On Wednesday we had the opportunity to learn a little more about Kellie Penn and her journey from MWAC to professional photographer. We learned about how she got started, what she has learned, and we were able to see some of her amazing images. Today we are going to take a look at her journey from enthusiast to opening her business, ACROSS THE MILES PHOTOGRAPHY. Before we do, though, I want to share with you something really special about the name of her business.
Her business was named for her son Miles, who at the age of just three months passed away, leaving his twin brother Mason behind. Click on the picture above to go to her site and then click on OUR STORY to read more. Kellie’s strength in this tragedy and her dedication to keep his memory alive are inspiring.
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WHEN DID YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WANTED TO GO PRO?
Last winter, my husband and I were traveling home from a trip and just talking about my photos. I told him how I’d really like to try to make a bit of money at it to get some extra income and money for new equipment. I wanted to see if he thought I was crazy or not! He said “Go for it!” I started researching it a bit, I bought my domain name, a website and just jumped in headfirst!
DID YOU ACT ON IT RIGHT AWAY?
It was a few months from that conversation until I launched my business.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR GOING INTO BUSINESS?
I did some portfolio building (and it helped that I had some cute kids that didn’t mind me taking pictures of them left and right) and I consulted with one of my best friends who had been in the photography business for about a year and a half at that time. She was a great resource for me and really helped get me going! I checked some books out at the library and I just scoured the internet for how to get started in a photography business. I had to learn how to get a business ID and how to start collecting sales tax, etc. It was way more involved than I first thought!
WHO WAS YOUR FIRST “FOR PAY” CLIENT AND HOW DID YOU FEEL BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE SHOOT?
A family from my church had followed my blog & had seen some of my work on my scrapbook pages. I had mentioned on my blog a couple of times about how I would love to take pictures for people. They asked me if I would take their family photos & I said yes…and was scared to death! I knew that there would be about 10 people in the group, so I started looking all over the internet for posing ideas so I would at least have a few ideas to use that evening! I was definitely nervous pulling into the driveway, but once we got started it went smoothly! I was relieved when it was over, and felt even better when I pulled the pictures up on the screen & liked what I saw!
WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN THOSE FIRST FEW SHOOTS THAT YOU WISHED YOU HAD KNOWN BEFORE YOU STARTED?
I think I learned that the whole process just takes so much longer than I thought! Shooting the photos is one thing, but trying to narrow down the photos, edit them, upload them to a gallery and wait for payment can take quite awhile!
HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT FINDING MORE CLIENTS?
I talked about my new business on my blog and then I really started working on my “Google Ranking.” Before long, I started getting e-mails from potential clients & it just started taking off after that! I also took an advertisement out in the phone book to help get my name out in the community. But, word of mouth has by far been the most effective for me! I love it when people enjoyed their photos that they tell their friends!
HOW LONG DOES A TYPICAL SHOOT TAKE?
It definitely depends on the type of shoot & how cooperative the subjects are acting! Location shoots take longer than studio sessions. I’d say the average shoot lasts between 1 to 2 hours.
WHAT KINDS OF SHOOTS ARE YOUR FAVORITE?
I love photographing seniors! They are so fun & full of energy, and willing to try just about anything! Plus, they sit still and you don’t have to chase them all around like you do when photographing children!
WHAT KINDS OF SHOOTS DO YOU DISLIKE?
The big group/family shots at weddings. I don’t “dislike” them, but they just take up so much time at weddings! Plus, it seems like a lot of people can get grumpy during the wedding group shots! If everyone would relax and smile, it would be so much easier!
