Sweet newborns
Kiddos
Couples 
Family
Posted on April 29, 2011
Kelly Willette (fabulous photographer and designer) over at Willette Designs has started a fabulous series. This series is called “Right Now”. I love her series, although, I’ve been way behind on the others. I love her series because they urge you to pick up your camera more and shoot for you. Thanks for another fabulous series Kelly!
This week you were urged to grab your camera and shoot your “right now.” Well, here is what my “right now” is: A little sweet 3 y/o who is feeling a little under the weather.
That is what my “right now” is for now. Hopefully, it will be back to normal soon.
Posted on April 28, 2011
It’s time again for another fantastic photographer here on Talk To Me Thursday. This photographer I’ve “known” for 6 years. I remember when she got started her photography business, and I thought that it was so neat that she had her own business. That was back when I loved taking pictures, but didn’t know anything about turning them into art. We didn’t meet through a photography forum (gasp!!!), but we did meet online. We met through the blog community, and it has been a fabulous 6 years of watching each other’s families grow up. Even though we have never met, we have watched each other go through the normal day to day things. Happiness, sadness, health issues, moves, and of course, the best thing…watching our kids grow. She is such a sweet, and caring gal. I’ve watched her and her family move several times, and now they’re way closer to me, so one of these days we will need to meet up. She has the cutest kids (my cat even has the name of one of her kids, and let me tell you, the personality and the name go hand in hand 
), and her husband is a fabulous cook. Well, unfortunately, I’ve never been able to taste his cooking, BUT I’ve heard about it, and seen it. So, let me introduce this long time friend and fellow photog friend of mine.
Let’s say hello to Clairissa Cooper!!!
Clairissa Cooper – Clairissa Cooper Photography
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas Photographer
Where are you from? Where do you currently live?
I like to claim Mesa, Arizona as my hometown, though I didn’t grow up there.
I love where I currently reside, which is the fabulous town of Flower Mound, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
What does photography mean to you? What attracted you to photography?
It means having a creative outlet in the midst of a full and busy life of being a wife and mother. Having something that I can call ‘my own’ is priceless and much-needed.
Describe the area of photography you specialize in? Why did you choose this area?
I claim to ‘do it all’ and have. It’s been hard for me to pick one area of photography because I like new challenges; I like new adventures and picking a niche seems so limiting. But maybe that’s just me making excuses 
If I had to pick ONE thing I would love to specialize in, it would be high school senior girls. Glamour, fashion, beauty, flirtiness, willing to get out of a comfort zone for photography-sake = super fun.
How long have you been a photographer?
Going on five years now. I’ve had my ups and downs, but loved every second.
Is it only you with your business, or do you have an assistant?
Solo, but I have shot weddings with assistants.
Are you self taught or have you attended formal schooling? What workshops/seminars have you found useful to you?
Self-taught, but if you go waaaaay back, I took several classes in high school! As for workshops, I’ve been to a few Nikon School classes and have enjoyed those. I’m dying to get to a Zach Arias one-light workshop.
Morning or night owl?
Morning for sure.
If you could describe your style of photography in 4 words, what would they be?
Contemporary/artistic, yet natural.
Who is your family? Include some pictures of them since we all know that our family is always in our photographs.
3 kiddos aged 7, 5 and 2 and a husband I’ve been happily married to for 10 years. We’re quite the loud and rowdy bunch, but we embrace it!
Images courtesy of Kacey Reed of K&K Photography
Images courtesy of Kacey Reed of K&K Photography
What is a project that you would like to do this year with your photography?
I’ve been dying to try the Through The Viewfinder technique with an old Kodak Duaflex vintage cam.
How do you balance work, and your family?
I balance by not taking on too much work. This is not a full-time job for me and I’m a big believer in times and seasons. For now, I’m happy being present (and not continually in front of a computer) for my children here and now. Once my youngest starts kindergarten in a few years, I’ll be ready to kick it up a notch and devote more time to business. I keep looking for the quick and easy answer to balance, but sadly there is not one. It’s an ever-evolving factor that you have to continually pay attention to. Taking a step back once in a while and evaluating what is really important to you helps to make those choices for you.
