Referral Thank You card!

As a Phoenix are family and wedding photographer, I would NOT be where I am without the help and support of you...my clients. I would like to offer you a thank you for all of your support. So thank you!

But that's not enough! Read on :D



This is good any time. Just let me know and I will start a card for you.
Thank you again
and again
and again!

eyelets: Contest! Its time to win~!~

Yep! I've done it.  I've gone and decided to hold a contest of my own.  A few months ago, I won a contest and I was so excited to receive the goodies.  I hope that you will be too.

I was able to get some fantastic people to join in with me on this contest! I am so thankful for the vendors that have agreed to participate. Fun Fun!

I am so excited about the lineup of vendors for this giveaway. 

1)  From eyefull photography! YOU can win a mini session, 45min-1 hour, for FREE.  That's right! For FREE.  This is the last one I will giveaway for awhile, so get in on this stat!!

2)  I can't help it. I absolutely love love love me some Miss Ruby Sue.  She is an amazing designer that puts together incredible headbands and hats, creations...love it. Check out some of what she has right now, but keep reading for YOUR chance to win a gift certificate for one of her remarkable creations. You soooo don't have to be a photographer to appreciate these items. Anyone can win.  I won one a few months ago and I put it on my girls all the time.  Photographer or not, you've got to have one of these.  No daughters? Only sons? Well maybe you can gift it to a beautiful girl in your life. 

Miss Ruby Sue has agreed to give a $50 gift certificate to her etsy store~! If you haven't seen any of her creations, look below at this head band in a contest that I won from MissRubySue. Go on over to her FB page here and like it.



3)  My dear friend Kim Johnson, also has an etsy shop, called KM Designs.  She not only makes beautiful jewelry, but she also makes photographic equipment and has agreed to give away a CUSTOM MADE camera bag insert.  This is a $45 value.  The winner will contact Kim and let her know how you want it made...that'sit! It is custom made to order. Here is her etsy page   Like Kim's FB page, K & M Designs, let her know that eyefull photography sent you!

4)  One dear lady I know is a stylist for Jewel Kade 09.  Have you heard of them? Fabulous and funky interchangeable neckaces and bracelets and charms.  Rhonda is offering a JK Bracelet!

It is super cute! A $28 value and it can be yours, by just checking out the Jewel Kade catalog and letting me know what your favorite item is.  AND if you want to order anything more, contact Rhonda! She's awesome.


5)  This super cute little knitted hat is from Sweet Pea Toad on Etsy.  You can see the full line of what is offered on the etsy site! Go check out what they've got and come back here and leave some love. Sweet Pea Toad also has a FB page...so go there and tell her eyefull photography sent you!  Thank you Cathy!!




6)  Spoiled Rotten Kids is including the cutest lavendar Pettiromper that I have seen. So cute! Take a look!

Too much cuteness don't you think? Check out all Spoiled Rotten Kids on their website . Seriously! go the etsy shop, check them out and come back and tell us what you think? I have already eyed a t-shirt there that I need to get for my "spoiled rotten kid"!

7)  I love love this little necklace its from Missing Pieces Studio on etsy!  Is it too cute or what? I want one so bad and the owner has agreed to give one to you!  Lorinda said, and I quote, "Well...since I'm from Arizona and all I feel compelled to participate. Plus, I checked out your photos and they're awesome! Just let me know where to send it. Thanks!"  woo hoo! Thank you Lorinda and Missing Pieces Studio!
 
Go and check out their stuff.  Very cute. Highly affordable!

8)  I found another super cute item! And because I found it, I got two sets. One set for me, one set for you :D
How much fun would you have with these? I can't wait to use mine.

9)  So excited~!  Camera Creatures on Etsy has agreed to giveaway a Furry Red Friend.  Look at how super cute these are! I love them! 

What you need to do though is go to Camera Creatures facebook site and tell her that eyefull photography sent you.  Go on over to the etsy page too and start looking at the Creature you might want to choose if you win.  Come on back here and leave some love that you did all of that.

