve teamed up with 19 fabulously talented photographers in a project called Fifty-Two Fridays. Each week we have a theme and our challenge is to post an image that best represents that theme. We are more than half-way through the year and I continue to be inspired and pushed creatively by my fellow photographers.

This week’s theme:

Silver and Gold My sister and her family came to stay with us this week for a last hurrah before school starts again. On their way out, they stopped at a little boutique and picked up these beautiful masquerade masks. My niece humored me by modeling her mask for this week’s theme. Isn’t she stunning?

Next stop in this circle of silver and gold, my talented friend Melanie Pitcher, Memphis, TN Photographer.

Happy Friday!

Tags: 52 Fridays, bay area portrait photographer, danville california portrait photographer
Posted in 20 on Tuesday, Seniors | 18 Comments »

20 on Tuesdays | Sarah Cornish | and A Giveaway

August 9, 2011

Sarah Cornish of My Four Hens Photography embodies three of my favorite things; She is the sweetest person I have never met in person, she lives and photographs in my home state of Connecticut, and she created some of my very favorite “go-to” editing actions. Sarah and I got waaaaay back to the days we frequented a large and popular photography forum. She always had the sweetest, most sincere comments, and still does. She has the most endearing way of calling me (and many others) “sweetie” and “honey”. Sarah is passionate, spiritual, grounded, and gifted. I loved reading through her interview. I’m completely inspired and hope to one day meet her in person because I have a feeling we would be good friends.

Hi, Sarah!

Tell us a few things we should know about Sarah.

I am a total homebody. I love family time and always put my husband and children first. It helps me balance out the chaos and gives me a place to retreat to when I am feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. I am also a creative soul and love to dabble. I love to take on a million projects at once and love to stay busy. Photography has give me something so special. I have a creative outlet while making a means to help support my family and I am so grateful for that. I also am a spiritual woman and honestly believe that everything that is good and positive in my life is attributed to God. He gets all the credit! I am a mother of four children. Sometimes people are fairly surprised to hear this since I am super young (okay not super but youngish lol!) and am only 28 years old. I am married to my amazing high school sweetheart and just got a jump start on the best part of life is all ! He is my number one supporter (and totally hot!!) and seriously inspires and motivates me to strive for all my goals!

How long have you been in business?
I started my Photoshop actions business years a go but just celebrated my second anniversary for my photography business. I feel incredibly blessed it has grown in the ways it did! I would have never began to dream it could reach the potential it has. I hope to only do better and get better as time goes on!

How did your journey to photography begin?
Oh this is tough. I had a tough childhood. My father was a bipolar addict (of many varieties) and I always had the strong urge to make everything around me “pretty.” I found quickly that with some of my creative outlets ( Such as writing and photography) this was totally attainable. I lived in my own fantasy world as a means of survival. When I turned 15 my aunt who is a awesome nature photographer gave me thee biggest gift possible. She let me back pack all over the US with her and taught me some of the basics of film photography. I was INSPIRED to say the least. Being a young mother I couldn’t fund everything necessary to continue the hobby but when my son Noah was born in 2006 I purchased a Canon s3is and rediscovered my love! I upgraded to my first dslr in 2007 and haven’t put one down since then! I am a slow and steady kinda gal though and didn’t hang my shingle right away. I studied and practiced and waited until the right moment to really put myself out there and I am happy I did!

Tell me about your ideal session.
Oh man. Being a gemini I am sure you can all relate that this can change on any given day LOL! I am always a million miles an hour. Today I would say I would love PURE lifestyle. A day in the life. Being so centered around my own family my favorite photos are always the ones of my children. The unsolicited, pure, fun, moody emotive, happy, sad type photos. The REAL raw ins and outs of life. I would love to just shadow a family and caputre genuine moments. I hope to seriously be able to offer this one day. On the other end of the spectrum though I would love to be able to do a totally styled session with lots of fun props just oozing with whimsy. Told ya I am all over the place LOL!

