Tell us your name. Kellie Penn

Where do you live? Decatur, IL

Please link us to your website. http://www.acrossthemilesphotography.com

How long have you been a photographer? I’ve had a camera around me for as long as I can remember, but professionally two years!

Describe your area of expertise. I do a bit of everything!  The majority of my business comes through weddings, families, and seniors.  I can see my business trending more towards weddings as the dominant area in the next year or two.  I also photograph babies, children, have done commercial work, and concert photography.

How did you come to specialize in this area? I was terrified of weddings and swore I would never do them.  But, I kept getting asked and decided to give it a try.  I am so glad I did!  There are so many magical moments during a wedding day to capture & I love, love, love them now!  I also love how each wedding is so different…you never know what you’re going to get from one week to the next.

Please share with us your absolute favorite photograph you’ve ever taken and tell us the story behind it, why it speaks to you, etc.
I had my DSLR for a couple of weeks and was playing around with it one day.  I wanted to experiment with the light in the room & I followed Mason around as he played.  He stopped near the window & I snapped the shutter.  It took my breath away to see how sweet he looked & how it captured the innocence of his age.  It is hands down my very favorite photo…and it inspired me to keep progressing in my photography!

How would you describe your style? Hmm…that’s a toughie!  I hope my style of shooting is one that just “captures life.”  I love lifestyle photography & hope that I capture my subjects as they are & not just give them a bunch of stiff, posed photos.

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? Everyone wants the shot where they are walking away holding hands in the field.  I have so many families choose the same location so they can get that shot!

What gear is in your bag? Canon 5d Mark II and a Canon 40d as a back up.  70-200L 2.8 IS, 24-70L, 50 1.4, 100mm macro, 85mm 1.8, 580 ex II, (and my bags are a shootsac & a Kelly Moore camera bag.  I like my gear to look good! Haha!!)

If you could only use one lens what would it be? I love my 70-200L.  The bokeh and colors I get from this lens are unbelievable!

Are you considering any new gear purchases this year? If so, please describe.  Yes!  I am drooling over the 50 1.2L.   Hopefully it will be mine soon!

What is your go-to camera shop? I’ve purchased most of my gear from Amazon.  I also love B&H Photo!

Which album company do you recommend? I love KISS and Finao.

How do you stay motivated? My clients keep me motivated.  I love when they are so excited about their sessions & refer their friends and family my way.  Their love of their photos just makes my day & helps keep me inspired to keep going!

What makes your job easy? I swear I have the world’s cutest clients!!  It’s not hard to make them look good!   The biggest thing that makes my job easy though is that my husband is so flexible and provides huge help of taking care of our children when I go on sessions or photograph a wedding.

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? I love on-location the best.  It is easier to capture people as they are…I find that people seem more stiff in the studio & I want more relaxed photographs.  Plus, kids don’t like sitting still in one spot…it’s much easier to just chase them around!

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? A lot of photographers in my area are more traditional and provide beautiful work, especially in studio.  My work offers something different from theirs in that I go out to locations my client choose & capture them as they are!

Do you use a Mac or PC? PC…someday (hopefully soon) I’ll be a Mac girl!

Tell us about your image processing style and the software you use. I prefer clean, consistent edits in my processing.  I used to do lots of crazy color pops and grungy edits.  Then, as I studied other photographers that I love, I realized that I leaned towards those that used a clean edit.  I love when colors are vibrant, but not over processed!

Have you attended any workshops that you found to be helpful in your work? Yes!  Going to PPA’s Imaging USA this winter was wonderful!  I was able to sit and listen to photographers that I admire & hear how they approach their photography.  I’ve attended Sandy Puc’s tots to teens and loved hearing her speak.

Which professional organizations do you belong to? Professional Photographer’s of America

Tell us about your long-term goals. To transition more to just weddings.  We are currently in the adoption process and once our child comes home from South Korea next year, I need to slow down a bit & focus on helping him transition.  Photographing just on Saturdays seem like a great way to cut back!  Then, I can work from home processing the weddings & consulting with clients.

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? Spend a lot of time portfolio building.  Push yourself to keep trying things that seem hard & study photographers that inspire you!

If you could choose anyone to do a photo shoot of you and your family, who would your choose? Hands down Bobbi & Mike!!

If you were not a photographer, then…I’d probably go back to teaching. There are some days I truly do miss the classroom!

What does photography mean to you? Photography offers such an ability to capture moments in time.  I’ve learned through my life that moments happen so quickly.  My son, Miles, passed away when he was just 3 months old.  He was such a sick little baby & those photographs of us snuggling and spending quiet moments together mean the world to me.  They are all that I have left of him.  I am so very thankful that we took so many photos while he was with us.  My business, Across the Miles Photography, is named after my sweet little boy.  I hope that I can leave families with sweet memories after a session with me…I know how truly precious those memories are!

Magazine must have? Professional Photographer Magazine from PPA.  It’s wonderful & full of inspiration!

What’s your guilty pleasure? Real Housewives on Bravo.

My weakness is…food!  I’m such a food junkie & love to eat..especially anything fried!   Fried twinkies, fried cauliflower, French fries…etc!

My strength is…being a mommy!  My kids keep me going and constantly cover me in hugs and kisses.  Their unconditional love just amazes me!

What do you do when you first wake up? Snuggle with my family.  Usually the kids climb into bed with us & we all just snuggle & cuddle for awhile.  I hate how quickly they are growing up and want to savor each little moment!

Finish this quote: When it rains…go splash in puddles!  (with cute boots, bright umbrellas, and make sure you bring your camera!)

