I began the Rebel Series to
highlight fabulous creative individuals who have diverged from the mainstream
and forged their own path to success. Perhaps they spent years working in
the hell-mouth until they couldn’t take it anymore. Perhaps they followed their
heart from the very beginning. Whatever the path, they have chosen not to
conform to what society deems the ‘norm’. And they are making the world a
much more delicious place by doing so.
EM: You in 5 words.
AW: Passionate,
professional, creative, determined, ambitious.
Where do you call home?
I’m from the Ozark mountain area of
Arkansas, a little town called Berryville.
Can you describe the moment you knew
that this is what you wanted to spend your life doing?
After my
daughter Alexa’s birth and first few months of watching her and photographing
her and all of the different milestones she was going through. I knew I did not
want to miss those precious little moments. I don’t even know how many
THOUSANDS of images I have of her during just the first 12 months. I made a
keepsake book of the highlights from that year and she and I love looking back
at it. Seeing all the silly faces she made when she was little, looking and
comparing how tiny her little feet were, seeing first teeth, first ponytail,
first steps, first time visiting family… (And yes mom, I know you need an
updated one J)
This is one of the first images which made me switch the thinking of my
career path from Graphic Designer to Portrait Photographer. It was taken when
Alexa was about 6 weeks old with a little point and shoot Pentax.
Whose work has inspired you the
most?
This is
the most recent addition to my list of inspiring photographers - http://www.magdalenaberny.com/.
I love the emotion you see in her work. How she uses the muted light to capture color
or lack of color. You can find inspiration everywhere. From a new angle you
never thought of, to seeing an old favorite you have already done but just a
little bit different. I’m often inspired by the light in a natural setting and
playing with it to achieve something new. I could not count the many blogs/Facebook
pages that I follow. Some are old friends, some I’ve met in chat groups, and
some I hope to meet in person one day. Inspiration comes sometimes from just
driving down the road and seeing a location that I’ve never considered until
that moment when I start visualizing how and where I’d pose someone there.
Is there something grand that inspires your life and work?
I’m often inspired by nature and the changing seasons and will see
something that makes me think “HMMM I bet I can…” and then start to think of
the whole setup in my head. This is an image inspired by nature and taking a
trip apple picking with my family.
Did you go to school to formally
study photography?
I did go
to school. I started out at the University of Arkansas, GO HOGS!, and then
transferred to Valdosta State University where I finished my BA in Fine Art and
Design. I’ve also studied on my own with books, magazines and online forums.
And done a few workshops as well for specific topics I wanted to learn more
about. Worth every penny!!
What defines the Footsteps Style?
I like to
think of my work and shooting style as elegant, beautiful and natural.
How many of those adorable little
babies do you capture per year?
Off the top of my head, I average 3
newborns a month but I’d love to see that number double or more.
What types of shoots make your heart sing the most?
By far the newborn sessions are my
FAVORITES. Those tiny little squishy babies are my joy. And when I see them
smile and make goofy little faces my heart sings and I know this is what I was
meant to do.
Can you share with me your 3
favorite shots of all time and tell me a little about each?
Really,
just THREE is all I can pick? If I must…but I can’t guarantee these will be my favorites
next week even! It seems that I’m always seeing the art form differently as the
seasons change and of course as new sessions come and I find new favorites in
each of them.
I’ve got to pick your EPIC fall session from 2012, it is still a favorite and
will be for a long time. This shot was shot in the rain, in the middle of a
little road in the forest. The colors, perspective and chemistry are just there
making it stand out.
Next, I’d have to select this one. Getting this shot was so rewarding after how
much work and time went into it. This is a composite image, meaning for the
baby’s safety it was shot as two images and merged into one through Photoshop.
Not only that, but the two images were actually shot 3 weeks apart. The
motorcycle portion was shot outside with snow flurries and the newborn one
inside in the studio. But I had the vision of what the final image would look
like and it met and exceeded the image I imagined.
And third, I’ve got to pick one of my little model, which I also have blown up on
canvas in my home. Alexa often goes along with me to scout new locations and we
take photos of her along the way. Many
of them are often out-takes and her being silly, but I love them.
What do you do to grow your skill
set and develop your portfolio?
I am my
own worst critic and I analyze all of the images I take. But that also allows
me to see what I’d like to do differently and try it a different way next time.
Also, a lot can be said for good experienced instructors and workshops. They
are well worth the investment.
What website or blog do you stalk
the most?
