* Why you love photography?

“There are so many different reasons why I love photography, to me photography is poetry without words. It allows me to creatively express my love for life, people, art, and emotion simultaneously. My lens has taught me to see so many different things in so many different ways. I can freeze time and moments allowing people to look back and feel the emotion, the beauty, and the reality of that fleeting moment over and over again. I am blessed to be able to tell the stories that make us all unique and make us all connected. It is a tremendous responsibility and an art that keeps evolving depending upon who or what is in front of my camera.”

* Your favorite type of photography?

“My favorite type of photography is hands down Lifestyle. I love capturing the relationships and the personalities of people as I see it. Observing people and capturing their unique essence. Lifestyle photography has so many different expressions and it allows me the creativity to show people how amazing the smallest of moments can be. I feel honored and humbled everytime I am asked to get to spend time observing and documenting a part of someone else’s life.”

* Photography tips or tricks?

“Since I love quotes, I would say Dorthea Lange, one of the greats, said it best: ‘One should really use the camera as though tomorrow you would be stricken blind.’ ”

* Comments about your web site design?

“SmugMug and JR customization have helped me with all the things that have nothing to do with my camera; all the things I need a lot of help with! JR customization was personable and worked with my budget and my vision to develop a logo and a cohesive website/blog/FB fan page. SmugMug makes my life so much easier and is wonderful for my clients. Thank you both, I will be forever grateful!”

~ Lacey

Visit Photography by Laceymarie at Photography by Laceymarie to take a look at Lacey’s photos!

* Why you love photography?

“The rush of capturing the image that takes away the mother’s breath, or makes a daddy cry is indescribable! Having the honor of creating portraits absolutely thrills my heart! There is just nothing like KNOWing you got THE SHOT, and it is an heirloom that will be cherished for generations. Photography is timeless, and having the opportunity to give that gift to whomever is in front of my lens is one of my greatest pleasures in this lifetime!”

* Your favorite type of photography?

“People, People,People….I LOVE SHOOTING PEOPLE…..(with my camera, of ‘course ”

A funny or interesting photography story?

“One of the most hilarious stories was early on in my career, when I decided to gain some experience and called the world renowned Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Looking to be an assistant photographer…I first talked with the social photographer (’cause I love people , he did not need any help. I then called the horse photographer ( ’cause after all I did have a horse when I was 8 years old…how hard could it be?), he did not need any help either. My last option was the livestock photographer, he was desperate for help! But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be in an arena with a 2000 pound animal trying to get their ears to point in the right direction!!!! All I can say is, I did learn the difference between a heifer, bull & steer and how to aim, focus and shoot faster than you can dance the Texas two-step!”

* Photography tips or tricks?

“Always be prepared with a bribe when photographing children!”

* Comments about your web site design?

“What a fabulous combination SmugMug and JR Customization are together! They complement each other to create the ideal team for a photographer. They allow photographers to focus on what they do best, and they help us to stay on top of our game in this ever changing profession of which we are privileged to be apart. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have them both in my corner to allow my work to be showcased in the best light!”

~ Angela

Visit Photography by Angela Nivens Rose Portrait Studio at Photography by Angela Nivens Rose Portrait Studio to take a look at Angela’s photos!

* Why you love photography?

“I love photography because it is the only way we can stop time. It captures and saves the essence of the moment, light, line, shadow and form, for that split second, is mine.”

* Your favorite type of photography?

“My favorite type of photography is Black & White, the subject matter can be anything as long as the image has the full scale of tones as well as a true white and black. I probably lean a little bit towards landscape due to the fact that to me it is the biggest challenge to get a full spectrum high quality B&W print from.”

A funny or interesting photography story?

“I attended Brooks Institute of Photography in 1975 my professor for one class was Herb Boggie. Herb gave us our weekly shooting assignment and when it came time for review & critique he stared and stared at my photo; a photo of an old windmill taken about 50 miles from the campus just outside of Solvang, California. He marked the grade on the photo and then looked up from it, looked at me and asked if this was my photo, (anonymity of the student during the critique and grade session insured no bias from the professor) I said yes, fearing the dreaded words “reshoot and reprint”… he then held it up for all to see and said, ” 15 years ago one of my students shot this same windmill, same angle, same time of day, same composition… that student was your Father.” Oh and the grade? B+.”

