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Hey everyone! Sorry for the late post, but here’s another photographer interview with the amazingAlyssa McElheny! Enjoy, and be sure to stalk check her out on social media, particularly Instagram!:) Isn’t she gorgeous?!? Enjoy the interview!
Tell me about yourself. (Name, current hometown, when did you launch your photography business + anything else about yourself you want to share) My name is Alyssa McElheny and I’m a wedding and portrait photographer from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I photograph about half of my work here in the Midwest and the other half around the rest of the globe (Japan, California, Florida, New York, Mexico, Colorado, etc.). Come May fifteenth, I’ll be embarking on a new (but still wedding related) adventure. I’ll be opening a bohemian bridal salon – LAMB BRIDE! In my free time, I also coach cross country and track. How long have you been taking pictures? I started shooting weddings about six years ago now. What kind of equipment do you use (brand, type of camera, etc.)? I shoot with a Canon 5DMKIII and a series of Canon L-Series lenses. What is your favorite lens to shoot with? Why? I LOVE the 35mm Canon L-Series lens. It’s a prime lens but it gives you a wider angle than the 50mm prime lens (my second favorite) does. What is one thing you wish you would have known when you started photography? I wish I would have known that’s it’s okay to ask tons of questions. I learned to let go of my pride and need to do everything myself. I’m quite the type-A individual so this was no small feat for me. Delegate tasks and ask questions all day long.It doesn’t make you look unintelligent, it makes you look invested and passionate. Even the best have asked questions to get to where they are today, right? What are some important lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career? Back up and double back up your photos so you don’t lose them when technology malfunctions. Bring back up gear (second camera and batteries and lots of lens options). Don’t put off editing. Do it right away. Just to name a few… What is your favorite part of your job? The wedding day is the best part of my job. The fact that brides and grooms trust me to capture their biggest day is still beyond me. It’s so cool and so special. The best part of the wedding day is when the groom sees his future wife for the first time, in my humble opinion. If you could take pictures (wedding, engagement, etc.) in any place, where would you go? Why? I’d looooooooove to shoot a wedding in Spain (specially Granada or Cordoba). I lived in Spain for a half a year and it is the most beautiful, romantic place. Or Morocco. I’d definitely shoot in Morocco. What is a goal you have for your photography business? I have two big goals for my photography business. One – I’d love to continue to book more travel weddings. Two – I’d love to continue honing down my ideal type of client. What is your favorite picture you have taken? Why? Attached below is (just one of) my favorite photos I’ve ever taken. SO hard to pick…
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Hey everyone! Turns out the Photographer Spotlight series will be continuing! Enjoy this interview with the wonderful Jenna Kutcher! Photo credits to Cassie Rosch :)
Tell me about yourself. (Name, current hometown, when did you launch your photography business + anything else about yourself you want to share) Jenna Kutcher - Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin - Launched in 2011 - Studied Business and Marketing, worked corporate with Target - left in 2011 to go full time - shot over 100 weddings How long have you been taking pictures? Since 2011! I did before on point and shoot cameras but never had a desire to be a photographer. What kind of equipment do you use (brand, type of camera, etc.)? Nikon d750, 50mm 1.4 lens, 85mm, 35mm etc. and Nikon Flashes What is your favorite lens to shoot with? Why? Why? 50mm 1.4, I love this lens, it's beautiful, I have to move to get the shot, it's easy to pack, and it's beautiful glass. What is one thing you wish you would have known when you started photography? Know the business and master the craft, you can be an amazing photographer even on a not-so-amazing camera. Realize this is a business and not just a hobby, set yourself up for success and study to learn everything you can. What are some important lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career? I talk a ton about these on my blog! What is your favorite part of your job? Being my own boss, working from home, getting to help other photographers, and spending such an incredible day with my clients as they get married! If you could take pictures (wedding, engagement, etc.) in any place, where would you go? Why? I would LOVE to shoot a wedding in Italy, I just love Italy and the vibe and would love to shoot there :) I also am a big fan of beach weddings! What is a goal you have for your photography business? To be able to cut back and someday support my family while working smarter and not harder. To me, it isn't necessarily about business goals, it's about life goals and in order to be present, I need to work smart. What is your favorite picture you have taken? Why? So many come to mind, one of my favorites is of my grandparents on Christmas Eve. I take photos of them every year and I know I will always cherish those moments that tell their story so well! Thanks for sharing, Jenna! Check out her website HERE, blog HERE, and Instagram HERE. Have a great week! - Leah Hey everyone! Spring break is over and the photography challenge kind of blew up in my face. So here's a few pictures of what my spring break looked like. Enjoy! My adorable baby brother. Isn't he cute? My sister. the snow queen. She's a great model. And senior pictures of my bestie. She's awesome.
