I love disco, dancing, art, the beach, swimming, anything outdoors, sports, designing, old people, babies, fashion, my 5 best girlfriends, junk stores, God, swearing, candy, coffee shops, magazines, cake/brownie batter, buffalos, and creating stuff. After 31 years, I still have a crush on my husband. He is my complete opposite, hates pretty much everything I like and vise versa. I will do anything in the world for my 3 kids, and I think they are each soooo cool! I am beyond proud of all 4 of them!
I’m terrible at snow boarding, basketball, throwing dinner parties, being fancy, lying, gardening, spelling, making jokes (says my daughter), watching a whole tv show without multi tasking, caring too much about what others need and think, and charging what I’m worth (although each year I’m getting better at it). There’s very few things I hate, except rude people, some rules, watermelon, bacon, and ice cream.
My collection of Amercian flags constantly grows, I been known to own too many pairs of cowboy boots, collecting couches alongside the road too often, swear when talking to my kid’s teachers on accident, listening to “inappropriate music for a mom”, and crying at… Undercover Boss, kids singing at talent shows, and father/daughter dances at weddings!
♥ The greatest compliment I ever got in my whole life, was from my husband…
“You are not a photographer, you are a stylist with a camera!”
If you know my husband you would understand that I didn’t even think he knew what a stylist was!!!! But him, knowing the artist that I am in every area of my life, was perfectly right!!!!
My Story……
I am obsessed with art! I have a total crush on anything that involves designing, creating, building, painting, drawing, you name it! Everyday of my life, I create some kind of art. I love fashion design, interior design, architecture, fine art, music of all genres, artistic people, and every medium……So, it was just a matter of time until I tried my creative hand at photography.
My Photography life…..
I had grown up in the modeling industry, and had worked with models, stylists, designers, and photographers on huge campaigns. Over time, I have learned and have been hired to do all 4. Combine my obsession for creating and experience, with the fact that I genuinely love people…(oh and I think I’m hilarious so I’m usually laughing) and suddenly, I had a “photography style”!!!
My photography style- I hate blah. I hate in the box thinking. I hate following the guy in front of me even if he knows more than I do! So, when it came time to take photos, I didn’t start where many start…. I just picked it up and did what came naturally.
With a stylist approach, I compose shots how I think they will look best…As a visual person…before and during a shoot, I have input on clothes, locations, wedding design, fashion, etc…
When you make people comfortable, they are happy. When they are happy, they look their best! BAM….great subjects.
Now put happy people in great locations,with good clothes, great hair and makeup, and you have a great overall look. Add some outside the box posing ideas, and some fun…and now you have an outstanding image! Do that with every client, consistently and now you have a style……
STYLE + HAPPY PEOPLE + LOCATIONS + POSES = GREAT IMAGES
My Photography Rise up…
I never intended to become a full blown photographer. It just kind of crept up on me. I asked for a camera as my shower gift when I was expecting over 20 years ago. I took tons of film photos of my babies….others loved my baby pics and started asking if I’d take their pics. My first wedding was $75. LOL……I kept my prices low as I learned….I was word of mouth, and maybe doing 5-7 weddings a summer. My prices grew as I learned more and more, and had more experience under my belt.
AND then in about 2015, it all changed. I hesitantly went to a bridal fair, and set up my first booth. I thought,,,,aargh I hate networking, never took a photography class, have so-so equipment…..and here I was with all these total pros that live to kiss butt and show their photos. But I was different. I was an artist, and myself, and had a style no one else had…..and after 25 weddings for that next summer, thru that show, I WAS ON THE WEDDING MAP!….Time to go big or go home. Que, website, social media, new cameras, new lenses, bye bye free time.
In the last few years, I have been so fortunate. Some of my brides are booking over 2 years in advance, venues are so sweet to refer me time and time again, my couples refer me to their friends, and my calendar fills up. I now get to be picky about my couples, continue to perfect my craft while making a living, and am published in wedding instagrams, websites, etc. around the world. I reset goals for myself every couple months…and hustle until they are reached. I have a 5 year plan….which includes getting published by different publications, doubling my pricing structure, and booking solid a year or two ahead.
MY PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE
I FOCUS ON THE “WHOLE LOOK”, GIVE EXTRA ATTENTION TO STYLING, AND BACKGROUNDS.
I am a service based Photographer…. MEANING I FOCUS MORE ON THE SERVICE I PROVIDE, THAN PUSHING PRODUCTS.
