I had high hopes that she would love going to play with lots of adorable kids her age twice a week. Macen went when he was 4. He never hesitated or cried once. He’d bound out of bed, get dressed and swing his legs on the ride there. Once he was through the front door, he put his things away and wave goodbye. I loved the teachers. He loved the teachers. And we’d been pumping Noelle up for when she’d get to go to “The Red School”.
She’d cry. She’d hide behind Chris or me. It was complete torture for us- and she knew it. Eventually we’d leave, spending the rest of the day questioning ourselves. Are we just being played by our 4 year old? Are we forcing her to go?
Every time she’d jump in my waiting car at 2:45pm, she’d be grinning ear to ear. I’d hear songs and stories and once she told me her new name for Red School- “Sweet Treat”. ” I LOVE Red School” she’d tell me from the back seat. And every day we went through the same routine beginning at bedtime, starting back up the moment her eyes opened the next morning and lasting until we left her wailing at Red School.
Alot of it was our fault because we do travel often. So she missed more school than she should have. But it is what it is. And now that she doesn’t go, I often hear her tell me how much she misses it. It makes me sad. I know she would’ve enjoyed having her own time to make new friends and do things there.
I really hope Max loves it when he turns four. I think he may. Macen hasn’t been in 4 years- he still remembers the teachers’ names and brings them up sometimes. Its the only place I’ll send my littles for Pre-K. There’s no question that they love their kids. Xoxo, AmyQ

It’s hard to believe I haven’t posted anything here since June…. A lot has gone on over the past 4 months. Life has moved at its typical zippy pace and I sit here as random memories from the last 4 months flash through my mind….
Here’s the cliff notes version:
In July my dear friend Jessica, her 3 kids, and me and my 5 crazies loaded up in my monster van and drove to northern California. We had the idea, packed and left within 4 days. I set up a tumblr to share our adventure- and I need to wrap up those last few adventures… It’s on my list. (http://amyandjess.tumblr.com) It was awesome, intense, beautiful, nerve wrecking, memorable, hard, fun and the best.
Chris & I went on a week long road trip that ended with us at Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN. We have wanted to see Phish together since we’ve been married. Phish was spot on but Bon Iver blew my mind. I love Bon Iver & was expecting soft and mellow but they brought the house down.
A few weeks later I flew to Maine to spend 5 days with friends in a mountain top cabin. It was relaxing and the conversations went late every night. We laughed, cried and danced badly to some crazy dancing video game. We drove through winding country roads with the radio up. We pulled over and swung off a very high rope swing into a lake. We said goodbye until next year and I flew to NYC to spend 2 days with Kelly and Lauren from Australia. Their flight was delayed so I ended up alone in Manhattan over night. I walked all over the place. I found a cool little bookstore and ignored pedestrian rules. I jumped over puddles and sent short videos to Chris & the kids. The next morning I hit most of the tourist traps alone. The Aussies ended up renting a car to drive into the city and they’d already done touristy things on a prior trip. I rode the subway by myself and loved it. The World Trade Center hit me very hard. I wasn’t prepared for the emotions that came roaring to the surface and so I sat on a curb and had my cry, then left. When the girls arrived we ate and walked around. Later that night we caught the 11pm show of Sleep No More. Oh. My. God. Google it. It was insane. NYC is my new favorite city.
We spent a week at the beach with my parents in September. Riding bikes to get ice cream is our favorite. And the kids love looking for shells in the early morning with my mom. Madeline learned to throw a cast net from my stepfather. She’s a natural. Some kids threw a party 2 houses down and the music woke me up at 2am. Not my finest moment. I may have gone outside and yelled. They may have ignored me.
And last month our crew went to a homeschooling conference in Treasure Island FL, outside Tampa. I believe the kids had more fun there than they’ve ever had at Disney World. It’s true.
I have so many photos I want to share, but for some reason I can’t log into my blog from my desktop- which is another reason I’ve been silent for so long. I haven’t had time to look into the problem but hopefully it’s something minor….
That’s the quick rundown, pretty much. Now that I know I can post from my iPad, I’ll try and share again soon. All my love, AmyQ

Carli & her husband shoot lovely weddings in Houston TX and abroad.  If you are addicted to instagram, you may know her as @inkedfingers.  Her biggest dream is to make it to the popular page, so look her up and give her a follow & a like…. anyhoooo, Carli is someone who challenges my idea of the ingredients it takes to have a soul connection.  Can you love and feel love, listen and be heard, laugh and be laughed with, sigh and comfort and find peace in your heart during your trials, with someone whose voice you’ve never heard?  Yes.  Out of the blue, Carli will show up in my mailbox, saying exactly what my soul needs.  She is true.  She is bare.  She makes me think.  She makes me feel lovely and wise.  She is wise.  *sigh*  You’ll love her.  Stalk her on the web.  She’s all over the place with lots of wonderful things to see and read.  Enjoy, AmyQ

carli kiene

inkedfingers

girl.

