1. How did you get started in photography and when did you start your business?

I have been interested in photography for many years but like a lot of woman photographers, I did not truly find out how much of a calling it was until I had my children. I started shooting & practicing a lot with my second born then started to shoot a lot of free sessions back in 2012 (skill building) then in 2013 shot mostly portfolio building sessions. Officially I started my business this year.

2. Where are you located? Do you have a studio space or do you shoot on-location?

I do all sessions from my beautiful natural light commercial studio located in Langley, British Columbia Canada.

3. What do you shoot with and what are your favorite lenses?

I have only ever shot with Canon. My current camera is the Canon 5D MarkIII & back up is MarkII. All time favorite lens is my Canon 35mmL 1.4. It pretty much lives on my camera and occasionally I put on my Canon 100mmL 2.8(macro). Other then those two, all other lenses in my bag go unused.

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4. Why newborn photography? Do you photograph anything besides newborns?

I love the pure innocence of babies and truly love being able to capture that for clients. I only photograph newborn, baby (up to 1 year old), and maternity. I suppose I could shoot more families if I really wanted too, but I stick to what I love and feel I excel at. I really do feel if you stick to doing what you love and have a true passion for, you will in the long run be able to produce better images and just be happy with your work.

5. How would you describe your style and where do you find your inspiration?

Pure, classic, natural, & simple. I am a minimalist by nature, so naturally my style reflects who I am. I try not to over complicate things and let baby lead the session for the most part.When I first started in newborn photography I had a vision of what I wanted yet I tried to follow others and what I was producing was not what I had first envisioned. I tried all poses; I tried to do what parents wanted. I really was just trying way took much that was so not me. I was trying to be like others I saw and thought that is what I wanted, but really just need up doing things I did not like and were for sure not me or my vision I had in my head. I felt I was going in the wrong direction. I had to step back and really think over who I was and what my style was. I learned to stop looking at others and just do what I felt was right. I learned to trust my gut and follow my own vision, not others. My inspiration pretty much comes from the baby. A baby to me is so pure & innocent and has a story to tell. It is my job to tell that story. I never force poses, I never do things baby does not want. I try to keep baby as peaceful and natural as possible. I want my clients to have very classic photos to look at for many, many years to come and really just stand the test of time!

6. Have you taken any photography workshops and/or training?

I took a smaller (online) workshop on LSI back when I first started out.It was funny because at that time I had no clue what all this information was and how to use it. I really have a hard time comprehending information until it clicks in my own brain. So at that time felt I would never 'get it'. Lots of practice was what really helped me. I have bought a few online eBooks (favorite would be RobinLong's), online videos (again favorite being Robin Longs) and Ecources (favorite being on Finding your style by Jenny Cruger) but other then online things like this, I am mostly self-taught with lots of practice (and patience!).

7. Where do you like to shop for your props? Do you have favorite vendors?

I'm pretty frugal (and I think pretty crafty!!) so I mostly make all my own hats, wraps and headbands now. But I still use hats I bought a while back from Goodnight Mouse all the time! As far as furs and blankets I find all over the place from prop shops, Homesense, to Overstock. I have even found a few blankets at random grocery & drug stores! If I like it, I buy it (within reason of course lol). Other prop shops I have bought from are JD Vintage & Lilian Grace.

8. Please share with us your top 5 favorite images! Why are they your favorites?

Oh my goodness, no matter how much I already know... I still feel I grow each session so my favorite pictures are always changing! So these are my 5 most recent (favorite) photos I love :)

9. What are three things you wish someone would have told you when starting out?

That turning this passion in to work takes a bit of the magic away.Mostly meaning, work becomes work and I find I don't have that same passion for taking my own children's pictures. I hardly pick up my camera at home anymore. So sad to say out loud, but I know many others that feel the same.That running a business is not all just having a passion; it takes SO much more work then just a love for photography. The business side of a photographer business is still a struggle for me. And really most important, how work/life balance is so hard with small children when running your own photography business. Even sitting down to answer all of these questions took several days as I kept getting interrupted by kids. If you take your work home with you, life becomes very difficult to keep balanced with taking care of kids/home. I really think when my kids get bigger, but until thing I do struggle a lot with this.

10. What is your photography site and NewbornPhotography.com url?

Website  |   Facebook  | Google +  |  NBP Profile 

11. What are your favorite things about NewbornPhotography.com?

What I love most about newbornphotography.com is the Q&A with other professionals. It's hard to get that anywhere else! I do find I don't have time to ask many questions but do read what others ask when I have time. I have been a member off & on; I am horrible at keeping up with forums. I wish there were more hours in the day but with work and 2 little ones to take care of my time is limited now days.

12. Lastly, tell us about YOU! Who are you, other than a photographer?

I have been happily married to my loving husband for 13 years & mother of two very active boys + baby boy(#3) born a few weeks ago. Pastry chef by trade before becoming a photographer, I am a food and art lover. Born and raised in Southern California, I have been living in beautiful British Columbia, Canada since I got married and I could never imagine living anywhere else but here! I love Canada!

 

Would you like to be our next Spotlight Photographer? E-mail us at info@newbornphotography.com with the subject “Spotlight Photographer.” We look forward to featuring you!