When you were just starting out, is there an image that cemented your decision to become a photographer?
We were struggling. I mean REALLY struggling. Anyone that is coping with this economy right now knows that it is just hard for a family to really make ends meet, especially on one income. For years I have been told to go in business but I wanted to know EVERYTHING I could about not only photography but business so I held off. We eventually reached the place though where it was sink or swim and I knew I had the tools so I put myself out there and was blown away with the response. I am so happy I took those steps because its been a total dream. I am not getting rich off my income but we have enough to finally support our family in a comfortable manor and I get to do something I REALLY love so it is doubly special!

I am in love with your lifestyle approach to family sessions. How much direction do you give your clients before, and during a session?
I do the least amount of posing I can possibly get away with! I will direct a bit or move them to one particular area and basically tell them to stand how they feel comfy. My philosophy is if they look uncomfortable in person its definitely going to shine through in the photos. There are times when a family will NEED to be posed because they don’t know what to do with themselves and I will accommodate then but my goal is to keep things moving. I talk a lot too and sometimes it takes their mind off what they are doing so they don’t realize that they are even posing. It also helps loosen up their expressions.

Shooting in Connecticut, do you ever get tired of all the trees and your lush surroundings? Do you ever long for the desert?
I don’t! Which is funny because I guess maybe I should lol! But I LOVE CT. I love the landscape, the gorgeous colors (especially in fall) the shore and the beach and most of all the old buildings. I am surprised I wasn’t a total history buff growing up because now I am absolutely fascinated with it all. I will say that I did get to shoot in Las Vegas at Red Rock while out there (an engagement session) and it was a BLAST. I do hope to eventually travel and take photos at some point though because I do love variety and think it would be a blast to shoot in different areas all over the country (and maybe the world!)

Not only are you an amazing photographer, but you also have a successful line of editing tools for other photographers. Tell me how that came to fruition.
The Photoshop and editing tools I sell have been SO much fun! I have gotten to connect with so many amazing people and photographers in all different stages and areas of the business. I actually was (wish I still had time to be) a avid digital scrapbooker and always got a ton of compliments on my photos. It was one of my favorite parts of my page and in my opinion the most important part obviously. I always had my own way of doing things and people would ask how I edited my pictures. I started a project 365 years back and peaked some interest with a small following and decided to start selling photoshop actions then because people would ask if I did all the time! I would have never guessed it would be what it is today. I am in total awe!

Do you have a “go to” action that you use more than any others?
I usually do! Or a few anyway I keep in my back pocket! It changes a lot, because as you know in Connecticut the lighting, the seasons and even the locations can make for vastly different types of photos. Right now I am totally digging Pish Posh and Whimsy from Vintage Crush. I also use Just Love from Hippy Dippy Trippy a lot on newborn photos and Fiddlesticks from Fable Action set on indoor pictures. A lot of depends on my mood to of course though! That whole being a Gemini thing again LOL!

Of course we all want to know what equipment you shoot with.
I have been shooting with two camera bodies lately and they are my Canon 5d Mark II and my classic Canon 5d! I use just about ALL My lenses on any given shoot because I am a total prime girl and so I love all the different focal lengths! I have a Canon 35L, 85L, 24L, 15mm Fish Eye, 100L macro, 50 1.4 (which I never use sadly for some odd reason) Canon 90mm Tilt Shift, and a Lens Baby. I hope to get the 135L next!

Tell me about personal projects. Are they important and what have you done lately?
I tried a project 365 and then a project 52 and crashed and burned terribly. I do think if you can pull them off they are AMAZING though and I think I will honestly try every.single. year until I get it!
A lot of people do not know this but my oldest daughter has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Its controlled with medication and she does amazing but I have seen the dark side of this disability and it is heartbreaking watching her cope with some of the things she has to at times. I would love to eventually start offering free sessions to those that are dealing with the same thing in hopes of bringing more awareness and hopefully more funding to it.
Another personal project I hope to eventually take on is to photograph the homeless and battered women. It will have to wait until my children are older as I know it can be a very dangerous project but I would like to try to bring more awareness to this as well.