Tell me about the moment/realization that photography was a profession you wanted to explore.

I couldn’t decide between photo journalism and print journalism in college. Writing was difficult for me but photography was a hobby at best. I didn’t think I could make a living at it. In the early going, I felt I was copping out by choosing photo over print.

I was a junior at the University of Texas, working at a coffee shop full time. A fellow barista in a band asked me to photograph them. It was a free gig, of course. That was my first time on Mt Bonnell in Austin, the setting sun, the energy behind that lens…. when I got those photos back I couldn’t believe I had taken them. I felt like I had cheated somehow because it was an effortless job with an overwhelming reward.

Writing (print journalism) has never come easily. Taking good pictures did. It wasn’t something I learned. It was something coming from inside of me… a gift, I believe, that I feel I have no control over… but I chose it back.

What camera did you learn with?

Canon rebel. 35 mm.

What did you do/plan to do before deciding on photography?

First graphic design, then journalism. Ironically, I feel I can do both.

If there were no limitations, what would you pursue photographically?  What do you dream of shooting before you die?

I shoot weddings, and there have been moments I’ve felt “Oh… been there, done that! What’s next?!” But I am greatly inspired by love, by the love stories of the couples I get to know, so I feel like for now I am happy where I am. But the ultimate gig for me with the ultimate reward would be traveling to locations with phenomenal backdrops, like the Grand Canyon or underwater- the Marianas Trench, or The French Polynesian Islands and photographing love, there. If I provide my clients a legacy, what greater good could be contributed to the human race?

10 years from now- where would you like to be?  Doing what?

I want a family. I want 3 or 4 little blonde babies running around the house and I still want this incredible business, with a permanent office manager and maybe a designer on staff too. We’re so blessed to be here and now, you know? So much to be thankful for. Oh debt, yes, to be out of debt, that would be amazing.

Your favorite lens/camera combo.

d700 , 35mm 1.4 I feel like i’m on fire when I hold those two.

Camera/lens combo you’d like to have or play with.

I don’t own a tilt/shift lens but when I rent one…. it’s freakin amazing. It creates art straight out of the lens, baby, no post processing shit required. ha. I hate editing.

Who/what lights your fire?  Songs, artist, movie, subject, feelings….

I am moved by the ocean, by the steady tide, the deep dark waves filled with life.

I am moved by artists who embrace their calling, though uncertain, who are selfless in giving of their hearts to the world,

I am inspired by those who, in the middle of fear, embrace only courage

I embrace quiet music most days, andante melodies with rich lyrics, 3/4 time, that tell a story with few words

I am inspired by true love stories, by two people that make love, a marriage work against all odds and differences, two who choose to love

More than anything, I am inspired by the man who chooses to love me, who believes in me above all others and who knows how to hold my heart, john david

When is the last time you have had personal prints done?

Too long. I hate my photo being taken. I can’t stand it. Is that bad? I’m too self-conscious. Anything self-conscious is lousy. I would want to be photographed the way I photograph… candid moments. Johnny and I take photos of each other, though. I still get finicky during those quiet moments in between the clicks….

I think it gets worst the older I get.

How often do you shoot for fun?  Have you noticed a theme/consistency in what you shoot for enjoyment?

I attribute the return of my love for the lens to the iphone, no question. The end of 2010 I was burnt out. We finished shooting 29 weddings that year and had no office manager. Enter the app Instagram on my iphone. No post processing required and always had the camera on me.

I take way too many photos of coffee and lattes and hearts and pens and ink and paper and the ocean.

How do you handle friends/family requests for your services?

If I can and if my heart tells me it is appropriate, I will photograph for free. I believe this is a gift given to me for free, so I, in return, gift it.

Was there someone from childhood, whom you credit for instilling your love of photography or someone who believed in your ability to do this as a profession?

My father raised us four children for quite some time, solo.

Are there any educational experiences/workshops that stand out as having helped you grow?

I am much more of a self-taught self-motivator , sometimes introvert who is not inspired by workshops. However, two people who I would enjoy shooting with are jose villa and chase jarvis.

Would you rather shoot:

Burt Renolyd’s mustache or Chuck Norris’s?
Burt!

A macro shot of your toes or a full body shot wearing a half shirt and spandex?
Toes!

The cover of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone or National Geographic?
Vanity Fair!

You’re wearing a t-shirt with one word that sums up your journey thus far.  What does it say?

“Teshuvah” a Hebrew word that means “to return, to go back”

I apologize for my silence lately… long story with a happy ending:)  Please enjoy reading Michelle Waters answer some questions.   She always has a smile, even if tears are in her eyes.  She loves so hard and so bright.  Michelle lives  in West Virginia with her (awesome) husband Jay and their sweet chub of love, Parker.  I call her Mushy.  Because she is.  Friends, here’s Mushy from Mushy Waters Photography.  It’s Michelle Waters Photography, but I think Mushy Waters has a ring.  Branding genius?   Could be.  I’m for hire (no I’m not).  Thank you and good day.  AmyQ

Tell me about the moment/realization that photography was a profession you wanted to explore.