10.  Thank you to Lily and Lime Boutique on etsy for giving this adorable hand knit cap!  You can see all that is offered here. 
This photo was taken by Jennifer Nace Photography and used by Lily and Lime Boutique with permission

Here is what you have to do to win.
1) "Like" and leave a comment at my eyefull photography FB fan page here.
2) "Like" and leave a comment at MissRubySue's facebook page here.
3) "Like" and leave a comment on K&M Designs facebook page here.
4) Go check out Jewel Kade and see what you like.
5) "Like" Sweet Pea Toad's facebook page and tell them eyefull sent you, here.
6) Go on over to Spoiled Rotten Kids on etsy.  Find something you like.  Come back here and say you did that.  If you have an etsy page, add this one to your favorites! Expand your circle!
7) Go on over to Missing Pieces Studios on etsy, find something you can't live without...come back over here and say you did it.  If you have an etsy page, add this one to your favorites! Expand your circle!
8) Go to Creature Creations on FB, like the page...come back and say you did.
9) Go to Lily and Lime and "like" their FB page here .  If you have an etsy page, add this one to your favorites! Expand your circle! on Etsy here.



REQUIRED to ENTER:



LIKING and LOVING all of those pages...is one entry! Come back and say you did it (we will check to verify the winner).

Additional Entries:  Tweet, FB on your page, or blog about it and come back, leave a message with the link. That will add THREE additional entries for you. You will need to leave an additional entry for each of these 3 items.

You can have a total of 4 entries to win!

Someone is going to win this and be sooooo happy~!

The contest ends midnight, July 5th, 2011.  The Winner will be randomly chosen and announced on my FB page and blog page, Wednesday, July 6, 2011. After we verify your entry, you will receive all of these prizes!  You will have 72 hours to respond to dawniele@eyefullphotography.net with an email saying that you won and your address. Then, just sit back and relax and wait for the goodies to arrive!



Here is the legal:  This contest is in NO way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Facebook. FB will NOT notify you if you have won. You must be 18 to enter and you MUST leave all of your responses on this blog page...not the FB page...THIS blog page! Prizes do not have any cash value and are subject to the rules by the grantee.

If you have trouble leaving a comment, please reach me at dawniele@eyefullphotography.net

eyelet: my evening snack

I have gotten into this crazy habit of having an evening snack every night. 
An evening consitutional, if you will. 
See that beautiful black beauty in the middle? That's my Keurig. And I love her.


I just purchased this cup (two of them), as well as (2) Vente cups, and (2)Tall cups from Starbucks. They are my new favorite mugs to drink out of. They make my evening consititutional so grand.


Aw, my new cup and my lovely Keurig.  Now what to make....


Well, I love toast and strawberry jam. This particular jam is made by my neighbor Joanna Crowley, she lives behind me (remember the sunflowers) and she is a fabulous cook and she does things like this, get strawberries and can them. She also has fabulous recipes! You can meet Joanna and her try her yummy recipes here and for the record, her Baked Potato Soup is yumdelicioso.


Whenever she posts that she has something to sale, I tell her to meet me at the fence. Everything she makes is always so good.




Everything is prepared and ready to go...


Look at all these yummy varieties of coffee for the Keurig? I have more, but these were the ones in the box I grabbed, so I used them.  You can try these varieties at Big Cat Coffee.  I love them because they let you put together your own variety pack.  You can choose 5 of any of your favorites, up to 25 per box. So in one box, you get 5 different kinds of coffee and teas. Yummy. Delivered right to your house! Yea Boy!


Tonight, I choose Chai Tea...!


Load the Keurig.


While my water is heating up (in about a minute) I butter my toast.


The Keurig brews in less than 60 seconds. So fast. So perfect.


I wanted creamer in my tea.  But its hard to get good depth perception when you are taking your own photo and pouring at the same time.


Yep and Chocolate makes anything taste better.


Aaah....



Oh that's so good!

eyelet: meet Theresa Knight of Theresa Knight Photography!

I am so excited to interview Theresa of Theresa Knight Photography. I am simply captivated by her images. They are remarkable. Fine pieces of art. When I first saw her work several months ago, it was a boudoir shoot, and I thought "WOW!" From the image to the processing, Theresa has got it. I think I just posted to her FB page that I loved loved her work and a friendship was made. We live far apart from each other, but I do hope to get up to Northern California very soon and I will definitely look up Theresa when I am there.