We all want to know…what’s in YOUR bag? What lens could you not live without?
Nikon D200 (nothing fancy schmancy here), 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4, 28-70mm 2.8, 70-200mm 2.8. For now, my fav glass would have to be the 28-70mm 2.8. But I can see that easily changing to the 50mm once I get a full frame camera.
If you could photograph any person in the world, who would it be? Why?
Rather than a person, I’d love to photograph the city of Paris. How fun would it be to have a day there where you weren’t running around trying to see every museum or eat at every great restaurant? Just taking your time, wandering the streets and shooting whatever inspires you. Catching little vignettes of life there and rushing home to frame them!
If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?
I have developed a passion for natural medicine and holistic healing. I would love to be a naturopath, herbalist, aromatherapist, homeopath.
What are 4 words your husband would use to describe you?
creative, energetic, selfless, serving
What helps keep you motivated with photography?
This seems to ebb and flow with time. When I’ve gone out and taken some inspiriting photos that truly move me, that reignites the fire.
Tell us about some of your long term goals (with photography or personal life)?
I want to be the best photographer that I can be personally, without sacrificing other things in my life that are more important. Again, the balance issue.
What blogs do you love to stalk (doesn’t have to be photography related if you don’t want)?
I used to stalk photography blogs all the time, but have found that I do better work when I stay away from them. Crazy, right? But when I do feel the urge to sneak a peak, I love Jonathan Canlas. He’s a genius. – http://canlasphotography.blogspot.com/
Rebekah Westover. http://rebekahwestover.blogspot.com/
You Look Nice Today Photography – http://youlooknicetodayphoto.com/
Non-photography blogs that rock area:
The Enlightened Homemaker – http://enlightenedhomemaker.blogspot.com/
Mel’s Kitchen Cafe – http://www.melskitchencafe.com/
Hip To Save (have gotten some crazy good deals bc of that site) – http://hip2save.com/
When you’re not shooting, what are you doing?
Playing with my kids, working in my garden, cooking in the kitchen, driving the kids to school/soccer/karate, cleaning my perpetually dirty house.
Where is one place you would love to travel to?
I’m dying for a family vacation to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. One of my favorite places I’ve ever been.
What is one thing that you want to do in your life?
I’m going for the more philosophical answer on this one Be more Christ-like.
What is a quote that means a lot to you?
Oh boy, so many to choose from. This one is applicable to me right now. It’s in reference to motherhood.
” Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your
tasks. Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the
miracle.” – Thomas S. Monson <——Love that man! (Said by Melanie)
If you could pick one photographer in the world to do a session for you, and your family, who would it be and why?
Jonathan Canlas. I just can’t get over how he can make the most ordinary of people look so fantastic, the plainest of backgrounds stand out and make a statement. Every photo is beautiful in its own right. I love his work.
If you could photograph one area of photography for a day, what would it be, why? (Something other than what you photograph, i.e. architecture, food, boudoir, birth, etc.)
ROCK BAND photography. This is a secret dream of mine. I had a small taste of it when photographing promos for a local band in Georgia and fell in love with it. It was an entirely different animal than what I had done in the past. A different way of thinking, a different way of shooting and it was so awesome.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in photography, what would it be?
Don’t spend much time on the internet looking at others’ work. Keep your inspiration on a short list or you could waste a lot of time looking at what others have done, but not spending time on your own craft. It is easy to get lost in the sea of blogs. Focus, stay motivated and don’t compare yourself to others. Also, invest in time to practice. A wise photographer once told me that you should be shooting personal work at LEAST 3 times as much as paid work. It’s the only way to improve.
What magazine could you not live without?
The Ensign. It’s chalk full of inspirational messages, spiritual enlightenment, and it keeps this wonderful life in perspective.
Please include some of your favorite images….
Thanks so much Clairissa for visiting us and being featured this week! It has definitely been fun knowing you over these last years, and it’s awesome having you featured this week. It’s been a blast watching all your kiddos grow up, and watching your photography! One of these days, we will definitely have to meet up. We need to get all of our xanga buddies.
