Archive for March, 2011

This week’s featured photographer is Gail Montgomery:

Photographer in Kansas City
and she is the talented photographer from Gail Montgomery Photography located in Baltimore Maryland. Her blog is located here and this her facebook page.

This is Gail’s featured image:

Photographer in Kansas City

10 Questions
About the image…

1. Why do you love this image?

A majority of my photography sessions are based on play, not the clock. Babies don’t work the camera on demand and you have to engage them. Baby H came to see me after his parents had a bad experience at a chain photography studio. Our session was relaxed and the flow went largely according to his mood – taking breaks when necessary and moving onto different activities as needed. We had a tremendous amount of fun and at the end of our session, his parents were so appreciative of the experience we had together and I know the real proof was in our resulting images. Custom photography isn’t just about an image, it’s an experience – it’s about capturing a little bit of personality and emotion in all that light and color.

2. What were your settings with this image?
ISO 200 F 6.3 SS 1/200 Studio Lighting

About Photography…
3.What do you love about Photography?

The emotion, the details, the truth, the way it helps you remember. Life goes by so quickly – especially with children! They grow and change so much from helpless newborn to strong willed toddler. I love how you can watch a baby grow through a series of images.

4. What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
I tend to work with the 1 and under crowd. I love capturing the details of a tiny newborn, but my absolute favorite age to photograph is around 6-7 months. The personality really starts to emerge, you get these gorgeous smiles with big eyes and baby is able to maintain a variety of poses without running away. Well, sometimes they crawl away…

About your life…
5. What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?

Playing with my son, photography & travel

6.Who or what inspires you?
My 3 year old son Wesley. Becoming a parent is hands down the best thing that has ever happened to me. I adore this little man so much and I would love to find a way to stop time! My attempts to document his every experience has played a major role in my journey as a photographer. I love watching him grow, but I want to remember every minute. Unfortunately, he has been growing really fast, time has been flying by and my memory isn’t as good as it used to be. Thankfully, my camera doesn’t forget!

7.Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
Oh my goodness – can I just say I love it all? The Beatles, Bare Naked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, Billy Joel, Norah Jones – all play on my Ipod regularly. I love oldies, classics, techno, pop and can be perfectly content listening to mainstream top 40 on the radio… and I love to sing along.

8.What is your favorite movie of all time?
The Princess Bride or maybe Forrest Gump – or just about any Disney movie – I could (and have) watched them over and over.

9.What would your ideal day be like?
Waking up in Walt Disney World – in the castle suite (a girl can dream, right?), starting the day with some room service Mickey waffles and then having the whole place just for my family and friends (and myself of course). A beautiful 75 degree day with blue skies and incredible puffy white clouds. It would be a picture perfect day having a blast in the Magic Kingdom together with lots of photo ops. Variations on that perfect day include a cruise, Hawaii, Bermuda, Paris, London – or a fall day at the park.

10.If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
My first career is nursing – specifically Labor and Delivery. I guess you could say I’m drawn to babies. I love helping to bring them into this world and watch a couple grow into a family. As you work with the parents, they let you into some of their most precious moments and you become part of their family for a little while. It is definitely the happiest place in the hospital! Other than nursing, I’d love to swap places with Samantha Brown from the Travel channel and tour some of the best hotels in the world. I think I’d rather enjoy getting paid to be a tourist.

Be sure to leave some comments telling Gail what you like about her work and don’t forget to check her out here

Next week I’ll be featuring the sweet and wonderful photographer Kari Wright!

My weekly photographer I’m featuring is Liz Svorinic from Elizabeth Anne Photography from Freeland, MI. You can follow her blog here and don’t forget to fan her facebook page

This is Jennifer’s featured image:

Photographer in Kansas City

10 Questions
About the image…

1. Why do you love this image?

I love everything about this image. I love how peaceful she looks. I love the muted colors and the pose. This is the first newborn session I shot alone without an assistant and I remember being really nervous beforehand. But, as the session progressed, I loved it. I felt so in control and totally enjoyed the moment. I felt so peaceful holding her and bonding with her. I saw this shot in my head and was beyond thrilled that I was able to bring it to life for the parents.

2. What were your settings with this image?
ISO 200 f/2 1/400 50 mm

About Photography…
3.What do you love about Photography?