Preparing for this interview, sending emails back and forth to one another, Theresa states that she was humbled by all the remarkable photographers that have been featured during my summer of interviews. And I am thinking in my head, "Theresa! You belong right up there. You are one of those remarkable photographers!" When you see her work, you will think so too!

1) Introduce yourself and get the visitors “in” on your work!
My name is Theresa Knight and I run Theresa Knight Photography out of the San Francisco Bay Area. My work ranges from maternity, family, senior, and boudoir sessions to engagement sessions.



(note: This is actually her-above-)

2) I love your work. LOVE it…which is why I look at it often. How did you get started in the photography business, and when?

In 1988, I assisted a photographer in Philadelphia and worked mostly in award ceremonies and local news. He became a mentor for me in photography and inspired me to take photography classes.

I have been strong arming photographers into becoming my mentors.  Thankfully they have agreed to help me out and give advice when I need it. I currently have one who is kind of a defacto mentor because she lives out of state, but she has been so great for me at this stage in my business. Finding someone who can do that, without feeling threatened or annoyed with all the questions, is important I think.  It is great that you found someone early on in your career to be that for you.

3)When was the first magic moment that you knew you wanted to be a photographer?

The first magic moment that made me know I wanted to be a photographer was my first time in the dark room. The anticipation of seeing the photography you developed was exciting and unforgettable. 

I have never developed film. But it is something that I would like to do for sure!



4)When did you make it a full time thing?

Since I am still working for the business for twenty years, I don‘t consider photography my full-time job. I became more serious about it two years ago after taking photographs of my own family on father’s day.

5)And I have to ask, because it’s a question that people are asking themselves anyway, what do you shoot with and what is your favorite lens?

I shoot mainly with two cameras: Canon 50d and Canon 5d Mark 2. My favorite lens would have to be the 50 mm. I have been canon loyal since the 80’s! 

My "wish list" just keeps getting longer and longer. The Canon 5d is on it, but its a little further down the list :D.  I know you just got yours and I am guessing you have been loving it!

6)Describe your style.

I’m in love with the vintage style, whether it be the 30’s or all the way up to the 70’s. I love the tones and style depicted in vintage photographs.

That was the first thing I noticed about your photography. I love your vintage style processing.  I have tried it and its a little more than juust running an action over a photo, so I am so excited that you are developing your own vintage style processing and have given me a few to play around with.  I am excited for you with this new piece of your business.  Vintage processing is no easy notion and when someone who loves the style develops some actions and processing, it helps a lot.



7) Your subjects range from newborns and children to seniors to newlyweds and families… what is your favorite subject to photograph?

My favorite subject would definitely have to be women!

8) What is something that you are still learning?

I’m still learning more about poses; I’m learning how to come up with new poses and how to make the photographs my own.


(BTW, this photo above is spectacular).


9)What is the one thing that you LOVE LOVE about what you do?

I love being able to make my clients feel beautiful and glamorous- something that everyone deserves to feel.

10) I don't have a studio, so for someone who is looking to bulk up her studio creds, would equipment should I get first?

The first two things you should invest in are backdrops and good lighting (strobes).



11) When you have nothing scheduled, where are we most likely to find you?

If I have nothing scheduled, you might find me treasure hunting! I love to visit thrift stores and see what I can find for future photography props.



12) As a photographer, I look to others, their work, their business model, who they seem to be as a person as viewed through their blogs or FB posts; if I look to you, who are YOU looking to?

I get a lot of inspiration from magazine spreads and television shows, such as America’s Next Top Model.


13) Coke or Pepsi?

Pepsi, it reminds me of when I was a kid.

Oh Theresa, here we have to part ways! Interview is over! J/K.  Im just a Coke girl :D

14) Knowing what you know now, what is something you would have done differently when you first started out?

I definitely would not have waited to start my photography business. I would’ve started then and not wait as long as I did.

I am soo glad you started when you did.  But always, better late than never.  I didn't think I would be able to do start and here I am.  Its a process for sure....as they say, "a marathon, not a sprint" and that has proven true for me.  But I am learning to be okay with it.  And plus, sometimes waiting gives time to forumlate you know.  I think your waiting has given you a wonderful eye and processing for NOW.