Thanks again Clairissa!!
Posted on April 21, 2011
It’s Wednesday as I’m writing this but, by the time it posts, it will be…..Talk To Me Thursday!! I’m totally loving this feature. It’s so much fun getting to know these photographers better, and it’s also helping me learn to ask people for things. I’ve always been the type that has worried about asking people things, b/c hey, they could say no. However, they can’t throw anything at me, so guess what…if they say no, they say no. Everybody has been excited to do it, and it’s been fun. This photographer today has been a pretty loyal reader of Talk To Me Thursday, unlike SOME people (cough cough Dayna) . I thought that since she loves reading it, and I love checking out her work, she would be a great one to feature. So, let’s go ahead and meet this wonderful gal, shall we?
Say hello to Rebecca!!
Rebecca Morfeld – Rebecca Morfeld Photography
www.rebeccamorfeldphotography.com
Jefferson County, Missouri Photographer
Grab a snack and your drink of choice…I tend to get chatty. lol! <—- —-words from Rebecca!
Where are you from? Where do you currently live?
I currently live just outside Festus, Missouri…a town about 30 miles south of St. Louis. I was raised in another small town in Missouri, only about 10 minutes (if that) from where I live now. I’ve never lived anywhere outside of the same county.
What does photography mean to you? What attracted you to photography?
It sounds so cliché, but what photography means to mean is being able to capture a moment in time. I’m a hoarder, so to speak, of sentimental memorabilia…be it ticket stubs, birthday cards or drawings my daughters gave me when they were younger. I can pull out these items and remember the time and the place, the event, or whatnot.
Photos do the same thing for me. I want to remember everything, so I take pictures of everything. Maybe one day, when I look at a photo of my remote control, it will spark of a memory of what television shows I liked to watch. At least, I hope I’ll remember! J
Wanting to have better photos for my scrapbooks is what first attracted me to photography. I was also frustrated with the shutter lag on my point and shoot camera because I kept missing shots. My husband bought me my DSLR camera for Christmas on year and at first I just shot on auto and the different shooting modes. Then, I decided if I was going to have this “fancy” camera, I might as well learn how to use it. lol!
Describe the area of photography you specialize in? Why did you choose this area?
I don’t specialize in any one area right now and I don’t know if I ever will. Right now I’m just enjoying capturing memories for whoever will allow to me to be a part of their lives for a little while.
How long have you been a photographer?
If you mean how long I’ve been actively involved in photography, the answer is about 3 years. If you mean how long have I been in business…7 months.
Is it only you with your business, or do you have an assistant?
It’s just me, but my husband and my daughters are very supportive and help me out with ideas.
Are you self taught or have you attended formal schooling? What workshops/seminars have you found useful to you?
I’m self taught in the sense I haven’t had any formal schooling in photography. I’ve learned thing on my own by reading books and reading tutorials online. However, if it weren’t for kind and generous people sharing their knowledge on a photography forum I belong to, I wouldn’t be where I am today. (Hello, Peas!!)
Morning or night owl?
Ummm… mid morning to afternoon person.
If you could describe your style of photography in 4 words, what would they be?
Good question! Lol! Sometimes I wonder if I even have a “style”. I like my images to look natural, pretty close to how I saw them when I snapped the shutter. Every once in awhile I’ll play around with different or funkier processing, but I’ll do a “clean” edit of the same image as well.
I’m coming back to this question after thinking on it for a bit: my 4 words would be:
simple, natural, emotional and fun.
Who is your family? Include some pictures of them since we all know that our family is always in our photographs.
My family includes my husband, Ernie…we’ll be married for 20 years this July. We were high school sweethearts, so we’ve actually been together for 24 years. I have two daughters, Heather, 19 ½ and Wendy, who will be 11 in a few weeks. Also in the family is a fat orange tabby cat, Rufus, and Heather’s white mouse, Moose. (who is a girl).
What is a project that you would like to do this year with your photography?
I’m doing a 365 project this year. So far I’m doing pretty well. I’ve only missed a few days here and there that I’ve had to make up for. I also want to be better about printing and displaying my personal photos.