Who do you love? God first & my husband & my children!  God has blessed this business in more ways than I can describe.  If you ever would’ve told me that my business would have grown so fast in the past two years I would have laughed in your face!  I can’t put into words how good He has been to me!  My husband, Tyler, has been so supportive of me and my crazy dreams!  He tells me how proud he is of me & offers so much help in taking care of the kids so I can pursue this dream of mine!  My children…they truly make my heart so happy!  I am the world’s luckiest mom & have the most beautiful children!

Do you read your horoscope? Nope!

Blog addiction… Bobbi & Mike, Clary Photo

Tattoos…none!  My dad always swore that he would quit paying for college if I ever got one, so I never did!

MAC or PC…PC

80’s Music…I’m honestly not a huge fan! But, I wasn’t that old during the 80’s and had to listen to whatever my parents were listening to!  I like the 90’s music more!

What’s on your iPod? Needtobreathe, MercyMe, Kutless, TobyMac, Tenth Avenue North

Morning or night? Night.  I’m definitely a night owl & stay up crazy late working.  I need to change that!

My friends say…“How do you do it all? You are so busy!!”

Travel dreams…My biggest dream is to travel to South Korea to pick up our little guy!  Can’t wait until that is a reality next year!

On my day off…day off?  What’s that?!?

One of your top 100 to do before you die? What isn’t? Hmmm…I would love to travel with a missions organization & photograph our journey & their work in the countries.  What’s not on my list?  Owning a snake.  They terrify me!

Thank you, Kellie, for sharing a little bit about yourself.  It was great to learn more about you and see your beautiful work.

Tell us your name. Laura Brett

Where do you live? We just moved to Atlanta, GA from NC a little over four months ago.

Please link us to your website. http://www.laurabrettphotography.com

How long have you been a photographer? We launched our full-time photography business in 2008.

Describe your area of expertise. We shoot mostly newborns, but we also have a passion for maternity and children.

How did you come to specialize in newborns? There’s nothing like them and I love them!  Need I say more?

Please share with us your absolute favorite photograph you’ve ever taken and tell us the story behind it, why it speaks to you, etc.
It is a picture of my children, nothing technically correct about it.  They are laying on the floor looking at old albums of my husband and I. It just reminded me how fast time goes and how important it is to capture ‘snaps’ daily!

How would you describe your style? Our style with newborns is simplistic, organic and pure.

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? I get a ton of requests for my maternity sessions. The pose is the one with the dad crossing his arms across the mom showing off that beautiful belly. It is my number one requested pose, but most are very shy when it comes to trying it.

What gear is in your bag? Nikon, Nikon, Nikon 

If you could only use one lens what would it be? Just one?  I would have to say a prime lens, my 85mm hands down.

Are you considering any new gear purchases this year? I’m always on the lookout for Nikon’s newest releases – just don’t tell my husband I told you that.

What is your go-to camera shop? B&H Photo and Video

Which album company do you recommend? Right now I’m loving The Dream Album Company.

How do you stay motivated? It’s easy to stay motivated, waking up in the morning knowing you will get to capture a new love – doesn’t get any better than that.

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? A mix of both. I do love on-location though, it pushes me to think outside the box.

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? We pay close attention to the details and focus mostly on newborns. When you come to our site you know it’s what we love and specialize in.

Do you use a Mac or PC? Mac Baby!

Tell us about your image processing style and the software you use. My processing style ( goal)  is very clear, tack sharp images right out of the camera.  Photoshop helps give you that added touch, but if you can get it almost perfect in camera it’s that much easier.

Which professional organizations do you belong to? PPA

Tell us about your long-term goals. To continue growing my business and improve daily!

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? Take things slow, learn the basics. Photography is ever evolving and you learn something new everyday.

If you could choose anyone to do a photoshoot of you and your family, who would your choose? Oh gosh…my list keeps growing.  Right now I would say Pastel Photography, she is rocking it!

If you were not a photographer, then: I really couldn’t imagine doing anything else, but if that were the case I’ve always been intrigued with midwifery/labor and delivery.

What does photography mean to you? It means everything! I eat, sleep and dream photography.  Through my lens and my children, I get to experience the world in a whole new way.

Magazine must have? Us Weekly

What is your guilty pleasure? Diet Coke

My weakness is…..I always have too much on my plate.

My strength is…..I’m always on time, come rain or shine.

What do you do when you first wake up? Snuggle with my two children

Finish this quote: When it rains…..it pours.  No, how about the old man is snoring? Wait, that is a nursery rhyme I just messed up?

Who do you love? My high school sweetheart turned husband, my two beautiful children, and Sady (our basset).

Do you read your horoscope? Nope

Do you have a blog addiction? Hmmm…not really, but I do love cruising photographer blogs to follow their daily captures.

Do you have any tattoos? Yes, just one – it actually means ambition.

What are your thoughts on 80′s Music? Well, I was born in the 80′s so anything music/movies 80′s related – I’m there.

What is on your iPod? Don’t have one – that’s bad, right?

Morning or night? Morning

Do you have any travel dreams? Not at the moment, we did just get back from vacation and I need another vacation from unpacking.

On my day off…..When that happens, the kids and I plan a day just for us.

One of your top 100 to do before you die? What isn’t?

Special thanks to Rebecca Knowles Photography for the portrait of Laura and her son at the top of this post.

Thank you so much, Laura, for sharing a little about yourself.  We all have enjoyed your gorgeous baby and maternity portraits.

Tell us your name. Andrea Carreo

Where do you live? Scottsdale, Arizona with my three dogs Rickey, Luci and Minnie

Please link us to your website. http://www.modernpetfurtography.com

Describe your area of expertise. Pets, or Furry Family members as I like to call them.

How long have you been a photographer? Professionally – only 2 years, but I’ve been into photography for over 30.

How would you describe your photography style? I describe it as Documentary Style. I try to stay away from posing and just capture the real life moments.

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? I don’t have one pose, but I love capturing the special moments between the pets and their guardian.