• I was in high school doing a photo assignment (took my niece to the playground and photographed her being her sweet self), and my art teacher told me I had potential. That’s all I needed to be motivated. It felt like photo fit me.

What camera did you learn with?

• A Canon AE-1 35mm Film camera. Still have that bad boy.  I should use it again.

What did you do/plan to do before deciding on photography?

• I decided I wanted to be a photographer pretty early on. But while I was in school, I worked at a few restaurants, a copy shop, as a survey girl at the mall (terrible!)…I did watch repair for a few years, and worked as an art model in college. I do remember wanting to be a floral designer when I was a kiddo.

Is there a post processing trend that you thought looked phenom, but now makes you cringe?  Feel free to share a gem from that.

• Haha. I have a picture from my own wedding, where our faces were superimposed into/onto our champagne glasses. Epic. But I don’t seem to know what happened to that pic…

A session or series you’ve felt most proud of?

• Photographing Ann & Louis. I photographed their surprise 60^th wedding anniversary party a couple of years ago with all of their family, then drove around town and photographed Ann & Louis in all the spots where they dated. Their love for each other and their family was beautiful. We became friends, and still stay in touch.

If there were no limitations, what would you pursue photographically?  What do you dream of shooting before you die?

• I love storytelling. I love people that are fully living. I’d travel the world doing documentary photo of people that really seemed to live their lives with passion. Then I’d make little keepsake books, or pieces of art for them of my favorite images, and give them to the people while we sat around and ate really good food. I also love food.

10 years from now- where would you like to be?  Doing what?

• Living in a beach house with my family, and absolutely no debt. Oh, and we’d own a motor home, and travel and play all summer, every summer. And every school break. And maybe weekends, too.

Your favorite lens/camera combo.

• My go-to is my Nikon D3 with the 2.8, 24-70, for its flexibility. But I love the 1.4, 50mm lens. And I really love Polaroid and medium/large format cameras.

Camera/lens combo you’d like to have or play with.

• Yep, as above. I’d like a medium or large format camera to play around with. And I want to make another pinhole camera, or two. We made a 4×6 foot pinhole camera in college that you had to crawl inside, and stay inside to make your print. That was fun!

Any preferences between film/digital?  Favorite film stocks?

• Love the look of film, but the ease of digital. I usually shoot digitally, right now.

Biggest horror story, a medium sized horror story or just a sucky story related to photography.

• On my wedding day-I thought I’d be cool and bring my film camera with me to take some personal images. I was so nervous/excited, I forgot to load the film. Never did that again before or after my wedding. Haha. So that was sucky. Also, anything related to not reading my own photo contract, and saying yes to jobs out of need instead of really feeling connected to the people/story/job. Usually not good.

Who/what lights your fire?  Songs, artist, movie, subject, feelings….

• My fire is lit by depth and honesty. If something is shared or performed from a place that is authentic and sincere, I can’t help but be moved. I love live performances by artists that are sharing stories they continue to feel, for this reason. I’m also a sucker for dry humor, people that shoot from the hip, talking about our life’s purpose, being sappy-sentimental, and getting/giving hugs.

When is the last time you have had personal prints done?

• Too long. I’m working on a series of story books for my daughter, though, showing her life from my pregnancy, through every year until she’s 18. As I get the books created, I’m sending those off to print.

How often do you shoot for fun?  Have you noticed a theme/consistency in what you shoot for enjoyment?

• Right now, I’m pretty focused on shooting anything our daughter does. Her “first” everything…I think this summer I’ll get back into my Van Dyke printing project. I had been photographing simple portraits and creating vintage process photo prints…so warm and fuzzy looking.

How do you handle friends/family requests for your services?

• I just recently decided this: If we hang out/talk more often about our personal lives than about my photographing them, I’ll often give them a really super good deal, especially if they don’t ask for one, or work out some kind of trade-for-service fun. If they only seem to contact me when they need pictures, they are charged full price. This was an important decision for me, as I really like to make people happy, but wasn’t making myself happy. Helped me keep my sanity.

If you could only make two ps adjustments/actions. what would they be?

• I don’t really use PS…but the two main adjustments I use in Lightroom are BW conversion and adding grain. I don’t like to do heavy editing…I like it just the way I saw it in real life…except BW…and fuzzier.

What is your favorite type of paid session/assignment?

• Free-form. Documentary-style. That’s why I love photographing kids so much-I can just run around with them, and enjoy an unstructured story line. I also love when I can interview or get to know the people I’m photographing well before I start shooting…and I can look for the things they do that are unique to them, with my camera. I’m a big fan of making things personal to the subjects.