How do you balance work, and your family?
I strive to make family always come first.
We all want to know…what’s in YOUR bag? What lens could you not live without?
Well, really, I don’t have much in my bag. I have 3 lenses: an 18-55mm, a 55-200mm, and a 35mm (1.8). I’ve had the 35 mm less than a month, but it’s already the lens I couldn’t live without. I also have a flash and some macro filters I like to play around with.
If you could photograph any person in the world, who would it be? Why?
Let’s see, at the risk of sounding too far out there, I’m going to say Jesus Christ. Why…because, well, He’s Jesus. Lol! And He is love. Can you imagine capturing an image of tangible love? I realize that may sound sappy, or whatever, but I’m just being me.
If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?
A librarian. So, now you know…I’m a geeky sap. Lol!
What are 4 words your husband would use to describe you?
It’s a good thing I asked him because what I thought he would say was incorrect. He said: perky, easy going, loving and artsy.
What helps keep you motivated with photography?
Seeing all the amazing work from other photographers…it makes me want to shoot more and better.
Tell us about some of your long term goals (with photography or personal life)?
Photography wise, one of my long term goals is to be successful enough in my business so I don’t need to substitute teach anymore. (If any of the teachers I sub for are reading this…I’m sorry!! J ) Personally, one of my long term goals is to be published. I’m a wanna be children’s book author. I have several manuscripts collecting dust in a file drawer.
What blogs do you love to stalk (doesn’t have to be photography related if you don’t want)?
My blog reading is very random. Someone will post a link, I’ll go to that blog, read it, love it, bookmark it, then forget about it. lol! Then, one day I’ll remember, go back and read and it starts all over again. I do have 3 I visit almost every day: The Pioneer Woman, Bits & Pieces (scrapbooking, Cathy Zielske’s blog) and Cake Wrecks.
When you’re not shooting, what are you doing?
Laundry. Lol! Okay, okay, substitute teaching, knitting, editing, cooking, reading Facebook.
Where is one place you would love to travel to?
Germany. My husband’s family is from Germany, and I also have ancestral roots there. 
What is one thing that you want to do in your life?
Oh, gosh! Another hard question! There is SO much I want to do. I really can’t answer.
At the beginning of the year, I made a list of 40 things I want to do or accomplish this year. Some of the items on the list are serious, most are not. Haha!
What is a quote that means a lot to you?
Philippians 4:13 -
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
If you could pick one photographer in the world to do a session for you, and your family, who would it be and why?
I would love to have any of the fabulous photographers I’ve had the pleasure to meet (both in person and online) do a session for my family. It would be so fun to have lots of different photos all done in different, unique ways.
If you could photograph one area of photography for a day, what would it be, why? (Something other than what you photograph, i.e. architecture, food, boudoir, birth, etc.)
I often photograph food, but I think it would be fascinating to spend the day watching and participating in a food shoot for a magazine or some other publication. Um….holy heck…this looks yummy. Thanks Rebecca!
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in photography, what would it be?
Don’t give up…sounds so “high school commencement” speech to say it, but it’s true. There are times when learning how all the different aspects of photography work together will be incredibly frustrating. You might feel like throwing the camera out the window. Don’t, it cost too much money. Just take a break for awhile. Or put the camera in Auto and take pictures just for the fun of taking pictures, not for learning.
What magazine could you not live without?
I don’t really read many magazines. We subscribe to The Organic Gardener and The Missouri Conservationist and I read them…they have great photography. I don’t know if that constitutes “can’t live without” though.
Please include some of your favorite images….
Thanks so much for being our featured photographer Rebecca! I loved getting to know you better, and loved seeing your food, I mean, images.
I really do love getting to know these photographers better, and I love how when they type, you can almost hear them actually saying, it and laughing at the parts you would really laugh at in person. I love the beginning where you warn us that you can be chatty! Thanks again Rebecca!
Well, it’s now Thursday, yep, started before midnight, and it’s now waaaaaaay past my bedtime. I haven’t stayed up this late in a long time. I also get to be a chaperone for a field trip tomorrow. Let’s hope I get an adrenaline rush for tomorrow.