* Photography tips or tricks?

“When shooting landscapes, look for the “natural path” that the scene provides and find the angle or attitude to enhance that. The natural path being (without conscious thought) the way your eye travels from object to object in the scene.”

* Comments about your web site design?

“SmugMug provides an excellent platform with all the tools to showcase our work. jR and crew are unique, they have a great attitude, they listen to you, they are not upset when you make suggestions or reject an idea, they stay focused on the task at hand which is getting your website up and running while maintaining the individual integrity of your ideas for the site. Price is very fair.”

~ Kelly

Visit Double Vision Photography at Double Vision Photography to take a look at Kelly’s photos!

* Why you love photography?

“It’s a way to capture the world around me without trying to use my poor drawing skills.
I love seeing my clients reactions and emotions when I show them their images for the first time!
I feel so lucky being my own boss, owning my own business, and doing what I love.”

* Your favorite type of photography?

“My personal favorite is abstract colors and textures, but as a business, I LOVE weddings! ”

A funny or interesting photography story?

“My 2nd shooter and I shot a wedding on an island which for obvious reasons left our cars behind on the mainland and traveled by boat. By the end of the night we weren’t sure who was taking us back due to the amount of alcohol everyone had partaken in! Let’s just say we made it back in 1 piece! ”

* Photography tips or tricks?

“I’d say if you are just starting out or dabbling, shoot everything, shoot with different settings, and push yourself to learn your camera in and out! That is the only way you will truly learn!”

* Comments about your web site design?

“I’m so happy with the customization of SmugMug and how JR Customization was able to create my own SmugMug page which matched my existing blogsite! Now there will be seamless interaction between my blog and my SmugMug page! Yay for personal branding!”

~ Sarah

Visit Sarah Heppell Photography at Sarah Heppell Photography to take a look at Sarah’s photos!

“I love photographing seniors and children both on location and studio. You never know what kind of expressions you’re going to get with the little ones and for the Seniors I love to see the smile on their face when they see the finished product.”

A funny or interesting photography story?

“I was photographing to sisters at Christmas and I said to the littler of the two little girls, “Come over here sissy and stand by the tree!” Next thing I know she kicked me and said “I am not a sissy!” I tried to explain my way out of that one but it’s hard to explain to a 4 year old that you didn’t really call her a sissy. Her parents and I laughed so hard, but she didn’t speak to me the rest of the session. ”

* Photography tips or tricks?

“I did learn with children it’s better to call them by their name and not by something else!”

* Comments about your web site design?

“I chose JR customization after I looked around several different designers but JR Customization had the style that I was looking for. Jerry and Amanda were easy to work with and I love my new website design. I chose Smugmug because of its ease of use for both myself and the client! The online ordering is a simple way for clients to order and use a credit card.”

~ Heather

Visit Making Memories Photography at Making Memories Photography to take a look at Heather’s photos!

* Why you love photography?

“Photography allows me to capture cherished moments in people’s lives and I love that! I love being able to show others what I see through my lens.”

* Your favorite type of photography?

“Any kind of portrait photography. I love capturing and showcasing people’s personalities and who they are as an individual.”

A funny or interesting photography story?

“You never know what you are going to get when working with or trying to with animals. One time during a senior session, we were in a beautiful area with horses nearby. We were hoping that the horses would walk up to the fence to have a closer shot. The best looking horse eventually wandered over to the fence right where we were. We got so excited and hustled to set up the shot (we knew we had seconds). Right when we were ready to take the shot, the horse turned around… lifted his tail….and well, showed us what he thought of us and walked away The scene soon turned stinky, and needless to say, we didn’t get that really close up shot that we wanted, but we did have a good laugh ”

* Photography tips or tricks?

“Always make sure you are having fun! Living in Minnesota, I am always keeping a watchful eye on the ever changing weather. If bad weather does decide to show up during your session, take advantage of it and see how it can work for you before calling it quits for the day. It can create an awesome and different image that you may not expect! Make a blizzard work for you, not against you ”

* Comments about your web site design?

“I love the constant support! Adrienne at jR Customization did such an awesome job making my website what I wanted it to be! I love how you can ask any kind of question (even when it confuses myself) and they will do their best to help.”