What were the circumstances that led you to specialize in pets? I was inspired by my own dogs and helping out with rescue organizations. I was taking a lot of photos of pets when I realized there really was a demand for Pet Photography. I couldn’t think of a better way to mesh my two passions!

What gear is in your bag? Canon 5d Mk II, Canon Rebel XTi, 50 1.8, 70-200 2.8L, 24-70 2.8L, Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon 430EXII

If you could only use one lens what would it be? My good old nifty fifty

What is your go-to camera shop? Tempe Camera, a local camera shop.

Which album company do you recommend? I just ordered my first album from Dream Album and am anxiously waiting for it to arrive!

How do you stay motivated? I love what I do! I love meeting new dogs and cats and people who love their pets!

What makes your job easy? My enormous love of animals and my fascination of the human/animal connection.

Tell us about your image processing style. I love saturated color and contrast.

Have you attended any workshops that you found to be helpful in your work? Not yet, but there are so many I would love to attend.

Which professional organizations do you belong to? None yet, but just applied for HeARTs Speak

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? I prefer on location. It’s important to me that the animal is comfortable and in an element that they are familiar with.

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? I would say my compassion and my passion and my ability to make my clients feel at ease. I understand what a huge role our pets play in our lives and how important it is to create lasting memories of them.

If you could choose anyone to do a photoshoot of you and your family, who would your choose? This is the hardest question. There are so many great photographers out there. I don’t think I could choose just one! One of my all time favorite photographers though is Duane Michals. He’s a great storyteller and I think he’d be a blast to work with.

If you were not a photographer, then… If I weren’t a photographer, I would own a gallery.

What does photography mean to you? Photography means so much to me. A photograph tells a story about a moment in time and allows us to relive that moment every time we look at it. It’s proof of existence. I also use photography as a way to express myself. Photography has relieved some of the most difficult times in my life and also has let me express and share the best of times.

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? Know your camera, shoot, shoot shoot and remember that this is a business. Unfortunately you will probably have to spend a lot of time doing things that don’t include your camera.

Magazine must have? I have a subscription to Modern Dog and I’ll occasionally read local magazines, but I do the majority of my reading online.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Chai Frappuccino with whip

My weakness is… Ok, how much time do you have! I can get a bit obsessive at times.

My strength is… I think my “beginner’s mind” is one of my strengths. I consider myself to be a beginner in every aspect of my life and therefore I love to learn. I am a perpetual student of life.

What do you do when you first wake up? Usually my dogs wake me up letting me know it’s time for breakfast, so the first thing I do is feed them.

Finish this quote: When it rains… I remind myself that the sun will return soon enough….you know, living in the Valley of the Sun and all. I love the rain. I love the smell; I love how everything is so clean after the rain and I LOVE the rain clouds. Unfortunately it doesn’t rain enough here in Arizona.

Who do you love? My family, my dogs and my friends

Do you read your horoscope? Occasionally

Blog addiction… Oh boy! Too many to list! I can easily spend hours going through my reader. I spend too much time reading and not enough updating my own blog!

Tattoos… No. Just wouldn’t know what to get!

MAC or PC… PC

80’s Music… reminds me of High School

What’s on your iPod? I don’t own one! I listen to Pandora…some of my favorites are Melody Gardot, Paolo Nutini, Adele, Brett Dennen to Jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Nina Simone

Morning or night? I go through phases…right now I would say night!

My friends say… I’m a great listener.

Travel dreams… Visit my brother in Spain!

On my day off… Usually involves food & wine with friends.

One of your top 100 to do before you die? Travel throughout Europe.

What isn’t? Anything that involves heights or jumping off or out of things.

Thank you so much, Andrea, for sharing your colorful pet photography with us.  I’m sure our Pink Ink blog readers will find it to be quite inspirational.

Tell us your name. Gail Bunning

Where do you live? Royersford, PA

Please link us to your website. http://www.gailannephotography.com

Describe your area of expertise. Families, most definitely families. I love to capture the interaction between family members – who’s the “typical” oldest, who wears the pants, etc. I love to talk to families. It’s my fav.

How long have you been a photographer? 5 years professionally, but a photographer since I was a kid.

How would you describe your photography style? I used to say I was a lifestyle photographer, but now it’s more of a portrait with flare. Sometimes to get that perfect shot you have to encourage poses, but it’s that moment when they let their guard down that you get the shot you’re looking for. True smiles, true love, true emotion. I shoot lifestyle with flare!

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? The “jump” shot. I get that all the time! It’s fun, but I can say it doesn’t work for everyone!

What gear is in your bag? I have a Canon 40d, 20D, Tamron 17-50 2.8, Tamron 28-75 2.8, Canon 50 1.8, Canon 70-200 2.8 IS L, Canon 430exII

If you could only use one lens what would it be? My 17-50. Love the distortion and range.

What is your go-to camera shop? Honestly, Amazon. It’s not a camera shop but I can get everything that I need.

Which album company do you recommend? I am a devoted Finao customer. They’re gorgeous and one of a kind.

How do you stay motivated? I feel sane when I am creative so I try and do something funky and fun all the time – even if it means calling a few local kids to do a fun shoot. It keeps me motivated and inspired!

What makes your job easy? Biz books and the ability to just “see” the shot. Did I mention Biz books?

Tell us about your image processing style. I wanna say it’s clean, but it really isn’t. I always kind of go for a hazy, vintage thing or a borderline HDR look. Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum.

Have you attended any workshops that you found to be helpful in your work? I have actually only been to one, Sandy Puc’s Tots to Teens. From that I got the Rubber Chicken. It’s been a VERY good friend to me. If I only walked away with that, it was well worth it.

Which professional organizations do you belong to? The PPA

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? I like both for different reasons. I love studio because it’s all about the subject. You can focus on what you provide and really grasping the subject. I like on-location because it offers creativity and, well, a different thing to look at. I love taking something you wouldn’t expect to be a beautiful location and making it just that.