Goodnight, or good morning to some that are waking up now!
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Posted on April 14, 2011
My oh my. It’s Thursday again. My weeks are flying by super fast, and I’m quickly looking at the end of the school year. The end of the school year for my kiddo, and then end of a school year for the hubby. He will be going back (most likely in December), but as of right now, we’re going to enjoy some much needed time with the man of our house. The girls and I definitely have missed having him home at night. I’m also busy planning his graduation party, which will be a kick off to the summer. So we will be doing a luau theme, and enjoying every bit of it.
Well, that is enough talk about that…we need to get onto the photographer for this week.
This photographer I know from, none other than a photography forum. Her photography to me is so magical. It’s absolutely amazing, and breathtaking. She is definitely fabulous at what she does. However, this talented lady is not just a photographer. Oh no. She is also a motion picture production attorney for Universal Pictures. So…now that I’ve described her a little for you…let’s meet this talented lady, and then you can see what I’m talking about.
Just to give you a peek at her fantastic work….
Are you ready? Are you really ready?
Let’s introduce……
Carolyn Hampton – Carolyn Hampton Photography
Los Angeles, California Photographer
Photo courtesy of Kristen Wagner – Website
Where are you from? Where do you currently live?
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California.
What does photography mean to you? What attracted you to photography?
I first started taking pictures when I was 10 and my parents gave me my first camera, a Pentax MV1. I was instantly attracted to the idea of capturing moments in time. After the birth of my daughter, I became even more intent on preserving her milestones and important memories.
A lot of my current fine art work involves the exploration of my recurring dreams and childhood memories using artifacts passed down through generations of my family. In some ways, I find the process of creating images to be therapeutic.
Describe the area of photography you specialize in? Why did you choose this area?
I am a portrait photographer, but since my time for shooting is so limited by my day job (as a motion picture production attorney for Universal Pictures), I am no longer taking paid assignments. My last paid gig was last summer. I am now a fine art photographer, so I focus on my own projects which are not constrained by the accepted rules of portraiture. It’s liberating! My work is currently hanging in juried group exhibitions in six galleries across the country, I have been published in a few magazines, and I have been selling prints. I am incredibly honored when people love an image so much that they want to hang it in their home. My dream is to have a solo show in a gallery and to have gallery representation.
How long have you been a photographer?
Since the age of 10, so a l-o-n-g time.
Is it only you with your business, or do you have an assistant?
I am not in business but my husband usually assists me when I have a shoot. My daughter is often my muse, so it then becomes a Hampton family effort.
Are you self taught or have you attended formal schooling? What workshops/seminars have you found useful to you?
I have taken a number of courses at UCLA and at the Julia Dean Photoworkshops that were extremely helpful, especially in terms of learning lighting techniques. I particularly enjoyed my classes with Michael Grecco and Kevin Merrill. Aline Smithson teaches wonderful classes on breaking into the world of fine art photography – I had no clue before I took them. I also took two workshops with Brooke Shaden that were very inspiring in terms of stretching the imagination. As for Photoshop, I am mostly self-taught.
Morning or night owl?
Definitely night owl.
If you could describe your style of photography in 4 words, what would they be?
Dreamlike, otherworldly, whimsical, imaginative
Who is your family? Include some pictures of them since we all know that our family is always in our photographs.
My husband, our 10 year old daughter, a German Shepherd, and a cat who thinks she is a dog.
Image courtesy of Kristen Wagner – Website
What is a project that you would like to do this year with your photography?
I have my eye on a very old, abandoned theater in Los Angeles and I would love to do a shoot there to add to my black and white dream series. I also hope to begin work this summer on a children’s book that has a story and accompanying photographs.
How do you balance work, and your family?
To live my life and balance everything on my plate means to not get enough sleep.
We all want to know…what’s in YOUR bag? What lens could you not live without?
I primarily shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II and a variety of lenses. I also shoot with film cameras, including a medium format Mamiya, and toy cameras such as the Holga and Diana. My 2 favorite lenses for the Canon are the 70-200mm and the 24-70mm.