Was there someone from childhood, whom you credit for instilling your love of photography or someone who believed in your ability to do this as a profession?

• Yep, my high school art teacher had faith in me. If it wasn’t for him, not sure if I’d be where I am today.

Are there any educational experiences/workshops that stand out as having helped you grow?

• Life: As an Artform (with Jesh de Rox) remodeled the way I feel about myself, and the way I interact with everyone around me, in best way possible…so it definitely made me a more caring artist, friend and person. Dane Sanders’ workshop also helped to remind me I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing at the time, and needed a dramatic shift in my biz model. And going to the WPPI convention in Vegas has helped me with the biz part, quite a bit (plus it’s really fun to see all the new goodies, and see my photo friends).

Are there any particular things you like to have when you sit down to edit?

• Water, my iTunes playlist, and my little massage-y pillow for my back, because I’m old.

Have you gotten more or less comfortable having your own photo taken?

• I think more comfortable. Though it’s always a tad odd to me.

Would you rather shoot:

Burt Renolyd’s mustache or Chuck Norris’s?

• Burt Reynolds! Viva la Soup.

A macro shot of your toes or a full body shot wearing a half shirt and spandex?

• Awww, do I have to choose? They’re both so friendly. I can’t choose…I’ll do both, but it won’t be pretty…

The cover of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone or National Geographic?

• National Geographic. Yes.

A UFO or Sasquatch?

• Haha. I love you. And UFO.

You’re wearing a t-shirt with one word that sums up your journey thus far.  What does it

say?

• Grateful.

Random moments.

All shot with Leica M7, Noctilux with Kodak TMax P3200 b&w film.  xoxo, AmyQ

PS A session I shot (of people I love) was featured on Let the Kids Dress Themselves today.  It’s a wonderful blog run by some great gals.  If you have a moment, go say hello in the comments:)

I knew by 1 am that my night would be spent with insomnia. She’s the sort of visitor you typically dread spending time with, but when she does show up, it’s not as bad as you’ve imagined. I’ve started seeing the beautiful parts of it I suppose. I’m trying to embrace it and make it a quiet space to think and explore our dark land. I’m currently on a quilt in the yard with candles, listening to these carefree creatures sing with wild abandon. No one needs me now. I can get lost in the peace, feeling the air around me absorbing into my skin, the coolness of it in my nose when I inhale. The occasional crack of a stick doesn’t startle me or send my mind on a thought train of fearful what ifs. Instead it deepens my peaceful curiosity about the life that sees the stars & moon as their beautiful sun. The lack of human noises and busy energy is refreshing. It’s lovely to see this vast beauty without the colors & textures the sunlight reveals. This night is silhouettes, songs, cool air and tiny gentle lights from above. I see my inability to sleep as a gift tonight. It is a situation I don’t fight anymore. I’m grateful for these sporadic nights to set my senses free to fall deeper in love with earth. I’m grateful for knowing the ones I love are safe & warm & exploring magical things as they sleep. Night is still. Night is a peace filled secret world that few experience. Night embraces you as an honored visitor & subtly asks if you want to explore with her. She knows her treasures will quell your fears & coax the curious child out of you. Night deserves to be enjoyed. I’m going to explore.

This is Lauren.  She has THE most amazing smile.  She was raised by kangaroos made of Vegemite in the Land of Down Under.  She has a full, beautiful life, surrounded by gorgeous beaches, tan & foxy Australian men who surf and get their mail butt naked.  She didn’t tell me that.  But as an American, I know that Australian men are strong and not shy and cuss and don’t’ have time for anything that isn’t brave.  I think I learned that in 11th grade…. or from Hugh Jackman movies…. or The Man from Snowy River….. Australian women, celebrate your foxy men!!  I’m off track.  Sorry.

Lauren shared an exhibition with Kirsty Askintew (whom I featured here a few months ago), called 4.  I’m pleased that Lauren played the Q & A game and shared some personal work with us.

- Tell me about the moment/realization that photography was a profession you wanted to explore.

Hmm, not sure there is a short answer…. basically I ended up studying photography because I didn’t get into the course I wanted. I thought I would change over after a year, but by that time I was hooked- before then I never thought/knew photography could be a career choice.

- What camera did you learn with?

Canon TX with a 50mm lens

- What did you do/plan to do before deciding on photography?

Graphic design

- Is there a post processing trend that you thought looked phenom, but now makes you cringe?

I did go through the spot colour stage, which I now hate. I think all evidence has been deleted…

- A session or series you’ve felt most proud of?

Probably some of the individual portrait sessions I’ve done in the last year- the feedback makes me feel I’ve helped empower those women and increase their self esteem.

- If there were no limitations, what would you pursue photographically? What do you

dream of shooting before you die?

Travelling and shooting whatever I feel. Before I die I’d like to shoot stills for a movie. And Anthony Kiedis

- 10 years from now- where would you like to be? Doing what?