I love the connection I get with my clients. Not everyone is comfortable in front of the lens and I know that. When I’m able to get my subject to relax and just be, that’s when the magic happens for me. Even newborns need to feel comfortable with me to get a beautiful shot. Photography excites me and makes me feel alive.

4. What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
I have a passion for newborn and child photography and I also love maternity and couples. There is just so much excitement and love at those sessions. It’s almost palpable!

About your life…
5. What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?

I love watching my kids play basketball and soccer, I love to read on my Nook, I enjoy digital scrap booking, golfing and spending time with my family. My favorite thing to do in the world is to laugh. There’s just nothing like laughing until you cry. It’s definitely a good day when that happens!

6.Who or what inspires you?
Love inspires me. I’m such a romantic at heart and being able to produce an image that portrays that emotion is my true passion and joy.

7.Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
Gosh, my favorites change all the time. I love Lifehouse, Black Eyed Peas, Daughtry. I’ll always have a soft spot for Metallica and Nirvana. Lady Antebellum has some pretty songs out, too. I love them all!

8.What is your favorite movie of all time?
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Remember, I’m a hopeless romantic.

9.What would your ideal day be like?
A newborn session in the morning, lunch with my husband in the afternoon, a front row seat at one of my kid’s basketball game, then home for dinner and a movie with my family. Perfection.

10.If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
I think it would be fun to be a producer or director. I definitely need to create something.

Be sure to leave some comments telling Liz how you love her work and don’t forget to check out her awesome work here

Next week I’ll be featuring the fabulous photographer Gail Montgomery from Baltimore Maryland!

Two years ago yesterday I was handed a tiny baby girl and my life hasn’t been the same since. Hang on with me for a few minutes because momma is about to get sentimental and that means lots of pictures.

See all that dark hair? Yep 9 months of hard work and I was handed a miniature version of my husband. All that work I went through and there wasn’t a speck of me in her looks, at least my husband makes a cute girl I guess.
Kansas City Baby Photographer

She was instantly full of personality all her own.
Kansas City Baby Photographer

Usually that personality includes some A LOT of attitude
Photographer in Kansas City

Photographer in Kansas City

Her nickname of ‘Gabbs’ was eerily very correct despite her small size. Getting her a cell phone down the road is already out of the question. Although daddy thinks it wouldn’t be that bad, uh huh sure whatever….
Photographer in Kansas City

Kansas City Baby Photographer

She loves anything with sugar just like her momma.
Baby Photographer in Kansas City

We LOVE dress up, very few days pass when a fairy/princess/whatever costume isn’t put on. Apparently I’m not that good at hiding them. Overland Park Child Photographer

Dancing around the room in said costume is also a must. We dance all the time, and she gets her mad skills from me thankfully!
Photographer in Kansas City

Pig tails are usually requested over bows most days. Along with these pig tails she usually requires a ‘sveter’ also known as a sweater to the rest of us. Suddenly over night she’s become some preppy hipster!
Overland Park Child Photographer

Cheerios are best eaten after being dumped all over the floor.
Photographer in Kansas City

I have a wonderful helper to “cook” every time I dare touch the stove to say boil water. Oh and we have matching aprons like this one that must be worn if said stove is touched for even a moment. Kansas City Child Photographer

Our newest favorite thing in life is slides. She could go down them all day long provided I didn’t get tired and I have a stash of ‘nak’ toddler for ‘snack’ (For the record the sweater was demanded at her request and yes I know it doesn’t match her outfit but good luck trying to tell her that!)
Kansas City Child Photographer

She has yet to meet a playground she doesn’t love. This is where we ended up playing after I thought it’d be grand fun to show her how to fly a kite. After three trips chasing her down towards the playground and I finally gave up
Child Photographer in Kansas City

My life is filled with a lot more drama now, usually the good kind..
Photographer in Overland Park KS

sometimes, well not so much the good kind..
Photographer in Kansas City

But I wouldn’t trade my drama filled life for a ‘boring’ one or anything else now.
Photographer in Kansas City

Happy birthday baby girl!

P.S. Can you believe that I’m ‘only’ a day late in this post? Wow

Once again it’s time for my weekly featured photographers! There are so many wonderful talents out there that I think I could do this feature every week for months! This week I’m highlighting Jennifer Ricketts and she’s a wonderful photographer located in Orinda, CA and the San Francisco Bay Area. You can follow her work on her website, blog and be sure to fan her facebook page

This is Jennifer’s featured image:

Photographer in Kansas City

10 Questions

About the image…

1. Why do you love this image?
I just love her expression. A mom and dad taking time out for a smooch. And what a cute smooch! Plus, check out the cute dimple.