If you could photograph any person in the world, who would it be? Why?
Nelson Mandela. I would love to look into the eyes of a man who has lived such an extraordinary life and who has such an incredible capacity for forgiveness. To photograph that face, in that golden, late afternoon South African light? That would be a fantasy.
If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?
I think no matter what, I was meant to be a lawyer, so in terms of something in addition to that, if I were not a photographer, I would either take up oil painting or I would devote more time to cooking up gourmet meals. I love to cook but I have very little time for it.
What are 4 words your husband would use to describe you?
I asked him and his response was: “Beautiful. Inside. And. Out.”
What helps keep you motivated with photography?
The never ending learning curve.
Tell us about some of your long term goals (with photography or personal life)?
I would love to have a book published one day – whether it is the children’s book I mentioned, or something else. And I don’t mean self-published – I mean a book released by a traditional publisher that would be sold on Amazon.
What blogs do you love to stalk (doesn’t have to be photography related if you don’t want)?
I read Lenscratch (a fine art photography blogzine by my friend, Aline Smithson; http://lenscratch.blogspot.com/) every single day without fail. For me, it is the best way to keep up to date on the contemporary fine art photography scene. There are others I enjoy but check less frequently, such as Joe McNally’s.
When you’re not shooting, what are you doing?
Having fun with my daughter and husband – going to movies, going to the beach, taking the dog to a park, snow skiing, etc.
Where is one place you would love to travel to?
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
What is one thing that you want to do in your life?
Right after the Bar Exam, I traveled around Sub-Saharan Africa by myself for five weeks and it was an incredible, life-altering trip. I think about Africa nearly every day of my life. I look forward to experiencing that same trip with my daughter one day. She adores animals and is becoming a good photographer herself, so I know she would love it there.
What is a quote that means a lot to you?
“Photography is a craft. Anyone can learn a craft with normal intelligence and application. To
take it beyond the craft is something else. That’s when magic comes in. And I don’t know that
there is any explanation for that.” — Elliott Erwitt
If you could pick one photographer in the world to do a session for you, and your family, who would it be and why?
I would be thrilled to have the amazing Kristen Wagner Penn come back for a visit and do another session for us because she did a fantastic job last summer (www.photographybykristenwagner.com). If money were no object, my dream would be to have us pose for Rodney Smith, since he is an artistic genius (www.rodneysmith.com).
If you could photograph one area of photography for a day, what would it be, why? (Something other than what you photograph, i.e. architecture, food, boudoir, birth, etc.)
Fine art nudes.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in photography, what would it be?
Study, study, study. Learn the ins and outs of your camera. The hard work pays off in the end. I have to say that I am troubled by professional photographers who put their camera on auto and don’t bother to learn, when they are charging people for sessions. It takes a lot of time and effort to get to the point where the camera feels like another appendage – where you can size up the light and quickly achieve predictable results – but when you get there, it is the most blissful feeling.
What magazine could you not live without?
In Style
Please include some of your favorite images….
Did I not tell you that her images were magical? Oh yes I did, and it was so true. Thank you so much Carolyn for being featured with us. It was a blast getting to know you better, and of course be able to show your images. You have a fantastic talent, and are such a sweet gal. Thank you again!!
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Posted on April 7, 2011
Hello all! It’s April 7, 2011. It’s Thursday. It’s also almost the weekend! Wahoo! I’m stoked for our weekend. We have a carnival Friday night, then we have our family pictures of Saturday. Oh yes, you heard that right. We’re having our pictures taken, and I’m pumped. I love actually being able to be in the pictures with my family, and I love our photographer, Cathy Hengst. She’s one of my close friends, and I love that my kids love her! We always have fun during the session, and this year she didn’t get to see what the girls Matilda Jane outfits are ahead of time, so I’m excited to see what she thinks.