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? My photographs show real and true emotion. I am not just shooting photos, I’m capturing time. They’ll remember when looking at my work how they were feeling at that moment, what we were talking about and all of that. I think that’s what sets me apart.

If you could choose anyone to do a photo shoot of you and your family, who would your choose? Tracie Taylor. And then I’d like to talk her ear off about her processing.

If you were not a photographer, then…I’d pick the music that matches the movies. I’m not even that musically knowledgeable but dude, I want that gig.

What does photography mean to you? Sanity. It makes me feel like I am sane. Through my lens, I can see what my heart feels.

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? It’s not easy and you can’t go into it with the same thin skin that I did. I am still climbing this really prickly ladder trying to remember the ultimate goal. You have to be persistent, patient and forgiving.

Magazine must have? Family Fun. Ok that sounds lame coming from a photographer, but I also am a mother and my kids, well, they like the crafts.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Reese’s Peanut Butter eggs and peach tea. Horribly addicted.

My weakness is… doubting myself. I should always go with my gut – it’s never proved me wrong.

My strength is… Is this even a strength? I am a truth teller. I try and tell it like it is and I can hurt feelings but once the hurt wears off, I hope people realize it’s all for love. I do it all for love.

What do you do when you first wake up? Brew coffee, I can’t even function without that cup.

Finish this quote: When it rains… jump in the puddles. No better way to chase away the gray.

Who do you love? My kids, duh.  My husband too. I love my BFF “C” too. She’s really a huge support and source encouragement in my life.

Do you read your horoscope? Nope, never.

Blog addiction… I don’t really have one. I have so many in my reader that I scroll through mostly looking for photos. Luckily I don’t have to look too hard.

Tattoos… Several and hopefully several more.

MAC or PC… PC

80’s Music… is fantastic. Come on, I’m in my thirties. ‘nough said.

What’s on your iPod? I, *gasp* don’t own one.

Morning or night? Night, definitely night.

My friends say… I’m the “fun” mom. I like that title.

Travel dreams… India. All over India

On my day off… Is there such a thing? I like to go to the zoo. It brings me to back to so many good things.

One of your top 100 to do before you die? Do a pinup photo of myself. I always wanted to do that. Someday, right?

What isn’t? Jumping out of a plane. No thank you.

Thanks so much, Gail, for taking a few minutes to chat with us about yourself and your work.  Our readers are sure to be inspired by your creativity.

Tell us your name. Tammy Ward

Where do you live? Atsugi, Japan (outside Tokyo)

Please link us to your website. http://www.tammyward.com

Describe your area of expertise (ie., weddings, babies, seniors, etc). Families and children

How long have you been a photographer? I played with photography all my life, but I have been in business for 3 years and pursuing a MFA in Photography since January 2007.

Please share with us your absolute favorite photograph you’ve ever taken and tell us the story behind it, why it speaks to you, etc. I don’t think I can pinpoint one favorite photograph. I have a new favorite quite often, depending on my mood. However, I think most of my favorites come from my MFA thesis “Life in a Blink”. The series explores the child within through use of children acting the part of adult related roles. There is a child inside of us all and no matter how time and experience change us, we are still children at heart. Over the summer and fall I will be adding quite a few more to the series for my final thesis presentation in December.

What brought you to create the “Life in a Blink” series? As a mother of four children, I feel a deep connection to this project. I am privileged enough to experience everyday life through my childrens’ eyes.  The spontaneity, the innocence, all of the childhood emotions echo my youthful past.  The fleeting existence of our youth goes by in a blink, leaving us with the serious and foreboding prospects of maturity and obligation. My intent with this series is to compel the viewer to grab hold of their inner child through visual displays of inner children trapped in “grown up” roles.

How would you describe your style? Colorful and clean

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? People tend to love the usual swinging the kids or feet pose, no matter how many times it has been done before, it is always a client favorite.

What gear is in your bag? Canon all the way baby! 5d Mark II, 85mm 1.2 L, 50mm 1.2 L, 24-300mm L, 580ex II in an awesome Kelly Moore bag.

If you could only use one lens what would it be? Love my 50mm 1.2 L, although I had to send the first one back that I bought, its hard to find a sharp copy.

Are you considering any new gear purchases this year? Yes, I am thinking about the 35mm 2.0 L lens. I am not sure I am in love with the 28-300 because I miss the wider aperture so I am thinking of replacing with a 35mm and the 70-200mm 2.8 L.

What is your go-to camera shop? B&H photo!

How do you stay motivated? Lots and lots of energy drinks.  No seriously, through my clients’ excitement!

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? I like both but prefer to shoot on-location as it opens your options for creativity.

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? I am located at a base in Japan and there aren’t a lot of other professionals in the area. However, I do work very hard to make sure all my work is something that I truly love myself and would want to cherish for years to come.

Do you use a Mac or PC? MAC

Tell us about your image processing style and the software you use. I import into Lightroom, tweak manually or sometimes I use presets.  Then in Photoshop I do some minor skin and eye retouching.  Most of the time I will edit each image individually and uniquely, I don’t batch edit. I usually have a processing in mind when I take the image.

Have you attended any workshops that you found to be helpful in your work? I am continually learning from my schooling, however I really enjoyed the ProPhotogs convention that I attended in 2008.

Which professional organizations do you belong to? PPA, SPS, NAPP

Tell us about your long-term goals. Would love to shoot childrens edgy fashion photography and a book for my Life in a Blink series.

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? Immerse yourself in photography, study it online through tutorials and forums and read plenty of books. Understand that there is so much more than taking the photo when in business (licenses, taxes, permits and insurance).