2. What were your settings with this image?
ISO 800, f 2.8, ss 1/320.

About Photography…

3.What do you love about Photography?
I love the technical side of things. I just love that something so mathematical can be, and is, Art. No wonder Architecture is a huge inspiration for me.

4. What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
I specialize in portraits and weddings. My goal in 2011 is to shoot weddings and engagements exclusively. Funny I picked a baby and momma to be my image selection. Maybe I won’t be leaving newborn photography so fast.

About your life…
5. What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?

Running, sewing, blog surfing.

6.Who or what inspires you?
So many people I can’t begin to mention. Seriously, I find inspiration everywhere, everyday, from expected and unexpected places.

7.Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
Love, love music, but so don’t care who is singing it. I don’t keep up with music at all. I leave that to the hubs, he is my music man. I do have a funny liking to the Black Crows (college days), Lucinda Williams, U2, & I am a secret fan of Rap music.

8.What is your favorite movie of all time?
It is a wonderful life.

9.What would your ideal day be like?
Sleep in, sleep in, sleep in, did I mention sleep in? Then wake up to a clean house, clean, dressed and fed children, go for a run, come home and do some crafts with the kids, ride bikes in the street. Win the lottery. Go to dinner with my husband alone and actual eat and talk uninterrupted.

10.If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
Architect, fashion designer/seamstress, full time mommy ONLY.

Be sure to leave some comment love for Jennifer here and don’t forget to check out her awesome work here

Next week I’ll be featuring Liz Svorinic from Elizabeth Anne Photography

I’d like to introduce you to another of my photographer friends, Nicole Ridella.
baby photographer

She’s the phographer behind Ordinary Days Photography and she’s in the Marin County and San Francisco Bay Area, CA. You can check out more of her work on her facebook page or her website which is http://www.ordinarydaysphotography.com

Here is her featured image.
Photographer in Kansas City

10 Questions

About the image…

1. Why do you love this image?
I love the eye contact and the little girl’s personality. We were playing at a park and when I called her name, she peeked around this structure at me and I was happy to catch her little grin.

2. What were your settings with this image?
ISO 800, SS 1/160 and f3.2.

About Photography…

3.How do you juggle photography business and family and the rest of your life?
Right now, while my children are still very young (5 years old and 19 months old) I juggle by limiting the number of sessions I will do during a month to two. Two is just enough to keep me creative and happy with my work, but not too much that I miss out on important time with my daughters.

4. What is in your camera bag?
My camera, my two go to lenses (35mm/2.0 and 85mm/1.8), my flash (I prefer natural light – but sometimes there just isn’t any!), extra memory cards, extra batteries, a random toy or two and possibly a baby sock. (My youngest loves putting things in bags!)

5. What do you love about Photography?
I love that photography helps me remember all kinds of tiny details I would otherwise forget. A few of my favorites include a photo that reminds me that when my youngest daughter first learned to walk she held her arms straight out in front of her a la Frankenstein and a photo of my older daughter as a baby dressed in Christmas jammies, trying to remove the child-proof cap on an outlet in our hallway (yes, she was more interested in electrocuting herself than she was in her Christmas gifts!) I also love older photographs from my childhood that remind me of summer vacations and my grandfather who loved his Polaroid camera and was forever trying to usher us grandkids into a group so he could take our photo. I love the memories that photographs hold.

6.Are you formally educated or a self taught photographer?
Both. I studied photography in high school and college – but that was way back before digital! I am self taught in digital.

About your life…

7.What’s one food could you eat every day?
Tomatoes! Fresh off the vine in the garden tomatoes. Yum.

8.What is a random thing about you?
I am “mostly” a vegetarian. Except, I love salmon.

9.What is your favorite charity?
I support a couple of environmental organizations. The Sierra Club is one of my favorites. I think the work they are doing, trying to repair the damage humans have done to the earth, is very important.

10.Do you have any personal projects?
I am trying to do Project Life for both of my daughters – but I am horrible at staying caught up with it. I also am trying to get one family photo a month, for all 12 months of 2011.

Be sure to leave some comment love for Nicole and check out her work.