Photography workshops? Classes? Books?
I have never taken a class or read a book but I am a strong supporter of photography communities. I learned just about everything I know from them. The first one I ever utilized was Ilovephotography.com I wasn’t brave enough to post but I read and just absorbed everything and the caliber of amazingness over there is staggering. I have started to come out of my shell a bit and post now and then but really its free, and AMAZING. I highly recommend them! I also love The Bloom Forum. SO.MUCH.TALENT. and so tight knit. Once my busy season is over I will be stalking them regularly lol! And last but not least is clickinmoms.com Also no shortage of talent and with such a nice range of photographers you really have the opportunity to connect and learn in a non judgmental setting!

If you could be invisible with your camera for a day, what would you shoot?
Oh that would be amazing!
Homelessness. Coming from a background like mine where it wasn’t all peaches and cream I think that it would be amazing to show that these people are indeed people. They are real. They need help. And I think when people think of homelessness they think of drunks and drug addicted angry old men but really a lot of the homeless population are children and pregnant women and families that just couldn’t get their feet underneath them and need help. I really just want to capture what they live with and experience and maybe even help a little in the process.

Name a photographer you’d love to take a portrait of…
Katie from Claire Alyse Photography or Desiree Hayes. Not only are they GORGEOUS and talented but they have the most amazing personalities!

The last meal you ate …
MMmm being the four packets of fruit snacks I just downed for breakfast probably doesn’t classify as a “meal” lol! It would have to be my Steak and Cheese wrap I had for dinner from Mystic Pizza last night. Yum!

Your three favorite songs to edit to at the moment …
Lovely from Sara Haze, How to Love from Lil Wayne, and Rolling in the Deep by Adele. There are really SO many though. Those just popped into my head. I am a big fan of Spotify and Pandora and usually just have that going while I work.

Your guilty pleasure…
Wine… LOL

The last movie you saw in the theater…
The new Transformers flick. AMAZING.

The last book you read…
Are you my mother by Dr. Seuss. My kids can’t get enough!

The quote that best represents you right now…

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4″

What did I tell you? Inspiring, huh?

Sarah’s photography can be found HERE.

Sarah’s Tools for photographers can be found HERE. (My very most favorite action is ‘Stained‘ from her Hippy Dippy Trippy set)

Sarah was spotlighted on The Bloom Blog yesterday. You can read that HERE.

Sarah’s FB Fan page can be found HERE.

Thank you, Sarah!

Have I told you lately how much I love The Bloom Forum? I thought so! It’s my virtual home. I’ve been a moderator now for most of the year and I can attest to Brenda and Kristy’s genuine passion for creating an atmosphere of acceptance and encouragement and sharing and learning and most of all, growing. Bloom is a community of photographers with varying levels of experience and knowledge but who share a passion for capturing a moment of life and creating a lasting memory. Wanna know one of my favorite parts of the Forum? We have some of the industry’s leading photographers teaching mini workshops throughout the year exclusively for our members! Not to mention having some of the best vendors who offer member discounts regularly. Sound good?

I am such a fan of Bloom that I’m giving away a 1 year membership to one lucky reader!

You have three chances to win. All you need to do is:

1) leave a comment below with a little blog love for Sarah

2) Comment and tell me one way you’ve “Bloomed” this year as a photographer.

3) Mention this contest on your FB page.

(Winner must not currently be a member of The Bloom Forum)

I will leave the contest open until Friday August 12th at 11:59pm and announce the winner on Saturday morning August 13th. Good luck!