If you could choose anyone to do a photo shoot of you and your family, who would your choose? Red Leaf Studios or Purple Nickel

If you were not a photographer, then….. I would be interested in being a stylist for photographers.

What does photography mean to you? The world! I can’t imagine a life without photography. There is something so wonderfully special about capturing a moment in time that only our memories can vaguely grasp.

Magazine must have? Vogue!!

What ’s your guilty pleasure? a good vampire novel.

My weakness is… finding time to get all the ideas out of my head and into action.

My strength is… perseverance. I’m a mom to four kids, working on my masters degree full time, running a business with a husband that is deployed.

What do you do when you first wake up? push the snooze button, lol.

Finish this quote: When it rains… I want to snuggle up with the kids and enjoy an afternoon of movies.

Who do you love? My four beautiful children, my awesome husband, and all my other family and friends.

Do you read your horoscope? Yes, I’m an Aries!

Tattoos… Yes, on my ankle.  It means carpe diem.

MAC or PC… Mac

80’s Music… is so fun to Karaoke to.

What’s on your iPod? Right now I have a bit of everything from Michael Buble, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, songs from Glee.

Morning or night? NIGHT

My friends say… I’m way too busy.

Travel dreams… Europe, anywhere in Europe!

On my day off… ha ha, that’s funny, when does that happen? But every spare moment I get I enjoy it with my kids, although I should probably be spending some time in the gym.

One of your top 100 to do before you die? What isn’t? Publish a book.

Thanks so much, Tammy, for sharing your vision with our readers.  I’m sure we will all find inspiration in your amazing images.

Tell us your name. Jennifer Leatherwood

Where do you live? I live in Fall River Massachusetts with my fiance’ and our 5 dogs.

Please link us to your website. http://www.jenniferleatherwood.com

What is your area of expertise? I specialize in weddings and children’s photography.

How long have you been a photographer? I have been shooting for over 15 years and have been doing photography professionally for 7 years.

How would you describe your photography style? If I had to describe my wedding style, I’d say that it is fresh, modern, sophisticated and fun.

What is your standby pose? It seems that the pose most of my brides request from me is my “signature door shot” which is usually done in the church where the ceremony takes place.

What gear is in your bag? I shoot with all Canon equipment. My typical wedding bag contains the following: (2) 5d Bodies with battery grips, (2) 580 II Flashes, (4) Vivitar Flashes, Canon 24-70mm 2.8, Canon 70-200mm 2.8, Canon 16-35mm 2.8, Canon 50mm 1.2, Canon 100mm 2.8 and a Canon 15mm 2.8 fisheye.

If you could only use one lens what would it be? It would be my 70-200 for weddings and my 50 for portraits.

What is your go to camera shop? B&H Photo is my go to camera shop. I love their fast shipping and customer service!

Which album company do you recommend? I have used quite a few album companies over the years. My all time favorite is Finao!!

How do you stay motivated? Loving what I do and keeping my clients happy is all the motivation that I need!

What makes your job easy? I swear I have the absolute best clients in the world. In addition to them, my studio designers are a huge help and allow me to do what I love and they do the rest. 

Tell us about your image processing style. I like my images to be bright, highly saturated, and crisp. Photoshop was my first love so I am always whipping up some sort of new effect.

Have you found any workshops that you found to be helpful in your work? I attended Image X in NOLA a few  years ago and took Julia Bailey’s seminar. I haven’t looked at my work or this industry the same since. She really inspired me to stay true to myself and, in turn, my art will flourish, and it has!

Which professional organizations do you belong to? WPPI and PPA

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on- location or both why? My favorite light is natural light so I do prefer to work on location for most of my sessions. However, newborn sessions and some maternity sessions I usually prefer to shoot in my studio where I can really control my light.

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? I’d have to say my personality and the way I work with people. Not to mention, I really don’t have many limitations and have been known to scale a wall or jump in a pond to get “the shot”.

If you could choose anyone to do a photoshoot of you and your family, who would you choose? Well, I do not have a family yet, but I am getting married this year and I hired the amazing Julia Bailey for my wedding.

If you were not a photographer then….mixed media artist.

What does photography mean to you? Photography is my life. I am a people person and I love that this career allows me to interact and build new relationships with so many people. I love to make people feel good and happy and photography allows me to do just that!

Best advice to new photographers breaking into the business? A camera is a tool. Learn how to work that tool inside and out. Read, shoot, download, scrutinize, and do it all over again until it makes sense.

Magazine must haves? I love my Rangefinder magazine!

What’s your guilty pleasure? Anything chocolate, the darker the better!

My weakness is…..(see above answer) Just kidding, I really have a hard time saying NO.

My strength is…..my ability to put people at ease.

What do you do when you first wake up? I check my email on my iPhone.

Finish this quote: When it rains…..I jump in the puddles and splash my fiance.

Who do you love? I love my wonderful fiance Jim, my family, and my little pups.

Do you read your horoscope? No

Blog addiction…..Well at the moment I’m addicted to updating the look of my own, but in addition to that I have about 100 others that I stalk, I couldn’t possibly just single out one.

Tattoos…..None, but I dream of having a sleeve one day but I’m a chicken.

Mac or PC? Mac all the way!

80′s music? Most of it annoys me, but I’m a sucker for Journey.

What’s on your iPod? Mostly indie rockers

Morning or Night? Morning and I don’t exactly get along.

My friends say…..One of my friends said that I was his most talented and successful friend, that meant a lot to me. 

Travel Dreams…..I want to go anywhere and everywhere, but nowhere in particular.

On my day off…..What day off?  Oh yeah, I had one of those once. I think I went out to dinner.

One of your “Top 100″ to do before you die? I want to have a child of my own to photograph all the time. 

Tell us your name. Toni Elmer

Where do you live? Dallas (where everything is bigger and better!!!) 

