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Hey all! Today I have the privilege of sharing an interview with this gorgeous gem of a woman, Rachel. She is the photographer behind Rachel Gabrielse Photography. I was so excited when she said she'd be willing to do an interview- I have a ton of respect and admiration for her, so I am super excited to share her thoughts on the photography industry with you. Enjoy, and check back for more interviews- you won't be disappointed! But first, let's take a moment and appreciate how gorgeous she is. What a beauty! {Photo credit to Alyssa Mc Elheny Photography} And now, for the interview.
Tell me about yourself. (Name, current hometown, when did you launch your photography business + anything else about yourself you want to share) Hello! My name is Rachel Gabrielse, okay, well not really. I am actually Rachel Ponstein now after marrying my high school sweetheart, Payton Ponstein on June 20, 2015. However, I was Rachel Gabrielse for the first 22 years of my life, so that name still holds a special place in my heart and in my photography business. The name of my business is Rachel Gabrielse Photography and I am based out of Hudsonville, Michigan. I love that there is a way my maiden name can continue even as I have moved into a new stage in life. How long have you been taking pictures? I started working for a photographer when I was in 8th grade because it was my dream to become a wedding photographer. She taught me a lot and about 4 years ago I started taking my own pictures professionally. What kind of equipment do you use (brand, type of camera, etc.)? What is your favorite lens to shoot with? Why? I have always been a Nikon user and I recently bought a D750, as well as two D700s. My favorite lens tends to change as time goes by, but right now my favorite is my Sigma 50mm Art lens. It is on my camera 80% of the time and I love how versatile it is. What is one thing you wish you would have known when you started photography? One thing I wish I would have known when I started photography would be that the photography industry does not have to be all about competition. Yes, there are tons of photographers out there, but it is a beautiful thing when we are a community who learns and helps each other out instead of simply competing for clients. We can appreciate each others work and strive to improve our own because of the incredibly talented artists around us. What are some important lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career? One thing I have learned throughout these past four years is that the art of being assertive. I am, by nature, an introvert who has pretty low self-confidence. However, after dealing with extended families and large wedding parties, I have realized that having my voice heard and being assertive is absolutely essential as a photographer. If I want people to go where I say and pose how I want them to, I need to speak up and be confident in myself. Another lesson I have learned is that it is okay to reuse poses. There was a period in my photography career when I thought that I had to use all different poses for every person. I was creatively exhausted and frankly there were no other possible poses. It was then that I started to realize that it is okay, and actually expected, to have two different seniors do the same pose. The locations, the outfits, the individual themselves are all so different that the images do not come out looking exactly the same. Sometimes the simplest of poses can produce the most breathtaking of outcomes. What is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part of my job is probably getting to be a part of the first-looks on many couple's wedding days. This moment is incredibly intimate with often just myself, the bride and the groom. There are so many emotions and so much love stuffed up in this one moment that my heart is nearly ready to burst every time. I probably cry at over half of these because I just love them so much. If you could take pictures (wedding, engagement, etc.) in any place, where would you go? Why? If I could take pictures anywhere it would probably be in the Swiss Alps or Canadian Rockies. What is a goal you have for your photography business? One goal I have for my photography business is to shoot over 100 weddings. What is your favorite picture you have taken? Why? Honestly, if you asked me this question any other day my answer might be different because there are so many images that hold a special place in my heart. Images that capture raw emotion and intricate moments that will never be repeated. Images that capture people I love and strangers who made their way into my heart. Images that were taken in the most brilliant places and ones in the simplest of spots. Today I choose this image because of its simplicity. It encompasses what I love most about my job: a couple deeply in love sharing an intimate kiss on one of the most important days of their life. The pose is not anything outrageous and the location is not some awesome mountain range or epic waterfall. And maybe that is why I love it. It is perfect in its simplicity. The soft green hues. The slight tilt of their bodies. The way their lips are just barely touching. That is why this is my pick today.
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Hey everyone!
It's been a busy week! I've been doing a LOT of shooting and editing. I will be posting some football pictures on the blog today, and I am planning on editing some volleyball pictures this week, with the hope of posting some of those next week! But for now, let's explore aperture priority! I shoot with a Nikon D3200, so that's what I will be primarily focusing on, but if you want me to blog about certain modes on other cameras, I'd be happy to do so! Leave me a comment or head over to my website (leahrachellephotography.weebly.com) and contact me there! Aperture Priority Mode: Basics: - One of the most useful modes (more on that below!) - Semiautomatic: it allows you to control 1 thing, while the camera controls the other settings - The aperture of your lens depends on your depth of field - Use a large aperture to blur the background and focus on your subject (shooting portraits) - Use a small aperture to keep the photo balanced; this will give a greater depth of field (landscape) When do you want to use aperture priority mode? - Shooting portraits or wildlife - Landscapes - Macro/ close-up photography - Architectural What is an F-stop? - An F-stop relates to the focal length of the lens - Defined as "stops"; works with shutter speed to get good exposure - Each "stop" represents half of the amount of light entering the iris of the lens as the larger stop before it - Newer cameras divide stops into 1/3 increments, which allows for finer ajustments More About Aperture: - The larger aperture your lens has, the more light your camera can let in - The larger the number (ex. 22), the smaller the aperture - Bright scenes (ex. nature/waterfalls) require small aperture As I mentioned earlier, this post was targeted towards Nikon D3200 users, but I am more than willing to write about other cameras, too! Thanks for reading! - Leah {All notes come from this article: http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1930034&seqNum=5} Hey all!
Today was a fairly low-key day. Just some editing and updating the website and gallery. Head over to www.leahrachellephotography.weebly.com/gallery to check out the new sports pictures! Have a great week, and stay tuned for some awesome stuff coming up next week! - Leah Hello world!
Welcome to my first blog post! Thanks for joining me as I explore the world of photography! Here's a little bit of what you'll be seeing throughout the year: - Photography tips/tricks - Interviews with local and national photographers - Samples of my photography - Tutorials on using aperture, shutter speed, lighting and more! And that's not even the whole deal! That's why you should check back often- awesome things will be shared! Over the past week, I've had a lot of photography opportunities for NPC, especially during the homecoming festivities (homecoming was this past weekend!). Check back soon for a sneak peek of some football pictures! Thanks again for following me on this journey! - Leah |
Leah RachelleLover of Jesus, photography, meeting new people, tea, books, and weddings. Archives
April 2016
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