Have a great week! - Leah Hey everyone! Here's the last installment (for now) in the swoon series. Look for my April Photography Challenge in the coming weeks. An intro post is coming later today. Stay tuned! #1- Seven Lies about Homeschoolers I LOVE THIS. A few of my homeschooled friends showed this to me over the weekend and I found it to be so true.:) hope you liked it as much as me! #2- AND THIS. WAAAAYYYY too cute. As in ALL THE FEELS.:) #3- I also have a bad addiction to Pinterest. Stalk/check out my page/boards if you so desire.:) #4- This photographer. Jenna Kutcher. Just look at her website, blog and Instagram. I'm waaayyy to obsessed. And her blog is da bomb dot com. Check her out- you won't be disappointed. That's it for now, folks! Check back for a post about the April photography challenge!
xoxo, Leah Hey ya'll! Welcome to the Swoon Series part 2! I'll be doing these posts for a few more weeks (until April; I'll be taking the April photography challenge- stay tuned!). Here's a few things I've recently been 'swooning' over. :) WAAAAAYYYY to obsessed with this vid. I probably have it memorized I've seen it so much. And also this. Spartans for life, ya'll. Spartans for life.
Have you made your March Madness 2016 bracket yet? HERE is a great one! Other than all of this sports hype, that's about all I've been really going crazy for. Also, if you need a good read, "Playing for Pizza" by John Grisham is amazing! Have a great week everyone! - Leah Hey everyone! I'm starting a new series on the blog today! It will be called the Swoon Series (weird name, I know) and it will cover lots of things! Some stuff you can look for: favorite songs, videos, photographers, lifestyle bloggers... the whole nine yards.:) I'm hoping to do the April Photography Challenge (taking a photo per day), so these next few posts will be 'filler posts' until I can get started on that project. For now...enjoy reading about what I'm swooning about! :) MUSIC: I listen to this song probably on a daily basis. I don't know why. It's just a quality song. Listen HERE.:) And also this song. I've got my younger siblings addicted to The Piano Guys, this song in particular. Listen HERE. VIDEOS: I've got a huge obsession with Bradley Productions and the work they do, weddings in particular. View them below:) PHOTOGRAPHERS: Recent photographer obsessions include Rachel Gabrielse Photography, Jenna Borst Photography and Fount Collective, a mix of photographers from all over telling the stories of families everywhere. If you've got the time, check out this gorgeous engagement session Rachel Gabrielse Photography did. It's amazing. LIFESTYLE BLOGGERS: I've always loved Bungalows and Olives. Katie Grace is amazing! Her fashion, hair, photography and video tutorials and posts are the bomb.com. Check her out!:) Click on the above photo to read her article!
Hey everyone!
As of right now, the photographer spotlight series is done! Today I'm going to do a quick recap of the series so all of the interviews are in one post. Thanks so much to all of these photographers for being so willing to do an interview! Rachel Gabrielse Photography: view the interview HERE and her website HERE Katie Grace Photography and Videography: view the interview HERE, photography website HERE and lifestyle blog HERE Bradley James Photography: view the interview HERE and her website HERE Laura Fifield Photography: view the interview HERE and her website HERE Jenna Borst Photography: view the interview HERE and her website HERE Anneke Taylor Photography: view the interview HERE and her website HERE Bg Photography: view the interview HERE and her website HERE Have a great week everyone! - Leah Hey everyone! Welcome to the last (at least for now) installment in the Photographer Spotlight Series! Thanks for sticking with me!:) Today's interview is with Brennigan of bg photography studios. Sorry, I don't have a pic of her to put in the interview, but be sure to check out her website and Instagram! Enjoy! Tell me about yourself. (Name, current hometown, when did you launch your photography business + anything else about yourself you want to share) I’m Brennigan, and I live in Holland, Michigan. I launched my business (officially registered with the State) in the Spring of 2011. During my downtime, I love working on my urban farm (chickens, included!) and hiking with my husband. And naps. How long have you been taking pictures? I’ve been taking pictures with a DSLR since 2009. What kind of equipment do you use (brand, type of camera, etc.)? I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark III. What is your favorite lens to shoot with? Why? My favorite lens is the Canon 50mm 1.2L. I don’t think there is necessarily a rhyme or reason to it (since some photographers swear by their 85mm, 24-70mm, or some other lens), but it was the first focal length I played with other than the kit lens. It started the magic, and it keeps the magic happenin’! What is one thing you wish you would have known when you started photography? Success is 100% self-perceived. To some, it’s having high prices or being published multiple times in magazines. For me, I define my success with how I can positively handle each business endeavor. What are some important lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career? I wish I would’ve understood that other photographers don’t have to be competition, but instead can be dear friends who totally understand you and can give fantastic advice. And like many careers, finding a life/work balance is of the utmost importance! While working at home and at your own hours, it’s incredibly easy to forget to draw a line and make your home relationships/tasks just as important as you make your work. It’s a constant struggle and something I still am learning. What is your favorite part of