Tags: 20 on Tuesday, bay area photographer, my 4 hens, photographer interviews, sarah cornish
Posted in 20 on Tuesday | 30 Comments »

Bay Area Photographer | 20 on Tuesday | Amy Lucy

July 11, 2011

Have you missed 20 on Tuesdays? I have! All I can say is: Summer. Moving. Moving. And more moving. There are lots of changes going on with me as well as these interviews, so I can’t guarantee you’ll see 20 on Tuesdays on a regular basis, but I have been dying to feature today’s photographer ever since she agreed to the feature.

Last February I attended the Bloom Workshop in Dallas with a group of amazing fellow photographers. I got to meet several friends I only knew online and a few photographers I hadn’t met before at all. Amy Lucy of Amy Lucy Photography was one of the new friends I met that weekend. I remember being in the studio sharing my method of metering with a few ladies. One of these was Amy. She came up to me asking to show her how I meter. I thought perhaps she was a beginner and didn’t know how to meter for the skin so I took her step by step through the process. She listened attentively and thanked me when I was done. It wasn’t until I went home that week and looked at her blog that I knew she was far from beginner. I was completely blown away by the amazing talent this girl exudes through her work. Her work is the kind that I can look at all day long. It’s clean, beautiful, sincere, honest, natural, and true. Funny, because those are all words I would use to describe Amy. She is kind and sweet and the epitome of goodness. And I am thrilled to share her here on my blog!

Hi, Amy!

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota and now reside just outside the Minneapolis area in Hudson, Wisconsin.
Tell us a little about your beautiful family.

Oh, where to start! I could go on and on. I am so blessed! I have three children who give my life meaning and purpose. My son just celebrated his sixth birthday. He’s the child everyone dreams about – he’s sweet, kind, and joyful. My twin daughters are four, and they are full of life. They were born very premature, and are now healthy, strong, amazing little humans. I have a super supportive husband who provides for our family, which allows me to stay home with our children and pursue photography.

Are you formally educated or self-taught in photography?

I learned everything I could from library books before I ever bought a DSLR. I understood so much about photography and shooting in manual before I ever picked up my camera. I have participated in online and in-person photography workshops, including Bloom and Finding the Light. Lots of practice is what has gotten me where I am.

I know you are the mom of young kids. With all that you have going on at home, how do you balance work and family life?

Balance is always a struggle for me and most moms, I’m sure. I have to remind myself everyday to live in the present and spend quality time with my family. The kids are growing up so quickly and are changing right before my eyes. I don’t want to miss a minute of it, so I always put them first. I accept a limited number of clients each month so I can devote a lot of attention to each one. This also ensures that I have enough time for my first full-time job (being Mom!) and my personal photography projects.

When you’re in a rut, what inspires you?

Anything and everything. An uplifting quote, a great book, a simple word, a silly song, a hand-written note, a gorgeous landscape, cool finds from antique and estate sales, a special client, an expression, a soft breeze… Really, anything.
Talk to me about personal projects. Are they important and what have you done lately?

I believe personal projects are not only important, but they are paramount to my success. I have pages and pages of projects that I hope to accomplish. I have plenty of ambition, my only limit is time! I am currently about half way through a 52-week project with a group of women from The Bloom Forum. I’m just beginning another project with 9 phenomenal photographers called 10 on 10, where we capture our day as it unfolds. I also recently started an ongoing project called Love Letters, which is just for me and my own soul. It’s simply images of and letters to my children, and I’ve wanted to do it for a long time.

What would your ideal photo session look like?

This is a tough one! No matter what I am shooting, be it a sweet, sleepy newborn, playful siblings at home, or a family in a field at sunset, there is always one thing that is so important: emotion. I want people to look at my images and feel something. That is my goal every time I pick up my camera. But if I were to dream up my own perfect session, it would be include a huge open field with blooming wildflowers, golden hour light that would last for about 3 hours, and my own three little ones who are fed, well-rested, and ready to laugh, be silly, and have fun.
If you could be invisible for one day with your camera…

I have always wanted to travel to orphanages in developing countries and capture the lives of the precious children who live there. Some of those children do not have many, if any, photos taken of them. I think it would be so special to photograph them and give them the prints. If I’m really lucky, maybe someday that will come true.