Please link us to your website. http://www.urbanphotostudio.com

Describe your area of expertise: kids and families

How long have you been a photographer? 3 years.  WOW, time is flying!

How would you describe your photography style? fun, modern, contrasty

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? Well, back in the day I thought it was a great idea to get a big red couch and bring it out into a field.  It turned out to be a great idea.  Families loved it and still request it three years later.

What gear is in your bag? Canon 5d Mark ll, 50 1.4 and 85 1.8

If you could only use one lens what would it be? My nifty 50 for sure.  I love that lens.

What is your go-to camera shop? I really love my local guys, http://www.competitivecameras.com and they always have stuff in stock when no one else does.  Check em out if you need anything!!

Which album company do you recommend? I love the Dream Album Company.  They’re easy and beautiful.

How do you stay motivated? I love it so much that it doesn’t take much.  I love to look through different catalogs to get fresh inspiration.

What makes your job easy? The people I work with.  The kids crack me up!!!  The families do anything I ask.  I’m pretty lucky.

Tell us about your image processing style. I like to have heavy color saturation and lots of contrast, but I love soft images for my babies.

Have you attended any workshops that you found to be helpful in your work?  If so, which ones? I really liked Detra’s “Finding the Light Workshop“.  It helped me get out there and practice different situations, and I really liked The Secret Workshop for the business side of stuff.

Which professional organizations do you belong to? None yet, but that’s on my list for this year.  PPA here I come.

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? I prefer location, but I do like to bring newborns inside so I think both have positives and it offers variety.  I love variety.

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? I think the way I work with my clients and my happy contrasty look!

If you could choose anyone to do a photo shoot of you and your family, who would your choose? There’s so many!  Tara Whitney, Colby Evans, Amy Wenzel, and Cheryl Muhr just to name a few!

If you were not a photographer, then… a graphic designer – my major that I never finished

What does photography mean to you? It’s so rewarding and wonderful!  I really can’t put into words what it fully means to me.  It’s how I express myself and allows me to connect with others in a way I never could and I love that!

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? Practice, practice, practice and put yourself out there.  The more you’re willing to do that, the more you’ll find success.

Magazine must have? I love getting all the catalogs for inspiration:   Fossil, Free People, Anthro., etc.

What’s your guilty pleasure? candy and Diet Coke.  I could survive on the two.  This week my candy kick has been nerds. 

My weakness is… not saying no.

My strength is… always trying to improve.  Never settling.

What do you do when you first wake up? Get my baby and change her stinky diaper.

Finish this quote:   When it rains… we play out in it.

Who do you love? My amazing hubby who is the funniest guy ever, and my kiddos.

Do you read your horoscope? nope

Blog addiction… too many to even start!!  but Pink Ink for sure!

Tattoos… nope

MAC or PC… mac!!!  all the way!!  I should probably go get one of those little apple decals for my car.

80’s Music… I was born in the 80′s so I am more 90′s

What’s on your iPod? I don’t have my own, so I steal my hubbies and play anything and everything!!  I love every type of music.

Morning or night? night.

My friends say… I’m pretty fun

Travel dreams… Italy, Europe, Fiji or anywhere there’s a beach.

On my day off… I love to spend the day by the pool with my kiddos, or a get away with my hubby.

One of your top 100 to do before you die? What isn’t?  See my babies grow up to be amazing people.

Not to do: Anything that involves a snakes or bugs!

Thanks so much, Toni, for sharing a little bit about yourself and allowing us to enjoy your work. 

Tell us your name. Tina Nitz

Where do you live? St. Augustine, Florida

Please link us to your website. http://www.nitzphotography.com

Describe your area of expertise. Expertise – HA! I don’t consider myself an expert in anything, but I do specialize in maternity, newborns and babies. If I had to pick one of those three I’d say my newborn work is my strongest.

How long have you been a photographer? I’ve been a photographer since I can remember ! Way back in the day, I used to take my mom’s 110 camera and use a whole roll of film on a single flower, bug or whatever else caught my eye. She’d get so upset because I wasted a whole roll on one thing. I looked at it like I was shooting a bunch to get the perfect result. Did I? Probably not – I was like 10.  But you are probably asking more from a professional standpoint.  I’ve officially been a business for almost 6 years now.

What did you do before pursuing photography? Growing up I never said “I want to be a photographer when I grow up.”  It changed frequently depending on what was of interest that year. But, after high school, I made the decision to hit the university for a degree in elementary education. I never quite finished. Along came the birth of my first son… and then a few years later a second son. Never went back and somehow I ended up as a photographer.

How would you describe your style? Simplistic.

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? I prefer to work in a studio with my “fake light” mostly because I can control it so much easier. I know it, I’m comfortable with it, and it works for me. Which is why I’m working on learning natural light out on location now – getting out of my little box.

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? EVERYONE wants the newborn sound asleep with the little legs/arms hanging over the side of the basket/bucket/chair.  And lately the “fish bowl” shots are quite popular with the toddler moms.

Do you have a favorite tip or trick that always gets a smile from your young subjects? Every child is different and responds to different things. What works for one doesn’t work for another. So I guess I’ll have to say no I don’t really have a favorite trick that works. But I have a whole list of things I try to get those smiles and when I find something that works for that child I play off it for a while. Singing, laughing, talking silly, jokes for older ones, making fun of mom and dad’s “stinky feet” works VERY well for the 4-5 year olds. You just have to take cues from the child and keep working until you catch their attention.. then roll with it!

What gear is in your bag? Nikon…..always Nikon. I currently shoot with a D300 and 90% of the time I have my 85mm lens on.  I’ll sometimes also shoot with my 50mm and then, if I’m feeling crazy, pull out the 105mm macro for some close ups (like those little bits on a newborn).

If you could only use one lens what would it be? 85mm of course

What is your go-to camera shop? I try to buy all my gear locally – and that happens to be at Ritz Camera. I like to keep my business local and support those around me. If they don’t have it B&H Photo here I come.