your job? I love photographing the details of the wedding day as well as showing my couples a few sneak peeks in person while I’m photographing. Their excitement is contagious! If you could take pictures (wedding, engagement, etc.) in any place, where would you go? Why? I would love to go to the cliffs in Ireland; or anywhere where nature is larger than life (mountains, the ocean). First, I think nature itself is more beautiful than a manmade structure ever could be; and second, I believe we need reminders of how small and finite we are in this world – staying grounded keeps us pure and intentional in our relationships. What is a goal you have for your photography business? I would love to stay busy enough (but not too busy!) to help with my family’s income while being able to constantly access my best creative outlet. What is your favorite picture you have taken? Why? My favorite picture is one I took a year ago of my Grandma’s hand. She is so special to me, and her hands tell my history, my story. This is what I tell my clients of her: “While I dedicate my life to capturing the moments of your wedding day, I'm reminded that the true beauty of your love will be exemplified once the guests have left, the dress has been put away, and life sweeps you two up in a deep adventure.” Thanks so much for your advice, Brennigan. Be sure to check out her website and check her out on social media.:)
Readers, stay tuned for some fun posts in the weeks ahead! - Leah Happy Monday, everyone! I had the awesome opportunity to take my friend John's senior pictures on Saturday. It was a fun (and cold!) 2 hours exploring Grand Rapids. Enjoy this preview from his session, and come back for more soon!:) Have a great week, everyone!
- Leah Hey everyone! Sorry for such a late blog post this week! Today, I'm featuring another interview from my photographer spotlight series. Enjoy some words of wisdom from the lovely Anneke Taylor! Isn't she a beauty?!? Tell me about yourself. (Name, current hometown, when did you launch your photography business + anything else about yourself you want to share) I am currently a freshman at Cornerstone University - moved from Fort Wayne, Indiana which is where I launched my photography business. I’m currently studying music as that and photography are two things I’m very passionate about How long have you been taking pictures? I’ve always wanted to take photos - I grew up with a mom who took photos of everything and always wanted to learn skills and such. I took photo classes when I started attending public school sophomore year, but I didn’t start actually taking photos of people the way that I do now until last December. What kind of equipment do you use (brand, type of camera, etc.)? I’m a Nikon person. I bought a new D7100 last Christmas time and am slightly obsessed with it. It’s taught me a lot about photography by being so complex. ha. What is your favorite lens to shoot with? Why? My 50 mm. Hands down. It drops down to an 1.8 in aperture which allows me to really blur out the background of my photos and focus strongly on the subject. It takes great up close shots as well and really adds a lot of depth and vibrance to the photo. I’ve tried out other lenses but can’t bring myself to switch. What is one thing you wish you would have known when you started photography? I wish I would’ve known that it’s okay to just shoot things that I love. I felt very pressured a lot of times to shoot serious and dark things - which is great - but it’s also great to focus what you have an eye for and what you truly love. What are some important lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career? word of mouth is HUGE.I literally built up my business through instagram - my posts and other people’s posts. People sometimes don’t know what they want until you show it to them. What is your favorite part of your job? interacting with people. I’m a huge people person so I love engaging in all sorts of conversations during the shooting hours. If you could take pictures (wedding, engagement, etc.) in any place, where would you go? Why? my favorite time of day is sunset - i am in love with the sun and natural light. As far as any place…I love very open fields with tall grass and the sun illuminating the nature, and just wide open spaces. But if i could go anywhere…I would love to shoot on the cliffs of Ireland. My brother went there over spring break last year and ever since then I’ve had the strong desire to capture the magnificence of the land there. What is a goal you have for your photography business? I’d love to get to a place that it stays constant throughout college and beyond because it’d be a perfect thing to be able to do when I want to have a family and not have to work full time in order to provide for my them. And for now, it’s a great way to flexibly work through college. What is your favorite picture you have taken? Why? that’s such a hard question. I love a lot of the nature photos on my instagram because, as I said before, I’m fascinated and in complete awe of the sun and it’s light. But as far as people….I would say this photo of one of my favorite couples ever ever ever. We didn’t plan on shooting in the rain, but sometimes you have to be quick on your feet and roll with the weather. It turned out to be one of my favorite shoots ever. I love the rain and mood captured in the photo as well as the love you can feel that they have for each other. {I was having problems inserting the photo, so head over to my other site to see it!} Thanks so much for sharing, Anneke! Be sure to head over to her website and check her out! Have a fantastic weekend, everyone! - Leah |
Leah RachelleLover of Jesus, photography, meeting new people, tea, books, and weddings. Archives
April 2016
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