Name one person that you’d love to take a portrait of? And why?

I would love to photograph my father’s mother. She died when my dad was just a baby, and he has no memories of her at all. What I know of her is limited because her parents and only sister have passed away. My grandmother is mysterious to me but also wonderful at the same time. I have many photos of her from when she was a baby until she died at age 21, and I can just tell she was a very special person.

One of my favorite things about you is your crisp, clean, and dreamy photography. Do you do much in post processing?

This question makes me laugh, because yes, I do spend a lot of time in post processing. But most of that time is spent playing around and trying different things. Playing in Photoshop after a session is a little reward I give myself. I play and play and usually settle on a relatively clean look in the end.

What’s in your camera bag?

Nikon D90, Nikon 50 1.4G, Sigma 30 1.4, Nikon 105 2.8 Macro
What have been your three best photography investments so far?

1) My trusty D90, of course, since it’s been with me since the beginning and is still going strong!

2) Any and all photography and Photoshop training.

3) And probably the most important investment has been the two online forums I participate in (ClickinMoms and The Bloom Forum). I have learned a lot there, but more importantly I have met some of the most fantastic, inspiring people I could ever imagine. I am beyond honored to call them my friends. They are always there to support me, celebrate my successes, listen to my latest lofty ideas, and make me smile.

If not a photographer what would you have been?

My graduate degree is in Environmental Health Science and that was my career before I had children. But I always knew I wanted to be home with my children and am so blessed to be able to do just that.

If you could live anywhere on this awesome planet where would you build your dream home?

A completely secluded 100-acre parcel of land on a Pacific island, surrounded by the clear blue ocean and lots of lush vegetation.

What talent would you most like to have?

I wish I were one of those people who only needs 5 hours of sleep a night. I’ve always needed my 8 hours, but wouldn’t it be so cool to have an extra 3 hours a day and not be tired?!
What are the three words your spouse would use to describe you?

Compassionate, sincere, intelligent.

Something that is over rated…

Rushing around trying to do and acquire too much while forgetting to cherish and enjoy the gifts we have at this moment.
Your favorite movie of all time?

Hmmm….that’s tough! I’m not a huge movie fan. I’ve probably watched Dirty Dancing more than any other movie in my life so I’ll stick with that one.

If you could change one thing you did while starting your photography business, what would it be?

When starting out and having so much to learn, it is easy to get caught up in the feeling of inadequacy when looking at the work of seasoned pros. I constantly reminded myself that photography is a journey, not a race to a finish line. It’s all about enjoying the time you spend on photography, not instantly becoming a talented, accomplished, and popular photographer. I want to continue to grow, learn, and evolve over time and, of course, savor every moment of this long journey. So I would give this advice to newcomers: work hard, spend lots of time learning, and enjoy all the small and simple successes along the way.
What quote best represents you at this moment?
“Miracles, in the sense of phenomena we cannot explain, surround us on every hand: life itself is the miracle of miracles.” George Bernard Shaw

Thank you, Wendy, for featuring me on your wonderful blog. You have always blown me away with your talent, but when I met you in person I realized you were so much more than your beautiful images. You’re a devoted mother to four very incredible people, a sensational friend, and a woman who exudes grace and kindness. I’m so fortunate to know you.

Seriously?!? Could she be any sweeter? That just made my day. Amy, I’m a huge fan and know you will continue to enjoy success not only in photography but in life.

Amy’s work can be found HERE.

Tags: 20 on Tuesday, amy lucy, bay area photographer
Posted in 20 on Tuesday | 34 Comments »

Bay Area Photographer | 20 on Tuesday | Joyce Smith

May 24, 2011

I feel a little like an Oprah producer during this, her final week as I wrote this introduction. I have such an admiration for my feature this week that the words kept coming. Bear with me. You won’t be disappointed!