Okay, so it’s Thursday, and that also means it’s time for Talk To Me Thursday!! The photographer being featured today is actually a photog that lives close to me, yet I’ve never been able to meet her. I’ve known her for awhile from another photography forum, and from how she sounds on throught the internet, I know she would have me cracking up. She’s come down to my area quite a few times to catch up with a close mutual friend of ours, but I wasn’t ever able to meet up. She is such a sweet gal, and one of these days, we will definitely have to get together. Another fun piece of info on her…she’s expecting a little girl this summer! How exciting!!. Hoping to be able to get together with her and her wee one, and do a little session. I know Dayna will be wanting to join as well. So, how about we meet her. Sound good to you?
Let’s introduce…
Rachael Hutchinson – Rachael Hutchinson Photography
Houston, Texas Photographer
www.rachaelhutchinsonphotography.com/blog
Where are you from? Where do you currently live?
I’m from Houston, Texas. I was born and raised here, and I have lived here most of my life. We spent a short time in San Antonio, but we moved back to Houston as soon as we could.
What does photography mean to you? What attracted you to photography?
To me photography is a way of telling a story. The pictures I take capture stories. They may be short like a birthday party, or long like an entire childhood, but all of the images add up to tell a story. I have always loved being able to capture memories and stories with still photos.
Describe the area of photography you specialize in? Why did you choose this area?
I specialize in birth photography. I love standing back and capturing events and moments and going unnoticed, and I loved the idea of being able to capture the hours surrounding a baby’s birth. I think much like a wedding, a birth is a beautiful and amazing life event that should be captured and remembered forever. I decided to give it a try and I fell in love. I feel like I’ve found what I was meant to do.
How long have you been a photographer?
I’ve had a camera in my hands starting as far back as I can remember. I started out with a LeClick disc film camera, and I have rolls and rolls of film from when I was little and I took pictures of everything. I hate to think how much money I cost my mom over the years developing a hundred rolls of pictures of my cat! As for actually being a professional photographer, I’ve been doing it seriously for about four years now.
Is it only you with your business, or do you have an assistant?
It’s just me! I do work with another great birth photographer on a backup system in case one of us has an emergency and can’t make a birth.
Are you self taught or have you attended formal schooling? What workshops/seminars have you found useful to you?
I’m self taught. I’ve never taken any classes, but I am a member of Lyndsay Stradtner’s Birth Experience and it’s been one of the most valuable resources I have found for my birth photography. I have learned a lot from the seasoned birth photographers there.
Morning or night owl?
I’m usually a night owl, that’s when I like to do most of my photo editing and catching up on the tv shows on the DVR. Although lately I can’t stay up past about 9pm, so I’m sure not being very productive!
If you could describe your style of photography in 4 words, what would they be?
I think that would be really different for births versus portraits, so I’m going to describe my birth photography. Real, emotional, moving, beautiful
Who is your family? Include some pictures of them since we all know that our family is always in our photographs.
I’ve been married to my husband, Chad, for 8 years now. We have two children, Mason and Scarlett. Another baby girl will join us sometime in June! Believe it or not I only have one family photo of all of us together. One of the hardest things to do as a photographer is get yourself in your pictures. Next spring we’re going to have someone do some real family pictures of us…I guess we were procrastinating for a reason, we didn’t have everyone yet!
What is a project that you would like to do this year with your photography?
Since I’ll be busy starting this summer with the new baby, I’d like to take advantage of having a newborn and baby subject at my disposal 24/7 and try a lot of new things with my little model. I’m excited about getting to spread out the newborn photos that you usually have to work really hard for in a four hour session over the course of a couple weeks and having fun with it!
How do you balance work, and your family?
Right now as a mom of young children, they are my first priority. Aside from births which can come at any time, I do all my shooting on the weekends when my husband can stay with our kids. Until our kids are all in school my photography will remain part time so I can devote most of my attention to them and their needs.
We all want to know…what’s in YOUR bag? What lens could you not live without?
I shoot with a Nikon D700. My favorite lens has always been the 50mm 1.4. I love the focal length, I love shooting wide open with it, and I love the sharpness of it. I also have the 24-70 which I love for it’s versatility. I recently switched to Nikon from Canon and although it was a very hard decision to make, I’ve been very happy with the results.