So many
to choose from… let’s go with Robin Long Photography as it was one of the last ones
that I saw from today. I love her simple and elegant posing work.
If you could live anywhere in the world,
where would it be?
Friends
and clients are most likely sick of hearing about it, but I’d move back to
Okinawa, Japan in a heartbeat. We spent 5 years there and I miss it. I’ve even got an Asian decorated room with
sea blue walls in my house.
Favorite place you’ve traveled?
So far my
favorite place traveled was Kyoto Japan in the fall. I’d love to go back during
the Spring Sakura season too. I don’t consider myself a landscape or natural
photographer but I do love it for my own personal documentation of places I’ve
been.
What is the most hilarious or
shocking thing that has happened during a shoot?
HAHA! It
would have to be when I was photographing a couple at the beach in Okinawa and
was using my 85prime lens and trying to get just a little more environment in
the photo while still keeping my eyes on the moment in front of me. I was
walking backwards and literally fell right over a big rock on the beach and
landed flat on my back feet straight up in the air. Camera and myself were both
fine.
There is
also the newborn boy with impeccable aim. While posing him in the bottoms up
pose he managed to poo all over my camera. I now place it well out of firing
range.
What is one thing you would say to
encourage other aspiring Rebels?
Never
give up your dream, follow your heart, and keep working towards your goal.
What do you fear? How do you conquer
that fear?
SNAKES!!!
Nothing has conquered that fear. I ran backwards screaming almost knocking over
a client during a session as one slithered right in front of me this past
summer. And I have not been back to one of my favorite places since.
Where would you like Footsteps
Photography to be 5 years from now?
Who knows
where the Air Force will take our family, but depending on the location I would
love to have a studio space that is disconnected from my home to be able to
easier separate work from home. And I’m sure my husband would love to not have photography
props and equipment taking over the house.
What are you trying to communicate
with your work?
The
moment and freezing time each time the shutter clicks.
Can you remember the first thing you
photographed that really moved you?
I can’t
remember the first photo that moved me, but I think the moments within
photography that got me the most excited were in my final year of Art school - my
Printmaking professor had us set a theme for the year (at the time the hardest
thing ever was just to set a theme) that we would do all of our work around.
But I set the theme as the seaside and ocean. During that year it was really
hard to keep everything seaside related, but it also made me think outside the
box and try new things.
During the same year I also had full access to a dark
room for my photography class so I used darkroom techniques in my printmaking
and combined the two art forms. This was the result, a photo negative enlarged,
etched into a copper plate with acid, distressed then printed with intaglio methods.
What other artistic mediums bring
you joy?
I sew and
crochet often now. Hey, it goes hand in hand with photography and creating all
sorts of cute little items for the babies! Recently I’ve starting making
maternity dresses for photographers. It’s fun to see something I’ve created
worn and photographed by so many talented photographers. Also, I really enjoy
oil painting and Intaglio printmaking but have not done it in years.
What is the coolest thing a client
has ever said to you?
Sometimes
it’s the emotions that speak louder than words - when you see a client’s face
light up and a happy tear when they see their brand new baby’s portrait for the
first time.
Recently
though, I had two moms write a few words to me that made me tear up. One wrote “BTW you are very talented! You’re
the most amazing photographer that I’ve ever met in my life!!! Keep up the good
job!” and the other wrote “Thanks so much. I just also wanted to say you did an amazing
job with our photos and all my friends in the baby class. I love logging onto Facebook
and seeing their beautiful babies as well.”
What do YOU love about your work?
I LOVE color
and playing with different tones and textures within a session to see how they
work together and play off of each other.
What is your favorite part about
being a Rebel?
For me
being my own boss is the way to go. I’ve worked for several companies as an
employee and as a director but it’s not for me. My parents are entrepreneurs in
outdoor advertising and I think growing up around them and seeing how they
worked, kept organized and ran their business made sense to me and helped me to
want the same thing. They had a business at our home and my sister and I were
always close to them. Since I was able to help, I learned the family business
and even worked closely helping out in the shop with them. Not many teenage
girls can say they know how to use a table saw, paint a billboard, install
vinyl lettering on semi-trucks and dig pot holes…
I can do my own thing, run my business how I see fit, set my own schedule and
also teach my daughter about hard work and determination just as my parents
taught me.
Where can all these lovely readers stalk you and your work?
Stop by and say hi!
If you are a Rebel or know of one that should be featured on
the LAWT blog, please tell me your story here!