I am so excited for today’s feature! She’s a woman of endless talent. Joyce Smith of Joyce Smith Photography and Joyce Smith Dogs not only captures priceless, whimsical and honest images of children, families, and dogs, but she is also a savvy business person. She’s the brains behind the brilliant business tools for photographers aptly named, WordSmith for Photographers. I can’t tell you how much time she’s saved me as I crafted my business from the ground up. I love the ease and fluidity with which she writes and it’s evident in the products she offers. For example, whenever I’m struggling with an email I’m writing to a client, I can open up Wordsmith’s {What to Write}, find the appropriate file, and after a few tweaks to personalize it, I’ve succeeded in saying what I need to in a sweet and concise manner. I own every single Wordsmith product and highly recommend them all!

I could go on and on about all the qualities I admire about Joyce Smith, but I know you’re more eager to hear from her than from me. I do have to mention one more thing, though. OK. Two more things.

Joyce offered a mini workshop last month on The Bloom Forum called Be Extraordinary: creating exceptional images and a high-end brand from the most ordinary of circumstances! I attended that workshop and have to mention how generous Joyce was of her experiences, her knowledge, her resources, and her time. She answered each and every one of our questions and replied to each and every one of our comments. She walked us through discovering or rediscovering our “brand” and our vision for our art and business. Joyce is sweet, sincere, smart, and generous. It was one of my favorite workshops to date!

And lastly, she is a magician! I say that because, as I’ve had my eye out for a local studio space, I found out that she recently acquired one of her own. When I saw pictures of the befores and afters, my jaw literally fell to the ground. To take what looked like a dark and dated office space from the early 80s and turn it into a bright, crisp, modern natural light studio, she must have either magic, or an incredible eye for potential. Take a look at the pictures she’s included and see for yourself.

Hi Joyce!

Bay Area Photographer

Give us a quick synopsis of Joyce Smith.

Once upon a time I studied 19th-Century British literature (John Ruskin fans, anyone? I didn’t think so!) and thought I would become a professor. I left academia for photographing Philadelphia’s most adorable children (and pets!) and have never looked back. I share my colonial home (that I so desperately want to be mid-century modern) with my husband, almost 7-year-old daughter, an incorrigible Welsh Corgi puppy, and a truculent senior cat who is still plotting her revenge after our ultimate betrayal of acquiring said puppy.

In one of your workshops I took just recently, you walked us through writing our own manifestos. How would you describe yourself as a photographer?

I always feel that, as a photographer, I am a bit shy. Note . . . this does not mean I am above making a complete fool of myself at sessions, though! Whimsical and humorous images are my most favorite. I have some moody moments but I think a lot of my work is fanciful and tongue in cheek. I love unexpected images–like a toddler in a tutu at the bathroom sink–or ones that reveal moments of truth that others might relegate to the “cutting room floor.” One example that comes to mind is the sibling/newborn shot where the sibling looks none too sure about the arrival of this newest, cutest, attention-getter.

When working with children, what is your best tip for getting them to relax and feel comfortable with you?

Besides the aforementioned nutty behavior, I never push babies or kids–ever. I take what they are happy to give me at the time and I wait it out if necessary. If a parent is attempting to “make” the child do something, I always jokingly say “Well, we could force him to sit there but then we wouldn’t really want THAT picture on the wall, right?” It always works. In watching photographers work with children during workshops (ones I have taken in the past, not those I have taught), I’ve seen how results can be hampered when the photographer does not tailor his or her approach to the individual child.

Where do you turn to for inspiration?

I definitely find inspiration all around me–in films, television shows, magazines, and of course in the images of my photographer friends. When decorating my studio I became a design blog addict. Apartment Therapy, Decor8, Design Sponge, and Making it Lovely are just a few of the blogs that inspired me. For shopping I turned to Design Within Reach, High Brow Furniture, Velocity Art and Home Design, Design Public, All Modern, Hive Modern, and local shops.