HOW MUCH TIME DOES A TYPICAL CLIENT SESSION TAKE YOU? BREAK IT DOWN (communication with client, actual shoot, editing, choosing images, print orders, presentation, etc)
The whole process really takes quite a bit of time! There’s the initial phone calls/e-mails to set up the session. Then, there’s time involved in gathering up props, getting camera/equipment ready, and the drive to the location. There’s the actual shooting of the session, and then the time involved in editing around 5 photos for the blog sneak peek! I allow myself up to two weeks to get a session edited, but there are several hours involved in working with photos to make them look their best! I choose my favorite 20-25 photos to edit. After editing, it takes a little time to get them uploaded online and then to call the client with the password to their gallery so they can view their photos. Then, I wait 1-3 weeks for the client to place the order, and then I have to make any final adjustments to their order (ie, creating storyboards, resizing photos, etc). I then upload the photos to my online lab and wait a couple of days for the photos to arrive. I then have to spend a bit of time making sure everything looks correct and then package the photos for the client. Then, I call the client and wait for them to come and pick them up!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WHO WAS INTERESTING IN GOING PROFESSIONAL?
Research, research, research! There is so much more involved in just taking photos! You have to be able to run the business side as well! Seek out advice from other professionals and ask lots of questions! Joining some online forums where you can get critique on your photos really help as well!
Also, I would tell someone to plan to not really make any money for quite awhile! There’s a lot of cost in equipment (cameras, lenses, studio equipment, accessories, advertising, website costs, props, software, actions, etc). It can get quite expensive! I would also recommend to not buy everything at once! I’ve really tried hard to stay within my means and when I’ve saved up a bit, I’ll order some new stuff!
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR OWN JOURNEY?
I would have been better planned for the business side of it before starting! I would have consulted with an accountant and got all of my ducks in a row before I actually began. I never expected my business to take off so quickly! It took me a bit to get everything all figured out, and I’m so grateful for my online friends who helped me get everything in order!
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
To keep plugging away and growing my business! I’d love to get to the point where I own my own studio location. It’s really tough running this out of my home! But, I am grateful it allows me to continue to be a stay at home mom! We will either look at renting a studio location in the future, or possibly moving to a new home that would allow me to have a better studio space! I’d also love to get to the point where I can hire someone to help edit my photos & upload orders to the lab!
DO YOU STILL TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR OWN KIDS?
I do, but not as much as I’d like! Sometimes I just want to go to an event and not drag around my “work” with me! I have to remember to make sure I am documenting my kids lives and not look at it as work! I have not been able to scrap near as much as I’d like since my business took off, though! I really need to be better at fitting that into my day! (Can someone please find a way to add more hours to a day?)
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Isn’t it so cool to hear about the journey. In the times I have thought about wanting to be a professional some day I certainly don’t think about all the business stuff. Taking pictures is fun but oh, the work involved! I hope that this interview was good for you — to hear that it can be done and what it involves. I hope it encourages someone to take the plunge they have been wanting to take and to encourage others that maybe this is not the road for them.
And no matter whether you want to be a professional or not, you can ALWAYS learn more about your camera, taking images, editing, and enjoying the process. Kellie mentioned that one of the places she has learned the most is an online photography forum called CLICKINMOMS. It has been a source of encouragement, critique, and inspiration for her as she continues on her journey.
Well CLICKINMOMS has two great things just for THE DAILY DIGI readers! First, use the coupon code FRIEND and you will get 10% off your membership! Hurry, though, the code expires March 7. Secondly, they are giving away TWO FREE MEMBERSHIPS! Here’s how you can win: Just leave a comment here naming one thing/place/person that inspires you to grow in your photography skills. We want to hear what gets you excited to learn more. Leave a comment before Monday and we will randomly pick two people for a full year membership to CLICKINMOMS.
I loved hearing about Kellie’s journey as a new professional photographer! As far as my own inspiration, I’d definitely say my children. After all, it’s those everyday moments I try to capture with the camera. I have no plans for professional work, but rather do it for my own personal enjoyment.
My kids inspire me to take photos and the beauty of everyday life. I love the ability to record life. Someday, I’ll even have the time to do something with all of the pictures!
I’ve got several friends who are doing amazing things with their photos and starting photography businesses. I don’t necessarily see myself “going pro,” but I would love to see my skills improve!!