I am a stylist first and a photographer second… I DON’T JUST SHOW UP AND SHOOT SOME PHOTOS AT A LOCAL PARK. I CURATE CONCEPTS, SUGGEST OUTFIT IDEAS (OFTEN SUPPLYING THEM), DELIBERATELY SEARCH OUT AND PICK LOCATIONS, ETC. TO CREATE ART TO GIVE MY CLIENTS. MY WEDDING CLIENTS RECEIVE A PERSONALIZED STYLING CONSULTATION UPON BOOKING. WHICH ENSURES THEIR DAY AND THEIR IMAGES WILL BE STUNNING. SHARING MY GIFT TO CREATE AND ENVISION POTENTIAL WITH ALL MY CLIENTS IS SUPER REWARDING.
I like contrast….DON’T LOVE THE LIGHT AIRY “WHITE” WEDDING LOOK , BEAUTIFUL & EXPENSIVE LOOKING – BUT LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE ELSES
Natural, available light Shooter…. IM AN OUTDOOR SHOOTER. OF COURSE I DO INSIDE JOBS (SOUNDS MAFFIA STYLE), BUT IF YOU LIKE BACKLIT, FORMAL INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHY, I MIGHT NOT BE YOUR GIRL. ( I use flash for late night party shots and in reception, & in church when allowed. )
Great backgrounds…..NOT LOVING TONS OF BOKEN (BACKGROUND BLUR) THAT MOST PHOTOGRAPHERS LIKE. YOU PICKED YOUR VENUE FOR A REASON, LETS SHOW IT OFF!
Limited equipment….I USE ONE CAMERA WITH A FEW NEW LENSES ( I always carry a backup camera incase disaster strikes)…. IF MY DAY GETS SOOO TECHNICAL AND SO “BUSINESS LIKE”, IT LOSES THE ART………..AND ART IS WHAT MAKES THE PHOTOS GO FROM YAH YOU CAPTURED THAT PIC TO “AHHHH, I LOVE THAT ONE”!
Zoom lens shooter…..I LEARNED ON A ZOOM LENS, AND I SIMPLY LOVE THEM! I LIKE TO KEEP A COMFORTABLE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE SUBJECT. I love the 24-70mm and the 70-200.
Command with humor….FAMILY FORMALS AREN’T THE MOST FUN PART OF A WEDDING…FOR ANYONE! SO I WORK QUICKLY, LOUDLY, WITH HUMOR TO GET EVERYONE IN PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHED, AND BACK TO THE PARTY! MOST EVERYONE GETS A NICKNAME AS I SCOOT, SQUEEZE IN, ENCOURAGE, BOSS AROUND, AND PHOTOGRAPH YOUR CRAZY TRIBE! I WORK QUICKLY AND TAKE AS LITTLE AS TIME AS NECESSARY TO HAVE YOU BACK TO YOUR GUESTS!
I’m decisive…. I WORK QUICKLY AND KNOW IMMEDIATELY IF I LIKE IT OR DON’T.
I Work alone…. I FLY SOLO,BUT IF YOU HAVE YOUR HEART SET ON AN ADDITIONAL SHOOTER, IT IS OFFERED AS AN ADD-ON! I HAVE 2 I LOVE, BUT OTHERWISE I AM SUPER CONFIDENT I WON’T MISS ANYTHING, SO CURRENTLY, UNLESS REQUESTED AND ADDED TO YOUR QUOTE, I FLY SOLO!
I move around…. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN A PHOTO LOOKING PERFECT OR FEELING PERFECT! I WILL GLADLY TRADE A PERFECTLY FOCUSED AND IS TECHNICALLY SPOT ON FOR A PHOTO THAT “FEELS RIGHT” EVERYTIME!
I love people….BECAUSE I LOVE PEOPLE, I LOVE MOMENTS……… THE LAUGHING, THE EMOTIONAL, THE SMALL THINGS. I PRIORITIZE THOSE SHOTS OVER THE POSED ONES!
I’m picky too…. WE BOTH ARE LOOKING FOR EACH OTHER AND WE BOTH PICK EACH OTHER. I MIGHT GET CHOSEN TO BE YOUR POTENTIAL VENDOR, BUT YOU, EQUALLY HAVE TO BE CHOSEN TO BE A POTENTIAL CLIENT. KEEP THIS IN MIND BRIDEZILLAS! NO DIVAS ALLOWED! LOL