In terms of photography, I was definitely inspired by Audrey Woulard when starting out and apply some of her business advice to this day. I’ve always been inspired by the perfection of Carrie Sandoval’s work and Jesh De Rox has taught me as much about life as about photography. I’m always inspired by Stephanie Rausser, Sharon Montrose, Elizabeth Messina, Mark Tucker, Anna Kuperberg, and Jose Villa. And of course the work of my lovely photographer friends such as Daveen Lindley, Lisa Maksoudian, Lisa Slotsve, Rebecca Mudrick, Cheryl Muhr, Stacey Woods, and Patti Schmidt is ever-inspiring! I could name a hundred more.

Recently you acquired your own studio space so you can shoot both on location and in the studio. Walk us through the process from idea to finished product. And what criteria did you have when looking for a space?

A studio had been in the back of my mind for quite some time, as it is for many of us I’m sure, even though I am known as an on-location photographer and still love shooting in client homes. I reached the point, though, where I just could not take on more clients than I already was and continue to drive all over creation for each session. Or maybe I should say I reached the point where I did not want to do this any longer! Being able to have a place to shoot at least some sessions where some of the variables–of distance, of light, of decor–could become constants was the driving force behind finally making the leap. I also wanted a place to meet with clients before the session if they wish and for ordering if they prefer (though I am still all online for ordering, the option is there). Finally, I wanted to free myself from the “have beanbag, will travel” routine for newborns! Now I do indeed still have my beanbag, but it most definitely opts not to travel. Clients have the choice of studio or home for newborn sessions, but know that they will bring babies to me if they’d like that curled up, naked look. My space heaters are ready and they too no longer travel!

Shopping, shopping, and more shopping! It was so fun to choose the decor and make decisions unilaterally with no husbands and little practicality to consider. I wanted the space to be child-friendly, but it didn’t need to be ready for daily living, in other words. I love a good research project and went a little crazy, as I am wont to do, obsessing over all the details. The studio is still not 100% where I want it to be, but I’m sure that will be a never-ending process.

The space I choose, while it had many things going for it (hence the choice), also had numerous issues that needed to be worked around. It was truly hideous when I leased it and had some problems that could not be completely solved (such as unsightly baseboard heaters, which I definitely do not want to appear in any images!). Because I wanted a space that I could maximize shooting options in and because I do not use traditional backdrops, it was a challenge to hide certain things and yet still have a functional space. Little things continue to challenge me . . . like office workers next door who take cigarette breaks in front of my windows–oy!–but I maintain that the only difference between this studio and others I might have leased is that I didn’t know all the problems that came with those spaces yet! Nevertheless, I love having the studio and was at a point where I was determined to try it out, come what may. I just signed another year’s lease in February and so far so good. The space I chose, in short, needed to have sufficient natural light, needed to be in a neighborhood that could be “Anystreet, USA,” needed to have parking (it’s at a premium in the area), and needed to be pet-friendly.

Studio lights or natural light?

Natural light! I did recently use a Spider-lite on a very dark day for a newborn who could not be rescheduled, however. I know how to use a flash as well as a strobe and the continuous lighting, but no image you’ve seen of mine has used any of these. I wanted to learn, of course, but in the end preferred natural light 100%.

Your business has also expanded into pet photography. How did that come about?

I’ve always loved pets and have incorporated them into family shoots as often as possible–from a series with three cats, “the firstborns,” at a maternity shoot to getting Fido in the master bedroom with everyone else. While my pet photography market and children’s market truly have not intersected–the pets ARE the children in my pet shoots–I did start with friends of my portrait client families and it took off from there. I just love it!

What has been the funniest experience with your pet photography so far?

Getting two pugs to sit still on a white leather bench is certainly pretty humorous. :) I remember one of my earliest experiences photographing a cat other than my own, the maternity session I mentioned above, featured one kitty who was NOT happy to see me. As I approached the windowsill where all three cats perched, he let out a low growl that told me he meant business. At that moment I wished that my 85mm were on the camera rather than my 50mm!