15) Something that I would like to know is, if ever, at any point in your career, have you thought about quitting, or doubted yourself, or hit a wall and wondered how to get over it? If so, can you give a little background? How did you over come that hurdle?

Yes, sometimes I have felt like I didn’t make enough time for myself and my family; I felt like I was losing myself. Sometimes I don’t get enough sleep and feel burnt out. I overcame this by taking a break from my work and spending time with my loved ones.

It is hard when you are first starting because you pour your heart into building it up  and it does become consuming.  I have had to take a step back.  Not only was I becoming consumed, I was becoming unhappy. And I always only wanted this to be a pleasureable experience.  Family is great in helping you re-prioritize right? Especially husbands!

16) Who are YOU, other than a photographer?

Before I am a photographer, I am a loving mother and wife.



17) I have a huge purse love, do you have any fun or extraordinary talents or obsessions, that you’d like to share with us?

If I let myself procrastinate on my work, I would easily become a reality show junkie! With Judge Judy being number one.

haha! Is Judge Judy still on?  I love reality shows too, but I am a Housewives junkie. 

18) Looking back on all you have done to date, what has been your favorite moment as a photographer?

The moment I realized that I could be a professional photographer.

19) What has been your best marketing strategy?

Hands down, word of mouth has been the best marketing strategy, followed by being flexible for clients’ schedules.



20). You and your camera, across time and space, where would you go and what would you photograph?

I would love to go back in time and photograph Paris in the early 1900’s.


21) What is the one piece of advice you could give that could be invaluable to someone starting out?

Be yourself, find your inspiration, but make it your own, something I heard from another fantastic photographer, Latenia Bryant.

Latrenia is AWESOME! Thank you for sharing her with me.  You guys can check out Latrenia at Latrenia Brant Photography because seriously, once you see what she does, you will be amazed. 

22) Lastly, what is one word in the English dictionary that describes you?

Passionate.



Where can people find you, like you, and love you just as I do?

website site: http://www.theresaknightphotography.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Theresa-Knight-Photography/139030779470964

eye color: brown

and favorite food: Sushi!

So typically I like Sushi. Typically. But a few weeks ago I had an experience with a bowl of noodles that sent me to the moon and back and now I think I have lost my apetite! My husband and I went out for dinner to a local sushi restaurant. I wanted to get these noodles with shrimp (because I really wasn't feeling like I wanted sushi). So the waitress brings me this bowl. the first thing I notice is that there is something on top of the noodles, like shavings or something. But since I didn't know what it was, I was trying to scrape them off. In the mean time, my husband says, "Why is your plate moving?" I look down. And literally all I see are these fat noodles that look like earth worms and this movement on my plate. I was up and out of my seat and at the door in like 5 seconds flat because all I was thinking about was, they served me worms! The waitress comes running over and tries to explain to me that the "movement" is the shaved dried noodles on top that when the heat hits them they waver from side to side. I am shaking my head "no" and my husband is confused and she whips my plate away to bring me out another one. So it was the combination of the stuff moving on top and these fat (worm like noodles settling) on the plate and to this day, I am known (I am sure) as the "noodle lady" and have not been back sense!

VS

eyelet: family fun | Phoenix, AZ| CA| and wherever my camera takes me!

I am a photographer who seems to have hit a lull in the ol' business plan. I am sitting here asking myself, "what more I can do to bring people to the website, to look at the photos, to make a decision that they want photos taken? But not just any photos by any person. Photos by me...Dawniele Castellanos...owner/photographer of eyefull photography?"

And the answer is clear?
Nothing.

I can't make anyone do anything. I can only do what I do and hope that someone spies an element in my photography style that they want hanging on their walls (of course with their family and loved ones and not mine-necessarily...unless you are Grandma or Nana and of course you want my family hanging on your wall). But thankfully, I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength. And as long as I feel like He is still moving me forward, lull or not, I will continue to do what I love to do.  Savvy?

In the meantime, I still need to stay stay in the game. 
So what did the girls and I decide to do?
Make faces....


We started out wanting to make cross-eyed pictures, but #4 can't cross her eyes on command.


#3 can only cross her eyes when she is not thinking about it. But since she is NOW thinking about crossing her eyes, she cannot cross her eyes.


Props are  what #2 needs to cross her eyes. Not able to do it on her own, she uses her fingers to guide her  eyes into place.



