you ask, i answer....finally!

remember last month when i told you to ask me anything (almost anything) and i'd answer? well i'm answering...finally. thank you for your questions...and your patience! i had many of the same questions about what equipment i use, editing program, and other photography goods. now i can answer you all at once! as for the non photography based questions, i loved them just as much. many of them made me chuckle.

here it goes...in no particular order...

How did you get into photography?

on accident!...a sweet, wonderful accident. i've enjoyed it as a hobby since high school. during my sophomore year of college, i took pictures of my pregnant sister with my old minolta (back in my film days). one of my pregnant co-workers saw the images and asked if i could photograph her as well. that summer i photographed a few more women before heading back to school.

a year after i graduated from college, i started taking pictures of families on the side. i thought it would just remain a hobby but it sort of snowballed from there.     

What is your favorite part about the job? 

getting to be creative! i love styling, shooting, editing, designing...the whole thing. working with wonderful people isn't too bad either;) 

What kind of dog do you have? 

haha! i'm so glad at least one person is enjoying the posts about my dog. isn't she cute? not sure what she is. i got her at the spca and her breed read "terrior mix"...i'm pretty sure she's part wire haired dachshund. she's got that long skinny body.  

Did you major in photography in college? 

i did not. i studied sociology at UC Santa Barbara. i loved my major and the school more than words can express. it was definitely one of the most special times of my life. i grew leaps and bounds there. 

everything i've learned about photography i learned through books, workshops, classes, other blogs and lots and lots of online articles, tutorials, etc. oh, and getting out there and doing tons of shooting! :) trial and error my friends. 

What kind of camera do you use?

i shoot with a canon 5D mark II. i started with a canon 40D and still use it for back up. i get asked all the time what camera i use. there is no one answer for the "best" camera. it depends on your skill level, what you plan to shoot, etc. lots to consider. knowing how to use your camera and continuously learning how to be a better photographer is just as important as having a great camera.  

In one pic you had on brown shoes with what looked like fringe down the front of them. Do you mind sharing where you got them?

i love those shoes! i got them at dsw?...dws?...whatever it's called. i bought them in early fall in the sale section. hope you can still find them. good luck! 

What program do you use to edit your photos?

i proof my images in bridge and then edit them in photoshop CS3.

Which lenses are your favs?

24-70mm f/2.8l usm

85mm f/1.8 usm

17-40mm f/4l usm

What advice do you have for those who are just starting out? 

shoot a lot, try new things...who cares if you screw up on your own time? if you're starting a biz, don't just buy a camera then start a biz. get good at what you do! the journey of learning never ends. AND, at the end of the day, you are still running a business. if you don't have that experience, take business classes/workshops, talk to others, pick up a few small business books. the financial bookkeeping, contracts, legal responsibilities, etc. have definitely been my weakness...aka i don't like it as much as shooting:) however, it still has to be done. so i do it. with a pouty face.   

What do you like to do when you're not photographing something? 

i like collecting delicious antique store/thrift store finds for my house, hanging out with my beautiful family and friends, hiking with lucy, weekend adventures, playing on my volleyball team...the list goes on.  

If you were to strike it rich, what would you do with the cash?

i would build my dream home in the country with an attached gallery/studio/workshop and save the rest of the funds for monthly getaways, travel adventures, etc. this list could get really long, but this is what comes to my mind for now:) 

Do you like pickles? :) Ok, what foods do you love?...hate?

funny you ask. i do not like pickles. when i was 9, i bought one of those ridiculously huge, genetically engineered pickles that they sell at convenient stores (usually in a jar on the counter or in their own baggy like string cheese) and it ruined my life. i use to eat them until i bought one of those nasty things and barfed all night on a family camping trip. in a tent. ew. haven't been able to eat them since.

on a sunnier note, i love seafood, sushi, indian food, thai food, pineapple, chocolate and boba tea...just to name a few. i hate mayonnaise with a passion and refuse to eat anything that contains it. i could gag just thinking about it. 

Are you a mac or PC user? 

mac. apple, i love you.  

I see (what appears to be) your boyfriend here and there on your blog, how did you meet him? 

yes, he is my real live boyfriend:) i met him at UCSB over 4 years ago in a study room. awwww. it's a really long story so i'll leave it at that.  

Do you use any lighting equipment?

i occasionally use my speedlite 430 EX II...and when i say occasionally, i mean RARELY. i also have a gary fong lightsphere.   

i thought i'd end with this one: What is your favorite thing to photograph? 

this is too hard! can i just say people? :) i absolutely love photographing kids. they don't hold back and they haven't learned to be self conscious yet. i love families. the way parents look at their kids is magic. i could go on and on. i'll just say people who love one another...in whatever form that may be.

hopefully i gave everyone the answers they were looking for. please feel free to email me if you still have questions. you guys rock.