If you could photograph any person in the world, who would it be? Why?
Honestly, and this is probably a very boring answer…I’m just happy to be photographing my own family. There is nothing I’d rather capture than their childhoods and our life right now. It’s what makes me happy, and it’s why I love photography. I’ll take my kids out and do a session with them any day. They of course don’t think it’s as fun as I do.
If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?
I’m not really sure. I knew after having my first baby that I didn’t want to return to the corporate workplace, so I’d probably just be a stay at home mom who takes a lot of pictures of her own kids! Maybe I’d be an event planner…I’m really good at coming up with all these ideas for projects and things but never starting or finishing them.
What are 4 words your husband would use to describe you?
Caring, genuine, artistic, indecisive (it’s true, I over-analyze everything!)
What helps keep you motivated with photography?
Shooting often. When I have a few days where I don’t pick up my camera, I start to feel like I’m moving backwards. Just picking up my camera to photograph the little every day things helps keep me looking for something new.
Tell us about some of your long term goals (with photography or personal life)?
Photography related, I’d like to get my little studio room all decorated and set up to where I can bring clients into it. Right now I just use it for personal photos and friends and family, but I’d really like to use it as a working studio some day.
What blogs do you love to stalk (doesn’t have to be photography related if you don’t want)?
When it comes to photographers, I stalk Bobbi+Mike (http://www.bobbiandmike.com/blog/), Lyndsay Stradner (http://www.lifeinmotionphotography.com/photoblog), and Emily Weaver Brown (http://emilyweaverbrownphoto.com/blog/). There are so many more talented photographers that I stalk, I just can’t list them all! When it comes to non-photo related things I love Annie’s Eats for healthy non-processed recipes (http://annies-eats.com/) and Anna White because I want to build everything on her site! (http://ana-white.com/)
When you’re not shooting, what are you doing?
Usually taking a kiddo to school, soccer practice, or something else. I’ve entered the busy stage of motherhood where you are pretty much a taxi. I didn’t expect it to come so early, my oldest is only 5 ½! I’d also like to get started with my little garden that I’ve been planning for a couple years. Procrastinating…something I’m really good at!
Where is one place you would love to travel to?
I spent three weeks in Australia the summer before I went to college, and it will always be hard to top that! I’d love to go to a pretty beach with blue water and white sand.
What is one thing that you want to do in your life?
I’d like to learn to love cooking. Maybe take some cooking classes so I’m better in the kitchen. I love good healthy food, but I’m not really great at cooking that food!
What is a quote that means a lot to you?
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt.
If you could pick one photographer in the world to do a session for you, and your family, who would it be and why?
That’s tough because there are a couple photographers who I would love to photograph my family. If I had to pick one I’d say Bobbi+Mike. I just love their style and the way they interact with their clients.
If you could photograph one area of photography for a day, what would it be, why? (Something other than what you photograph, i.e. architecture, food, boudoir, birth, etc.)
I’d like to do some wildlife photography. I always had dreams of being a photographer for National Geographic when I was little! I don’t really have the equipment for it considering births are on the super wide end of lenses and wildlife is on the super long end.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in photography, what would it be?
Take your images and ask for constructive criticism so you can learn and grow. Don’t be hurt when you absolutely love an image and people point out the mistakes. You can still love it and keep it, but learn and grow from that advice to make the next image even better. I still have the very first images I ever took with my Rebel, and although I can look back and see the many things I was doing wrong when I was starting out, I still love those pictures.
What magazine could you not live without?
The only magazine I get is Rangefinder for photographers, and it’s free! I’m not really a magazine kind of person. I love to read, but I have very little time for reading these days.
Please include some of your favorite images….
Thanks so much Rachael for being our featured photographer! Your work is absolutely gorgeous and seeing your birth photography really makes me want another baby! I love your style and can’t wait to see what stuff you come up with for this new little one coming. It will be fun and exciting for sure.
Thanks again for coming on the blog this week Rachael! It was fun getting to know you more! I really do love these questions we have. They seem like such easy questions, but I love seeing the answers from people. Thanks again.
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