#1- well, in her own words, "I can't do it. I just can't do it."

LOL! I love these girls and this is why I do what I do.



And then there's me. Handing over my camera to my #2 to snap a photo. Crossing my eyes is not a problem...its just getting them uncrossed that might be trouble.

Have a great day!

eyelets

I am sitting here, kind of lamenting and feeling a little bit sorry for myself for a number of reasons.  I don't know. Sometimes I get in these moods and they are hard to shake.  I click on a FB photographers group that I am a member of and the first post I see is about another fellow photographer, whom I have never met, named Erin Phillips.  Yesterday, Erin's 3.5 year old son fell into a pool and yesterday she lost him.

Now, that snapped me right out of my lamenting.  And I am so so sorry for her loss.  I have never met her and my heart goes out to her and her family yesterday, today, and for the months to come. 

Another photographer set up a donation site for her and her family. If you are able, donate here.

And I know you are you able to do these next few things.  First of all, PRAY.  Pray for her, her family, their loss.  2) I don't know the details of how he fell into the pool. Does it matter? But I do know this....WATCH your children with diligence that you never knew you had when you are around bodies of water: bath tubs, pools, whatever....

I will pray for Erin today. 

eye on Kristen Weaver of Kristen Weaver Photography

As a portrait photographer in Arizona, I have learned to follow the best in the business in terms of their photography style and [what I perceive as their] business acumen.  I have been lucky enough to have been granted permission into the lives of another such wonderful photographer.  I have followed Kristen Weaver on facebook for months! Months! Her photos are so amazing that I would sometimes find my nose pressed right up against the computer screen trying to figure out how she did that. But strangely enough, it was these next photos that I mustered up the courage to ask her to consent to a blog interview.





Strange uh? That it would be photographs of details...gorgeous details...that would send me over the edge? Well, over I went and I am glad that I did. Its time to meet Kristen Weaver!


1) Introduce yourself and get the visitors “in” on your work!



Hi! I'm Kristen Weaver, and I take pictures. Some would probably call me a photographer, but I've always just been a girl with a lot of dreams, an obsessive work ethic and a passion for color-coding and traveling. I take a lot of pictures, but I think it's more my way of being crazy in love with the dynamic of different relationships. I love to capture that emotion and feeling - showing what makes every couple different. In my "free" time, I do fashion photography. I fell in love with the freedom and creativity of producing fashion shoots that spoke to my emotions at any given time. My fashion portfolio is more of a personal diary that I can reflect on different moments in my life and the emotion I was feeling during it.


2) I love your work. LOVE it…which is why I look at it often. How did you get started in the photography business, and when?

I can't remember a specific time when I "got started" - I mean, I've been taking pictures for as long as I can remember. But officially, I started my full time venture in photography just 2 short years ago, in the fall of 2009, after being laid off from a job as a marketing director. I was 28 at the time, and pretty much decided it was "now or never". Luckily it worked out for me!

It seems like sometimes the moments of making the best decisions of our lives comes when we should (logically) hunker down and take cover! Sometimes it is called "destiny" or "providence." I call it "God" all the way...sometimes He needs to get our attention and the only way to do that is to take away something that we find security in.



3)When was the first magic moment that you knew you wanted to be a photographer?

I don't think I had a magic moment - much like I can't remember the specific time I decided to start photography. I never took any photography classes and I have no professional training. I actually encourage others to focus more on business and marketing, not photography. You just can't teach someone to have the "eye" or creativity - so you either have it or you don't... but the business of the industry is brutal and I've seen many incredibly talented photographers close up shop because they just didn't have the right tools for the legal, marketing and finance side of photography studios.

That's interesting perspective to me, because you have such an amazing eye.  So, I need to mull that one over in my mind a bit because I know I get caught up in the photography side (which is important) but the business side sometimes boggles me a bit.  I am taking from what you said that I need to really know the business side...that will help us become better at photography.




4)When did you make it a full time thing?

I think I already covered this, but I started full time in October 2009. I'm coming up on my 2-year anniversary! Yay!

Only two years and such a meteoric rise.  WOW!~

5)And I have to ask, because it’s a question that people are asking themselves anyway, what do you shoot with and what is your favorite lens?