When I first started out, I bought all kinds of actions and workshops and textures and marketing materials and wasted lots of money in the process. Since then I have refined my photography must-have list, thrown out the things I will never use and covet the products that I love. Among my must-haves are your Wordsmith products. They have been invaluable to me in creating and maintaining a professional business and in saving me countless hours creating everything from scratch. What is your latest product and are there others in the works?

Thank you so much!! The positive feedback I’ve received over the years has been incredibly gratifying and humbling. When a photographer writes to say how invaluable the guides have been, how sales have risen, or how time has been saved and offers a heartfelt “thank you” to me, all I can think is “Thank YOU for supporting WordSmith!”

The two latest offerings are Session Stories: Volume One and More {What to Write}. The former is unlike anything I’ve seen, a hybrid of sorts between a posing/inspiration guide, a magazine interview, and a behind-the-scenes instructional look at two real client sessions. More {What to Write} is just that . . . anyone who ever written to ask, “Do you have an e-mail response to this???” will find their question answered here and much more.

Two big WordSmith projects will be released in June. One is still under wraps, but I can tell you that the other will be The Hello Guide, my detailed, elegant studio book.

What are your top five photography must-haves?

Camera that works well in high ISO situations. Fast prime lenses. Photoshop. A clear vision of your brand. Kindness to all.

If you could take a portrait of another photographer, who would it be?

I will choose my lovely friend Lisa Maksoudian, who claims not to be photogenic. I would like to disprove this theory.

Aside from photography, what else are you passionate about, or at least very interested in?

Music, literature, design, religion, nutrition . . . not happy unless I have something to research and analyze!

If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?

All signs point to English teacher.

What’s your best tip for balancing work and family?

You presume I have balance. Silly Wendy! To be fair, I do have a bit more balance than I used to. Now that my daughter is in school, I make it a point not to be at the computer after she comes home. I will confess to sneaking in here or there but I literally will TELL myself to get up and leave. Cat’s in the Cradle and all that jazz. :)

With that said, I do work a lot. A lot. As in, most of the time. As in, when I go to the grocery store on a Tuesday or try to organize the playroom it feels like a break or mini-vacation to me. Part of the reason my trip this summer (see below) is so important to me is that it will ensure that I forgo work for at least three weeks. I have found that nothing ensures that I will say NO more than a non-refundable airline ticket somewhere, and my family deserves that dedicated time and I do too!

What’s your favorite holiday and why?

I must go with Christmas, although religiously speaking Easter is more important to me.

Something that’s overrated…

Egotism. Not confidence, egotism.

What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?

Rio, on Saturday. : )

Where can we find you on a typical Saturday night?

Sitting at home with my husband enjoying some TV.

What would your ideal vacation look like?

I’m taking it this August! I’ve rented a flat and I’ll be going with my daughter to London for most of August. Our goal is to live like a Londoner and enjoy the city and we’ll be joined by my husband at the very end. I’m trying to start a tradition of doing this each August and even have my wish list in the works (2012, Paris; 2013, Tokyo; 2014, Sydney). I did not go overseas until I was in graduate school and really want to offer this experience to my daughter. Counting the days!

What quote best describes you at this moment?

“I love the mornings! I clap my hands every morning and say, ‘This is gonna be a great day!‘ “–Dicky Fox, Jerry Maguire’s mentor in Jerry Maguire

Even on days when I feel tired or uninspired, I say this to jolt myself out of it. True story! I clap my hands and say it, I laugh, my husband laughs, and then I go shoot my session. :)

See what I mean??? She’s one of my favorite people.

You can find Joyce’s work HERE.

Thanks, Joyce!!!

Tags: bay area photographer, Joyce Smith Dogs, Joyce Smith Photography, The Bloom Forum
Posted in 20 on Tuesday | 12 Comments »

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