The chemistry of emotion that is achieved with a photo! It totally turns my crank to see what comes out of my camera. The joy of savoring a moment for the record of time is absolutely precious to me.
Antique photos inspire me. I have very few photos from my family and even very little of my family as I was growing up. I’m inspired to create memories that my boys will cherish and share with future generations that may never know me.
My 3 boys inspire me! I don’t want to miss a single moment.
My skills are so basic, pretty much any good photographer is my inspiration! I have a lot to learn but it’s great to know that someday I could take pictures almost as good as theirs
My four children (and their future children) are inspirations to for me to grow as a photographer. I want the photos I take to be a longlasting witness for what was important to me and our family. I cannot possibly express all of what I think, believe, and feel to my children (and those future generations that are not even here yet) but my photos just might help.
Definitely my four kids inspire me to improve my photography skills. I want to document everything that happens in our family for future generations and it’s just so much easier to create scrapbooking layouts with great photos.
what an awesome give away!!
Holly McCraig’s dog photography (The Little Dog Smiled) and Erin Vey’s dog photography are truly inspiring for me. With no kids of my own (YET!) to capture, my dog is my main source of inspiration. Holly and Erin do such amazing work with dogs, I would love to pursue something like that for myself in the future.
My inspiration are my two boys. They are constantly on the move and it is so hard to get a great picture. The more I learn about my camera the better I am at capturing their beautiful personalities!
Thank you so much for this great article!
excellent story. thx for sharing it with us.
my inspiration comes mostly from my kids, but I also love nature (or landscape) photography.
Kellie’s work is FIERCE!
I seem to find inspiration everywhere. I really love looking at the blogs of various photographers. Since I’m still learning my XTI, I sometimes try to replicate shots that I see just to get a working knowledge of aperature, shutter speed…etc. For that reason, I absolutely love when the photog lists what settings they used.
My kids are my inspiration – they grow up so fast, I don’t want to miss a moment!!
Great story and great advise!
My inspiration comes from my sister. A semi-pro herrself, she can take a photograph of an event while I just take a picture!
My inspiration comes from realizing the power of photos.. the statements you can make about moments and people with good photography.. i saw a photo of a family all looking out at the ocean, from their backs… and my first thought was a united family…then i thought maybe merely a moment of calm for this family… but I was struck by the power of the image, and 2ndly we have a digital photo frame in our living room… this frame with its 900+ revolving photos has such a profound effect … my children will sit and watch it and feel waves of gratitude, will remember we love each other, we love each other, I look at it and remember my husband is a great guy… photos strengthen our family
I love taking pictures of my son, but what really inspires me to improve my photography skills are nature shots. I’d love to be able to explore all these amazingly beautiful places, capture them in a photo with the perfect lighting, and share them with my friends and family. And of course enjoy the traveling that would go along with getting to these areas.
Wow…what a great interview!
This is such a wonderful site!
Hmmm..well, my answer to your question would probably be #1, my daughter. To capture everything that’s special about her. #2 I love moments in nature…things that you can’t get back. So to stop time for a brief moment. And to do it WELL enough for it to be the same as if I were standing there watching it all over again.
What a wonderful interview!
Photography magazines and books are the main source of inspiration to me as I try to improve my skills and creativity. I still have lots to learn though! Taking a photo every day for Project 365 has also inspired me!
My 5 children inspire me to take more photos, I want to leave them with lots of memories of their childhood. My kids love looking back at photos of me as a child & I hope that one day my grandchildren will do the same!
My daughter constantly inspires me to become a better photographer. She is growing up so fast, I don’t want to miss a moment!
Other than my husband and kids being such a huge inspiration to me in growing more in my photography skills, I would have to say that my PARENTS, who are no longer living, is really the ultimate reason for it. Because their lives where short-lived, there weren’t very many photos that captured the special moments of their everyday life and the people that they shared it with. So, to become a good photographer would allow me to leave a legacy behind for my family and loved ones that they may have memories to hold on to for a lifetime and pass on for generations to come…
trying to move beyond the auto mode! But my camera’s user guide is nearly worthless. i can’t even figure out some of the most basic stuff from reading it. i would love to learn to take better photos! Sometimes that is what keeps me from scrapping very much.