I shoot entirely Nikon and my favorite lens is the 85mm 1.4. I shoot a variety of lenses - but I stick almost entirely to primes. I hate zoom lenses (and no, I've never owned a 70-200 and believe you can still shoot weddings without one!)

That's funny Kristen because that has been stated as the go to lens for weddings. So now I wonder what you DO shoot your weddings with, particularly when you can't get up in someones grill during the ceremony~



6) Describe your style.

Oy. My style, huh? Well, I'm obsessed with relationships... so my style focuses on the dynamic of the couple. I love details though, too. I think my editing style is crisp and clean, with colors that show exactly how I want the day remembered. I find myself leaning more towards the soft, romantic moments. I think there's a place for vintage and tinted editing, but I try to keep it out of my editing process as much as possible... just not my style.

I know that your editing style is what drew me in to begin with.  I think it resonates with many of your fans.



7) Your subjects range from newborns and children to seniors to newlyweds and families… what is your favorite subject to photograph?

My favorite thing to photograph creatively is fashion. I love weddings, but there's a lot that I have to do that is "required" and sometimes I find myself stuck creatively because I'm a slave to the timeline of the day, moods, nervousness, etc. I think my second favorite thing to shoot is any kind of "couple" moments - engagements, trash the dress sessions - it's the place where I can really bring out the relationship and take my time with them. It helps me to be inspired!

I feel like I am commenting a lot, after every question, but I wouldn't have guessed that fashion was your favorite.  I would have guessed weddings hands down.  Your weddings are amazing, but now I want to look closer at your fashion photos.  I have friend whose passion is fashion and it just screams loud and clear.  But maybe its because I know her personally and so we have talked about it in the past.





8) What is something that you are still learning?

Everything?! I'm a sponge - I try to really learn as much as I can about the technical side of what I do. Since I was never trained professionally, I had a lot of ground to cover and I'm still finding out little things here and there about my camera and flash. I'm also still trying to get the hang of taxes. Thank goodness for accountants!!

9) What is the one thing that you LOVE LOVE about what you do?

I LOVE pleasing people! There's nothing like getting a card, note or email from a client raving about my work. It makes me feel SO good and like I have made an impact on their lives, no matter how minor it may seem to some. I just like making girls feel pretty. When they look at pictures and can't believe its really them - that's the most amazing feeling. I get to show everyone else the beautiful person they are!



10) I don't have a studio, so for someone who is looking to bulk up her studio creds, would equipment should I get first?

I started with Alienbees for my first studio equipment. I'd say you can't go wrong with a couple basic strobes, light stands and a good soft box. I've since branched out quite a bit, but I only use about half of the studio equipment that I've bought. It all has specific purposes, and I don't get to shoot studio as much as I'd like sometimes.

There are a few things on my list for this year, some studio lighting is one of them. 

11) When you have nothing scheduled, where are we most likely to find you?

It's an incredibly rare day when I have nothing scheduled, so I don't actually have much time "off". Generally speaking, I like spending my down-time catching up on reality tv shows, or going out to dinner. I've actually been thinking a lot about taking a little non-work-retreat (just by myself) to refocus and clear my head. After 2 years, I think it's time that I'm due!





12) As a photographer, I look to others, their work, their business model, who they seem to be as a person as viewed through their blogs or FB posts; if I look to you, who are YOU looking to?

My 2 favorite photographers are Elizabeth Messina and Jose Villa. On the other side, I'm a fan of Sean Armenta and Babak. I also love Jeremy Cowart for his non-profit work (I also started a non-profit called Images for a Cure - so he's a big inspiration for his work with Help Portrait).

Wow, so many really great photographers to stalk :D.  That's awesome about your non profit organization.  I linked it on this interview so I hope people will click on it and find out more about it.  Its an amazing way to give back when you have been given so much. 

13) Coke or Pepsi?

Coke. (regular - not the diet stuff! ew)

Ohh good girl! I am drinking a coke right now and I am reading through this interview (sigh) so good.

14) Knowing what you know now, what is something you would have done differently when you first started out?

I would have brought in an accountant much sooner to help figure out sales tax and all that. I was pretty clueless when I started and took the advice of others instead of seeking professional help. I learned my lesson early on in my business, but I really had no idea how much was involved when it came to that.