Travelling. Raising children. Taking better photos.

- Your favorite lens/camera combo.

Always changing. Right now I love my new Zeiss 35mm 1.4, which goes on both the film and digi cameras.  And my Mamiya RB67 Pro S, with the polaroid back.

- Camera/lens combo you’d like to have or play with.

Hasselblad, any lens

- Any preferences between film/digital? Favorite film stocks?

I love both for different reasons. I used to adore shooting Fuji Provia for its super awesome colour. These days I play with lots of different stocks.

- Biggest horror story, a medium sized horror story or just a sucky story related to

photography.

Way back a wedding ceremony started without me- I still feel sick thinking about it. Then on the location shoot the groom dropped his glasses in the river and couldn’t see…

- Who/what lights your fire? Songs, artist, movie, subject, feelings….

Music (all shapes and forms), music videos, ee cummings, Klimt, the sixties/seventies, colour, Olafur Eliason, the ocean, bubbles, Great Expectations movie, kaleidoscopes, wind, reflections, clouds…

- When is the last time you have had personal prints done?

I’m getting better?! I had one done maybe 4 months ago?!

- How often do you shoot for fun? Have you noticed a theme/consistency in what you

shoot for enjoyment?

Not often enough. When I do I shoot a lot of abstract, graphic stuff- shape, lines, colour, shadows.

- How do you handle friends/family requests for your services?

I always give discount, cos I’m a sucker

- If you could only make two ps adjustments/actions. What would they be?

ADD GREEN. And maybe levels.

- What is your favorite type of paid session/assignment?

One where I get to do whatever I want!

- Was there someone from childhood, whom you credit for instilling your love of

photography or someone who believed in your ability to do this as a profession?

My grandparents gave me my first camera which got me started making pictures. I think I was born with tendencies to record life (or it could be because we moved so much), so once I got a camera it was a perfect tool for that.

- Are there any educational experiences/workshops that stand out as having helped you grow?

Life (As An Artform)

- Are there any particular things you like to have when you sit down to edit?

No, I change all the time. But Chili Peppers “Live at Slane Castle” or Ministry of Sound Annual 2007 dvds always work

- Have you gotten more or less comfortable having your own photo taken?

Probably less.

- Would you rather shoot:

* Burt Renolyd’s mustache or Chuck Norris’s?

Burt, baby

* A macro shot of your toes or a full body shot wearing a half shirt and spandex?

Toes (I always take pics of my feet)

*The cover of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone or National Geographic?

Argh too hard! Maybe Vanity Fair, so I could do something really different for them.

* A UFO or Sasquatch?

UFO. I think.

-You’re wearing a t-shirt with one word that sums up your journey thus far. What does it say?

Crazy?!

“All at once

Rushing from the sub-pump

(so the story goes)

Balance we won’t know

We will see when it gets warm”

Lump Sum, Bon Iver

This is Amanda….

• Tell me about the moment/realization that photography was a profession you wanted to explore.

Well I grew up constantly creating – I remember spending hours on end in my bedroom making books, paper, images, worlds. So art and writing were all I knew, more or less. When I was homeschooled I continued this endless dreaming and creating. Went back to public school and graduated valedictorian of my class. I planned to enroll in college as an art major but was pushed in another direction by many who thought I had too much ‘promise’ to be ‘just an art major.’ It was crap, but I listened, out of fear, and one day I found myself in my mid-20s and dead inside. I was a fulltime librarian for the university (ended up getting my Masters in Library Science) … and I hadn’t done art in years. The only thing I never stopped doing was photography. I posted mainly photos of the food I ate on Flickr. A coworker at the library loved my food photos and asked me to shoot her wedding. I was honored but NEVER wanted to be a wedding photographer (I hated weddings and tradition and posing!).  While researching how to “pose” couples (hilarious to me now!), I ran across Jasmine Star’s blog and stayed up until 4am reading every single last post. Because of Jasmine and her story, I knew I wanted to leave my career as a librarian and get back to what made me feel alive. I knew that night that I would be a photographer and that I would do it for a living.

• What camera did you learn with?

Polaroids, lots of film point and shoots, Canon Aelph 3 megapixel P&S (first digital), my dad’s old 70s Pentax ME, and the Canon Rebel was my first DSLR.

• What did you do/plan to do before deciding on photography?

Answered that above in my novella post, haha! I loved being a librarian and held a coveted position at the best library you can imagine. I loved my coworkers but I always knew that art/photography was my “dream job.”  It’s amazing to know that I’m living my dream job now. That I stopped finally going through the motions of life. When people ask what I really want … what is my dream job … I no longer respond with something different than what I’m doing right now. Feels amazing.

• Is there a post processing trend that you thought looked phenom, but now makes you cringe?  Feel free to share a gem from that.

Oh boy – definitely the vintage yellow skies and cross-processing. I thought knowing how to do those things meant you were a legit photographer. How wrong I was.