~ Sarah

Visit Sarah Ciccone Photography at Sarah Ciccone Photography to take a look at Sarah’s photos!

* Why you love photography?

“I enjoy the spontaneous moments caught in a simple photograph. Although portrait photography has an inherent posing quality, a session will usually transform into more candid moments after dialogue naturally ensues. It is these moments that I live to capture in a session and it fills my heart to the brim when I actually get it!”

* Your favorite type of photography?

“I have always loved pictures and the stories they tell ever since I was a child. I still like to spread out all of my mother’s old pictures that she has collected over the years and pick thru the ones that evoke such emotion in me that it usually brings me to tears! It is my goal as a professional photographer to give my clients a memory in a sliver of time that they can one day look back on with the same happiness and fondness.”

* Photography tips or tricks?

“I have learned the most from shooting and not being afraid of taking risks and chances with my settings and equipment. It is safe to stick to a standard, but I find that I get the most brilliant pictures from stepping outside of the box.”

* Comments about your web site design?

“Adrienne was great in meeting my needs and wanting to produce a product that I would be proud to call my own. I receive compliments on my website constantly and I appreciate how Adrienne worked with me to bring my vision to life!”

~ Becky

Visit Becky Stewart Photography at Becky Stewart Photography to take a look at Becky’s photos!

* Why you love photography?

Kristin: “I believe everyone has a God given gift. Mine just happens to be photography. It is who I am. I can run into people who have known me since I was very young, and their memory of me is, “Aren’t you that girl with the camera.”
From the beginning I have loved the artistic challenge photography presents. Photography allows us a chance to freeze a moment in time, and because of this we can look back and reflect on these moments every time we pass by the framed image; turn the pages of a photo album or sort through old box of photos. I love how photography brings people together. It preserves our history. There are so many things I could name… I have viewed a large part of my life through the lens of a camera and I have loved every minute of it!!!”

Valerie: “Photography draws upon everything I love– being with people, working with animals, and feeds my creative energy every day. By documenting memories that can be revisited at any time allows me to influence the good in people’s lives.”

* Your favorite type of photography?

Kristin: “I love black and white photography, and cut my teeth in the photography world on a roll of Kodak black and white film! I love to photography animals (especially horses), people (from the very young to the young at heart) and I love detail and abstract photography.”

Valerie: “Watching people share that special moment they love with their family, friends, or beloved pets and seeing their delight when I capture that forever for them.”

A funny or interesting photography story?

Kristin: “When I was in the sixth grade I entered a National Geographic World Magazine photo contest, and won first place in their black and white category. I was so excited! The magazine interviewed me and sent out a photographer to take my pic. It was a lot of fun, as it is not often I am on the other side of the camera.  The photographer’s assistant’s family owned the fireworks company that provided fireworks for Kings Island theme park. We had never been to a theme park, and so she sent us tickets for the whole family to go. It was such a treat.”

Valerie: “Participating in the Mustang event was a meaningful, enriching experience. Kids and adults alike adopted a mustang and trained them for an auction. Each person had a chance to show what they had taught the horse in the arena prior to the auction, and I was lucky enough to to capture the trust between the horse and their amateur trainers. The photos from this event are still some of my favorite because every picture tells a story of how far the horse advanced based upon working with the trainer.”

* Photography tips or tricks?

Kristin: “If you want to improve you picture taking ability in your own personal life I offer this advice: practice, practice, practice. Begin to look at things differently and experiment. The reward will come when you realize you have created your own box of memories. Don’t just let life pass you by…capture those moments and treasurer them.”

Valerie: “With any subject, getting the light just right can be the difference in a hit or miss shot. However, getting the subject, human or otherwise to relax is my strength. Asking people questions about themselves opens them up and puts their facial expression in a more relaxed and natural pose. My tip– get the light right, and then focusing on the relationship with the subject.”

* Comments about your web site design?

Kristin: “I love the new webpage design. It looks great!”

Valerie: “SmugMug allows me to focus on the other aspects of my business– booking events, managing events, and taking pictures. I Just Love Jerry he listened to me an understood my wants and needs. Right down to the pin-drop. I love the look and feel of the website it fits us perfectly! You rock Jerry:0!!”

~ Kristin and Valerie

Visit CbarC Photography at CbarC Photography to take a look at Kristin and Valerie’s photos!