15) Something that I would like to know is, if ever, at any point in your career, have you thought about quitting, or doubted yourself, or hit a wall and wondered how to get over it? If so, can you give a little background? How did you over come that hurdle?

Oh yes. Absolutely. Yes. (did that get the point across!) Every time I would see these other "big name" photographers and the work they were doing, I doubted that I was good enough to make any kind of name for myself. I would get jealous almost! It was crazy. The best advice I had ever gotten was to stop looking at other photographer's work. It has saved me soooo much sanity! Now that I'm more confident in my own ability, I love looking at other inspiration - I just had to be more confident in MYSELF, first.

I think I am going to have to take that advice too.  Its is crazy making. Especially for someone like me who just wants to be successful in my own right and tend to get discouraged in comparing mine to theirs or his to ours....



Kristen, what is this ring sitting on?  sequence?


16) Who are YOU, other than a photographer?

I think my biggest role is that I'm a daughter. I have always been really close to my parents and hate how far I live from them. It doesn't help that I'm answering these questions on the way back to Florida from a week visiting them in Northern Ohio... so it's top of mind, I suppose. My personality is a bit of a mashup - I'm shy in big groups, a talker in small groups, I love to teach, I love to learn. I'm a bit OCD and really organized. I love Microsoft Excel and office supplies. I'm passionate about love and that "high school romance" feeling. I'm a huge fan of reality TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars and Project Runway. I also love shows like Jerseylicious, Law and Order SVU, and my favorite - GLEE (although this last season was a little disappointing).

Oh I love my reality shows too.  My family loves America's Got Talent...we watch it from first episode to next the last.  America HAS talent.  I've had to stop watching shows like SVU, with 4 daughters, it was getting to be too much for me.  My mind was running rampant with what could happen to them...so cut that off.

17) I have a huge purse love, do you have any fun or extraordinary talents or obsessions, that you’d like to share with us?

I think I'm obsessed with nail polish (OPI and Essie) and office supplies. I also have a prized collection of international fashion magazines and my mom's 'TEEN magazines from 1970.

Your Mom kept her teen magazines? Was she in them or collecting them? Come to think of it, I like to peruse the office supply aisle myself...I have three notebooks in my garage (of all places) that I bought just because I liked the covers...

18) Looking back on all you have done to date, what has been your favorite moment as a photographer?

Photographing my best friend's wedding. Not only did I get to be there with her, but the pictures are some of the most stunning that I've ever taken. It was both a personal and professional accomplishment for me.




19) What has been your best marketing strategy?

My blog. I hosted a workshop the other day and I explained it like this - if your name is your brand, then your blog is your personality. I can show people my images all day long, but that doesn't show who I am as a person. Photography is a really personal experience for my clients - I'm asking them to be completely vulnerable in their relationship, and I'm asking them to do it in front of me and my camera. It's not an easy thing to do! So I like to have them feel like they're with an old friend - and my blog makes them feel that way. I book more work from my blog than any other source of marketing or advertising.

20). You and your camera, across time and space, where would you go and what would you photograph?

That's a tough one! I think I'd go back in time (I love history and the fashion of different time periods) - so it would be more about the clothes. I have these old photographs of my grandma from the 30's, so I'm really intrigued by that time period. I also LOVE the way women were becoming frisky in the 50's.... and who doesn't love the swagger of the Marie Antoinette era?!

hahaha...that's fly.

21) What is the one piece of advice you could give that could be invaluable to someone starting out?

Take your time and be confident in your craft. It won't come overnight. We all have to start somewhere, and we're all still finding our way. No one knows it all. Use jealousy as healthy competition to make yourself better; don't dwell on what everyone else is doing because you'll never move forward. Take control of your business and your shoots and your clients will respect what you do for them. And most importantly.... don't discount yourself, your service or your value! You're only worth the lowest price you charge.

22) Lastly, what is one word in the English dictionary that describes you?

Ambitious. I've got some big goals and can't wait to make them happen!

Where can people find you, like you, and love you just as I do?

website site: http://www.kristenweaver.com/
blog: http://www.kristenweaverblog.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kristenweaverphotography
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kristenweaver
eye color: Brown
Blood type: AB+
and favorite food: Anything with cheese!