• A session or series you’ve felt most proud of?  You’re welcome to share those.

My trip to Portland: http://www.andamarie.net/2011/07/07/a-new-favorite-place/

My current day to day posts: http://www.andamarie.net/2012/02/08/day-to-day/

My instagram posts, which are mostly of food. Food lights me up inside. I feel very alive when shooting food.

• If there were no limitations, what would you pursue photographically?  What do you dream of shooting before you die?

I would do travel photography, as cliché as that is. I would want to shoot it in my own style, more raw … and not according to anyone else’s vision. I was shooting food and editorial stuff for a while, but I realized that I wasn’t good at working for other people (art directors, photo editors etc) who wouldn’t just let me run with the entire concept. So that said, I would love to shoot for more indie culture/travel/food magazines or art books … where I could run the whole show regarding the imagery and story both.

• 10 years from now- where would you like to be?  Doing what?

Wow.   Photography, for sure. It’s all I know now. I know for sure that photography is the greatest gift I can give the world. It’s what I’m best at. I’ve never really told anyone this, but I also dream of being a curator or working for art galleries/museums in some form. It would really bring together my interests in art and library/museum studies and archiving all together.  I’d like to be traveling all over still … and possibly, I’d be a mother too.

• Your favorite lens/camera combo.

Canon 5D mkii + 35mm 1.4L. No contest.

• Camera/lens combo you’d like to have or play with.

I’ll use whatever is around, honestly. Not a gearhead at all.

• Any preferences between film/digital?  Favorite film stocks?

I like both digital and film.  I learned on film and I still really think like a film shooter.  I take a lot of time framing and composing everything I shoot. I don’t just click around without thinking when I’m shooting digital.

• Biggest horror story, a medium sized horror story or just a sucky story related to photography.

Gosh, nothing really good to share (yet)! I once did shoot 10 minutes of a couples session before realizing I didn’t have a memory card in the camera!

• Who/what lights your fire?  Songs, artist, movie, subject, feelings….

Bands: Damien Jurado, Radiohead, The Magnetic Fields, Bob Dylan, Frightened Rabbit, Bon Iver, live music in general. I see a lot of shows.

Songs: Honestly, this would get out of hand. I’m very touched by music. Right now I cannot get enough of the song “Start At the Beginning” by Among Savages. And “Blood Bank” by Bon Iver is my favorite B.I. song, off his EP. The XX has this great song, “VCR.”  I really cannot wrap my mind around this question right now. I’m not even going to open up my iTunes to check – I’d get lost in that forever.

Movies: Amelie and Midnight in Paris.

Books: Haruki Murakami

Other: Beauty, Subtlety, Romance (not romance) with a capital R, wind and water, still winter nights in a city, the Pacific.

• When is the last time you have had personal prints done?

This week!  I have never abandoned personal shooting or prints in favor of only doing client work. Thankful for that.

• How often do you shoot for fun?  Have you noticed a theme/consistency in what you shoot for enjoyment?

Daily. I shoot food, mainly. But also people. I just started this new project where I’m trying to shoot the stuff I normally wouldn’t shoot … or the stuff I never saw before. Light, reflections, stacks of mail on the kitchen table, details in a textile, surfaces. It’s teaching me a lot so far. I can’t wait to see how it affects my client work too.

• How do you handle friends/family requests for your services?

I’ll just say it’s not black and white … its complex and layered and different for everyone. Just as all my friendships are layered and different. As a general rule, I prefer to attend weddings of close friends and family as a guest (and not as a photographer).

• If you could only make two ps adjustments/actions. what would they be?

Gradient Map for all BW conversions. I don’t do anything else in PS anymore 

• What is your favorite type of paid session/assignment?

Shooting couples – no contest. Engagements or married couples.

• Was there someone from childhood, whom you credit for instilling your love of photography or someone who believed in your ability to do this as a profession?

I feel it was very internally driven. My elementary school art teacher, however, always believed I would be an artist. He signed my autograph book (I was so cool!) “To A Talent.”  And when my littlest brother had him as a teacher years later, he asked about me and what I was doing (I was in college). I couldn’t believe he remembered me!!

• Are there any educational experiences/workshops that stand out as having helped you grow?

For sure. Jasmine Star’s Workshop,  Jesh’s Life {As an Artform}, and a mentorship with Sarah and Chris Rhoads were really the most influential for me.

• Are there any particular things you like to have when you sit down to edit?

Coffee, iTunes on shuffle or on Bob Dylan, my space heater (I’m always cold).

• Have you gotten more or less comfortable having your own photo taken?

More comfortable for sure.

• Would you rather shoot:

• Burt Renolyd’s mustache or Chuck Norris’s?

I honestly cannot picture either of these and would have to look them up.  I’m terrible with actor recognition and remembering celebrity names.