Which album company do you recommend? My session albums are the Addison Elite slip ins by J. Lee Albums.

What are your favorite props? I’m not big on a lot of props. But I do love me some hats!! And baskets!! My husband thinks I need to go to Hats and Baskets anonymous.

How do you stay motivated? By shooting for ME every once in a while. Whether by working with my own kids and doing something different or just getting in the car and driving around until I see something of interest. Sometimes even just sitting in the yard and snapping shots of the lizards. It’s so important to have time for yourself and to shoot for fun when you are running a business. Otherwise you’ll get burnt out and wanna scream!

What makes your job easy? The resulting images and the smiles on mom and dads faces when they come in to view and order. Makes chasing their toddler during the session or getting peed on by a newborn all worth it!

Do you fully process all the proofs you show to clients or do you show soft-proofs and then finalize once you know which images they will be ordering? Depends on how much editing is required. I pretty much process all proofs before they are shown to the client. Of course, a final once over is done before sending to the lab to get rid of little stray hairs and minor things that bug me but probably were not noticed by the client. For those times when some extensive detail work is needed during editing (such as a newborn with a bad case of baby acne) then I’ll work up a handful of my favorites completely to show clients what will be done before ordering. Then I do the major touch-ups before sending to the lab for them on the images they order.

If you could choose anyone to do a photo session of you and your family, who would your choose? Oh wow…..that’s a loaded question. You know I’m not really sure. I have so many photographers that I know and admire. I’m just not sure if I could choose just one.

If you were not a photographer, then…then my life would be pretty empty because I LOVE what I do.

What does photography mean to you? It means a lot and it always has. I’m a firm believer in capturing memories. Time goes by way too fast and kids grow up even faster.  You never know what the future holds and having special images of the ones you love and hold dear is ever so important.

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? There are 3 major pieces of advice that I give to newcomers to the business:

1. Have knowledge about photography itself. How to achieve proper exposure, white balance, etc. If you don’t know what a shutter speed is, then you might want to take a class or do some research online. LEARN all you can about photography before you go to the next step.
2. Know your camera and how to use it properly.
3. Price yourself fair to the clients and to your fellow photographers. Don’t undercut the established photographers in the area in order to gain business because, in the end, all it does it hurt the entire photography industry – and it doesn’t gain you great clients.  Find your magic happy number and work backwards to find your fees.

Magazine must have? Professional Photographer is my favorite right now.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Reading, actually. I love to read. However I often feel guilty when I do because I know I could be doing other things either with the business or with housework, etc.

My weakness is…I have to have  Dr. Pepper first thing after rolling out of bed in the morning. Sad, but true.

My strength is…Hmmm – I can tell you all about my flaws and issues, but ask me this and I get stuck.

Finish this quote: When it rains……it pours… LOL!

Who do you love? My hubby and my 2 boys.

Blog addiction… Nope – don’t really have one.

Tattoos… Ick.. no. Not on me. But they are fun to photograph on dad’s with newborns!

MAC or PC… PC

80’s Music… Yes!!!

What’s on your iPod? I actually do not own an iPod. Sad, isn’t it?

Morning or night? NIGHT!

On my day off… … and the boys are at school.. I like to curl up with my kitty and read a good book.

Thank you Tina for sharing a bit of yourself with us.  I’m sure our readers will enjoy your work as much as I have.

Tell us your name. Nancy Poole

Where do you live? Broken Arrow, Oklahoma which is a suburb of Tulsa

Please link us to your website. http://www.nancypoole.com

Describe your area of expertise: high school seniors

How long have you been a photographer? 5 years

What made you decide to leave your teaching career to pursue  photography? I actually retired from being an elementary principal after 31 years in education.  After I retired, I decided I wanted to pursue becoming a photographer.  I studied, took classes and workshops, and gathered my equipment for 2 years before I put up my website.

How would you describe your style? Classic, colorful, stylish

Do you prefer to work in the studio, on-location, or both and why? Both!  I love the great lighting for portraits in the studio and like to do traditional to fashion type headshots.  But I also love the variety of ideas that can be drawn from a location shoot.

What is your standby pose (the one that everyone tends to want from you)? I have a pose that I got from a Sarah Jessica Parker perfume ad in a magazine that everyone wants.  They sit on the edge of a chair and lean over on their knees.  Their knees are together and their feet wide apart with their toes pointing inward.  They love the fashion look of the pose.

What gear is in your bag? Canon 5d Mark II, 70-200L Lens, 24-70L lens, 16-35 wide angle lens, fisheye 100-400 Lens, two Canon 580ex flashes, Radio Poppers, op tech hand grip

If you could only use one lens what would it be? 70-200L-2.8—I keep it on my camera almost all the time.

What is your go-to camera shop? I have a local camera shop, B&H, and Dury’s

Which album company do you recommend? I use WHCC for my 10×10 press printed books.

How do you stay motivated? I LOVE what I do.  I love being around the seniors and the session.  I get excited when I’m photoshopping their session.  It’s emotional to watch them see their pictures for the first time.  It’s a thrill when they get the prints in their hands.  Compared to my former job as a principal, it is no stress.  How could anyone not be motivated by a job that has all of that?

Have you attended any workshops that you found to be helpful in your work?  If so, which ones? I may just be the queen of workshops.   I should be better than I am–LOL!  Kirk Voclain–posing and photoshop for Seniors, Brad Veraska–posing and photoshop and lighting for Seniors, Jen Hillenga–posing and photoshop for Seniors, Kevin Jairaj–bridals and couple posing, Julie Klaasmeyer–babies, Lori Nordstrom–babies, Tim Babin–Senior posing and business, Mike Fulton–lighting, to name a few.