• A macro shot of your toes or a full body shot wearing a half shirt and spandex?

Hand over that spandex.

*The cover of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone or National Geographic?

Vanity Fair

* A UFO or Sasquatch?  UFO

-You’re wearing a t-shirt with one word that sums up your journey thus far.  What does it

say?   ALIVE.

We encounter so many people in the course of our lives.  They drift in and out and sometimes back in again.  There are varying degrees of connection with each soul we are blessed to call ‘friend’.  One of the most beautiful experiences a friendship can bring is when you ‘see’ each other.  There’s a deep knowing that you are loved and seen and heard.  You know that you can be lovely and ugly, and they accept both as being part of you.  And they love you either way.  They feel like home.

This is Kelly Trow.  She lives in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, with her 3 boys and her husband.  She is an amazing photographer and has a soul that will take your breath.  She’s an angel.  oxox, AmyQ

• Tell me about the moment/realization that photography was a profession you wanted to explore.

I had been playing with a camera since I was a kid, and I had never ever thought of photography as a profession, let alone one that I could pursue.  But one day about 5 years ago I all of a sudden had a thought to ask a friend at the time if I could photograph her new baby.  I hadn’t been looking at newborn photography beforehand, it was just like this little niggling thought that came to me, then grew louder while I wrestled with it.  What if she said no?  What if she said yes?  What if the photos were crap?  I think I tried to tell myself not to bother asking but the desire was just so overwhelming that I did it.  I asked her, she said yes, and I photographed her new baby.  I’m not ashamed to say that I had NO idea what I was doing, and we thought the photos were great at the time but I’m sure they weren’t.  But, I still remember the feeling that occurred the moment that I overcame my fear and asked to take those photos.  I had this feeling that I had just conquered something and if I had the courage to continue along this path then life was going to be interesting.  And it absolutely has, my life is so so much richer because of it.

• What camera did you learn with?

Well, I confess that although I had film cameras when I was younger, they were nothing special and I never learnt anything technical on them.  I actually remember having to make a pinhole camera in primary school but mine never worked!  So it wasn’t until I bought my first digital slr a canon 400D that I learnt the technical aspects of photography.

• What did you do/plan to do before deciding on photography?

When I was a teen I planned to work in childcare.  Then I did work experience for a week in a classroom and I vowed never to do that again.  So when I finished school I worked in an office whilst studying accounting.  I never finished my accounting course though, as I moved from the city into the country and got a job in an office and worked my way up with the BP distributor.  Over the years I became an all-rounder in the office and second in charge, but I became so so bored.  Looking back, I now know why.  I had no challenges anymore, my creativity was null and void!

• Is there a post processing trend that you thought looked phenom, but now makes you cringe?  Feel free to share a gem from that.

Oh probably!!  I admit to never liking selective colouring, but I was possibly a bit of a fan of the white vignetting!  i think I was a fan of oversaturation at one point, you know, super bright pinks and yellows.  I promise to never go there again.

• A session or series you’ve felt most proud of?  You’re welcome to share those.

One session in particular that stands out for me was one I did for my friends a couple of years back.  One of my good friends had just passed away and left 2 daughters aged 8 and 10 at the time.  They came and stayed with me about 3 months after she passed, and on one day I took them out for a little session of the two of them together, as a gift to their father and to look back on themselves during such a hard time.  They got to let loose and be themselves and have some fun without any stresses, as well as work on their sister bond which was now so crucial – in my eyes.  I got some gorgeous images of the two of them.

• If there were no limitations, what would you pursue photographically?  What do you dream of shooting before you die?

Oh lordy, how far will my imagination stretch?  You know, when I started out I didn’t think I would want to shoot landscapes as they were so boring to me.  People were much more interesting!  I think you call that ignorance.  I would absolutely love to travel far and wide and just shoot whatever my heart sees, whether it’s people or buildings or trees or a tiny lone ant in the middle of a big plain desert.  So at the moment, if I had no family to ground me, then I would love to be travelling from country to country, just documenting life of all kinds.

• 10 years from now- where would you like to be?  Doing what?

You know, I often wonder whether I’ll still be using a camera to earn a living in 10 years time.  In a perfect world, I think I would be happy to only be doing it half the time.  The other half, I want to be making a difference in some other creative way.  Whether that is writing, or making goats cheese from my goat (that I milk every morning) in our very extremely large, grassy backyard, where we also have chickens to lay eggs and a big veggie patch.  By the way, none of that is true at the moment, but I’m hoping another 10 years will see it to be true!

• Your favorite lens/camera combo.

Well. At the moment I live with my canon 5d mkii and my 50mm 1.2.  However I have my eye on the new canon 1dx out very soon.  I have also started a new relationship with film, and the love of my life in that department is my Contax 645 with the 80mm f2.  It’s extremely fun.  I’m still exploring film though and have a lot to learn.  I use it for my personal work at the moment but maybe with some more confidence I can start incorporating it into client work.

• Camera/lens combo you’d like to have or play with.

I’m actually quite happy with what I have at the moment.  More exploration with film is on the cards and I’ve also recently acquired a Mamiya rz67 pro ii.

• Who/what lights your fire?  Songs, artist, movie, subject, feelings….

Wow.  I love questions like these because just making you think of these things makes you light up.  I love artists who pour their everything into their craft, and know that being different is what is going to set them apart from mediocre.  I love watching someone perform with their heart and soul, whether it’s someone as big as Michael Jackson – of whom I was lucky enough to see in concert some 15 or so years ago! – or a street performer.  We don’t have any street performers where I live but I do recall being in Santa Monica a year ago and seeing one of their street performers in the main shopping area one night.  Not only did she have an awesome singing talent but I also saw a little scene fold out in front of me that sticks in my mind.  There was a homeless man sitting on a bench and he was listening to her too, his body moving with the music.  Then another guy came and sat on the other end of the bench to listen too.  Soon after another guy carrying a box of pizza walked over and sat on the bench between them and offered the pizza to them both.  I watched them chatting for a minute before the music seemed to take over them all and all three of them were dancing and clapping to the music, until it finished which by then they were laughing and having a great time.

I was so mesmerized by this scene the entire time.  Three unlikely strangers brought together by one person’s musical passion, even if just for a short time.  I don’t know whether that little exchange made an impact on their life at all, but it certainly made an impact on mine.  That’s the sort of thing that light’s my fire…being aware of the little miracles around me.

• When is the last time you have had personal prints done?

Well, we did have a family portrait session 2 years ago, and I do have those prints in a beautiful album and I have 4 extremely large canvases on our entrance walls…but that was 2 years ago and I haven’t printed anything since.  Shame on me.  I do however, plan to put my current January Photo A Day photos into an album.  This is a little personal project I do every year (along with a  bunch of colleagues) to document my children every day for a month.  I also plan to do an inspiration wall in my office starting with my instagram photos.  I need to stop planning and start doing!

• How often do you shoot for fun?  Have you noticed a theme/consistency in what you shoot for enjoyment?

I try and make a point of doing a shoot just for me every few months.  But I never plan it and it just happens to be whatever I feel like shooting at the time.  Last year I had 2 high school students come to me for work experience at different times throughout the year.  With both of these I spent a day doing a shoot just for them.  As all of my clients are either babies or young children, having teens to play with was so much fun!  I have also spent time either walking through the back streets of my town, or walking through a bush just taking photos of whatever catches my eye.  Shooting without pressure is a great way to keep the creativity flowing and it’s so nice to be able to have my own agenda.  Or have no agenda.  That’s even better.

• How do you handle friends/family requests for your services?

I find it hard saying no.  or at least, saying no politely.   I actually don’t get friends asking for freebies.  Maybe I just have awesome friends.

• If you could only make two ps adjustments/actions. what would they be?

1. remove snot.  2.  Remove flies.

If you want a serious answer, lol, if I could only make 2 adjustments it would be contrast and burn.

• What is your favorite type of paid session/assignment?

Newborns.  And just newborns, adding toddler siblings is hard!  Newborns are definitely my favourite.  At the moment.  I do like to change it up every now and then

• Was there someone from childhood, whom you credit for instilling your love of photography or someone who believed in your ability to do this as a profession?

my parents for buying me my camera when I was a kid, and paying for film.  And my sister for being my muse when we were children.  And a handful of my sister’s friends, who stood in her place when she’d had enough of me nagging her to pose some more.

• Are there any educational experiences/workshops that stand out as having helped you grow?

Need you ask?  Jesh’s workshops have hands down been the ones for me that have helped me grow immensely.  The growth has been hugely prominent in my life in general, in my relationships, in my photography, and in my business.

• Are there any particular things you like to have when you sit down to edit?

Water and silence.

• Have you gotten more or less comfortable having your own photo taken?

No less comfortable.  I hate it.  I want to be comfortable with it though.  I think it’s my issue with body image.  I’m working on it.  I’ve paid a deposit to have some portraits taken with a beautiful photographer in Perth, so it’s on the list of things to conquer.

• Would you rather shoot:

• Burt Renolyd’s mustache or Chuck Norris’s?

Chuck Norris.  You couldn’t get me remotely close to Burt Reynolds.

• A macro shot of your toes or a full body shot wearing a half shirt and spandex?

I would have to choose toes.  Not that I have a toe fetish. Because I don’t.  but I like them more than half shirts & spandex!

• A UFO or Sasquatch?

I don’t know what a Sasquatch is.  Let me google.  Oh Bigfoot, ok I get it.  Um..i don’t know, how about I aim to capture a Sasquatch being beamed up into a UFO?

-You’re wearing a t-shirt with one word that sums up your journey thus far.  What does it

say?

Revelational.