Which professional organizations do you belong to? Indian Nations Guild–Tulsa PPA local, Oklahoma Photographers Association

What makes your job easy? No Stress

How do you achieve the rich, vibrant colors in your images? I think a combination between my Canon 5d Mark II and using Lightroom

Do you fully process all the proofs you show to clients or do you show soft-proofs and then finalize once you know which images they will be ordering? I used to fully process all the files before the client would see them, but I’m way too busy now to spend time on a file that they may not purchase, so I fully photoshop about 5 or maybe at least one from different lighting situations.  Then they look at all the others straight out of Lightroom.

What sets you and your work apart from other photographers in your area? We have some amazing photographers in this area.  It seems I’m getting to be known for my white on white high-key look and my location shoots with my off-camera flash, such as my outdoor field pictures.

If you could choose anyone to do a photo session of you and your family, who would your choose? Brad Veraska

If you were not a photographer, then…I’d do something artistically.  I once had a small business where I sewed arts and crafts projects and sold them.

What does photography mean to you? It is such a artistic release for me.

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? Learn the craft, understand business and pricing structures in order to make a profit, before hanging out your shingle and saying you are a professional.

Magazine must have? I love catalogs for poses

What’s your guilty pleasure? Merlot and my black corvette but not together!  LOL!

My weakness is… spreading myself to thin

My strength is… creativity

What do you do when you first wake up? I lay in bed with my laptop and watch the morning shows on tv and try to wake up!

Finish this quote: When it rains…just don’t let it do it on my parade!

Who do you love? My husband David.  We’ve been married for 18 years.  And our 3 children:  Casey-33, Garrett-29, and Aubrey-27

Do you read your horoscope? I read it—but I don’t pay attention to it unless it is a good one!

Tattoos…Nope—and so glad—they would look horrible on my skin at this age

MAC or PC…Desktop Mac and a MacBook Pro Laptop

Music…I love all kinds of music—I just LOVE music, but I mostly listen to Country

What’s on your iPod? Country, and then walking/running music like Justin Timberlake and Madonna—they have a great beat

Morning or night? Definitely night.  I can’t do anything in the morning and start really getting the creative ideas flowing about 3:00pm to 2:00am

My friends say…I’m sweet

Travel dreams…Traveling all the places I’ve never been.  I’ve been to all but Alaska and Wisconsin in the US, several places in Mexico and the Carribean, and I got to take a trip not too long ago to Italy.  We would love to go to more places in Europe and go to Australia.

On my day off… Compared to my education career—I feel like I’m always on a day off.

One of your top 100 to do before you die? I don’t know.  I really believe in living everyday fully.  I’m living many of my dreams right now.  I LOVE my family and job, I get to travel, I have my sports car, and my daughter just got engaged so we are planning her wedding.  Life Is So Good!

What isn’t on your top list? Bungee Jumping—-I’m deathly afraid of heights —those where you look over an edge.

Thanks so much, Nancy, for taking the time to share your inspirational work with us. 

Tell us your name: Alison Waring

Where do you live? Central Florida

Your site or blog address: www.alisonwaring.com

Describe your photography subject focus I try and capture a moment.  Something that’ll make your heart smile. A special smirk, toddler snuggling a lovey or the angsty look of a teen.

How would you describe your photography style? Candid with a PoP!

What do you shoot with? Nikon D80 (hopefully a D700 soon)

Your favorite camera equipment…My brand spankin’ new Funky Camera Wristlet

If you could only use one lens what would it be? Def my 50mm 1.8 it never comes off the body.

Does your camera have a name? Oddly no.  I shall have to make one up.

How do you stay motivated? It’s really not hard. Mostly my clients keep me motivated- seeing the joy (and sometimes tears) makes me want to do it over and over again.

How long have you been a photographer? Officially 2 years now.  Unofficially since I was in middle school.

If not a photographer, then….A horse. I’m joking. Something with horses.

Your go-to camera shop? B&H Photo (online of course).

What makes your job easy? I have like the best clients.  They’re fun and have cute kids.

Which album company do you recommend? Finao. Awesome products and a great variety of cover choices. And their album box is to die for!

If you could choose anyone to do a photoshoot of you/your family, who would your choose? Cheryl Muhr, she’s so light hearted and gives awesome hugs.

Favorite Pink Ink Studios product? That’s hard I love’em all!  Most helpful I’d say the Portrait Party Package.

Best advice for new photographers breaking into the business? More than anything have your contracts and packages completely figured out before you start.  There’s no winging it or making it up as you go.

Magazine must have? Photoshop User, Professional Photographer, After Capture and a bazillion more.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Twitter. I’m so addicted.

My weakness is…Spiders *blech*

My strength is… The overwhelming support I get from friends and family.

What do you do when you first wake up? Pee. Then brush my teeth. Is that too intimate?

Finish this quote: When It rains…it’s NAPTIME!!!!!

Who Do You Love? The maker of my Hostess Cupcake lip-gloss. My family of course.

Do you read your horoscope? Nah don’t have time.

Blog addiction… Sadly I don’t have one.  My attention span can only handle Tweets right now.

Tattoos…They look great on other people.

MAC or PC…PC but I so wish Mac.

80′s Music…Horrible hair great music.

What’s on your iPod? A lot of David Gray, massive amount of 1 hit wonders (yes that means Vanilla Ice & SirMixALot) and everything I’ve ever Shazam’d off the TV.

Morning or night? Night.  I hate the morning it’s all early and bright blech!

My friends say…I’m AWESOME!! No really they do. So does Rock Band.

Travel dreams…Fiji

On my day off… Ha ha no such thing! I’m a stay at home mom on my “days off” so it’s family family family when I’m not shooting (which I love and would never change).

One of your top 100 to do before you die? What isn’t?  I’ve never really traveled so I have to do that :0)