Your photos are gorgeous and i would love to learn how to even get half as good as that!
Thanks for doing the interview with Kellie! It’s really nice hearing how she’s been able to grow her love of photography into a business.
Who inspires me? There are so many amazing photographers out there. Everytime I see a photo, I think “I want to learn how they did that” so I can learn and grow.
I know it is soo repetive but My child. He really got my photography itch going. When he was born I was already into it but it really got me looking into my pictures and trying to make them better. People actually started taking notice that I was somewhat ok at photography also!! I WOULD LOVE A MEMBERSHIP!!
My baby girl definitely inspires me to take better photos and to make sure that I am capturing what makes her so special to me. I want her to be able to look back some day and know how important and special she is and how much she is loved.
Thanks for the interview…it had really great information!
Thanks for taking the time to post this two-part interview, Janet & Kellie. I learned a lot, and it was so inspiring!
Kellie is doing a great job getting the word out about CLICKINMOMS, and I’m very intrigued. Would LOVE to win that membership! I really think it would help take my photog skills to the next level and help me take this plunge.
As for inspiration, lately I have been diving into photography books from the library. Some older, some new, all with different perspectives and something to teach me. I love learning more about this amazing hobby (and hopefully one day, business!)
Janet, please keep the “MWAC to PRO” interviews comin’!!!;)
My inspiration for wanting to grow in my photography is 1. To have great photos for my scrapbook pages, 2. To have some great photos to frame and hang around the house and 3. To learn how to use my DSLR in a mode other than “auto”.
What I would really like to start doing is posting my photos in a place where I can get some CC. I think in order to get better at anything you need some good honest feedback from people other than family and friends!
I would love to make better photos of my family.
I want to capture the glimmer of mischief in my son’s eyes
I am inspired when I realize how fast time is flying by and I want to capture just some of these passing moments in my family….
Again thank you SO MUCH for doing this series! My goal for 2009 has been to work on growing my own photography, and these honest answers have helped me so much. One of my biggest inspirations has been the photographer Tara Whitney. I had the awesome opportunity to have her do my family’s photos, and I still read her blog constantly to get inspiration for my own photos. When I grow up I want to be like her!
I LOVE that you did an interview on a Mom becoming Pro!! I’ve been struggling with this decision for so long. I keep feeling like I have so much more to learn..and buy before I jump into this!
My children are definitely my inspiration. I LOVE capturing their ‘moments.’ All of them – the grumpy faces, the sweet moments, and the in betweens.
They grow up entirely too fast to not document it!
I love this site, I always learn so much here!! Thanks for being an amazing place
I love getting the shot that really shows a person’s true character. To be able to see someone’s heart through their smile, I feel inspired to keep on clickin’.
What motivates me is how happy people are when I’ve captured a shot they love. That makes me want to take *more* photos and that, in turn, allows me to take *better* photos.
I think childhood inspires me the most when it comes to taking pictures. It is a magical time, that vanishes quickly. I love capturing my kids treasures, their feet & hands, affection, laughter, etc.
My Grandsons and my daycare children inspire me. I love catching the looks on their faces each day and then sending the pictures off to their parents. Playing with my camera, trying to catch those magic moments,is what inspires me and keeps me happy each day.
It is my little baby that inspires me to be a better photographer. I just want to have the best shots if him at all times. I don’t have many pictures of myself as a baby, and NO beautiful pictures. SO, I want my baby boy to have all the pictures that he can stand to show off when he is an adult.
I notice that as I learn and grow each picture gets a little better, and it becomes that more and more of the pictures during a shoot turn out lovable. So the more I practice and advice I recieve: the better I become.
Digiscrapping and photography are so intertwined for me. I find that beautiful photos are often what draws me to a LO, and there’s just so much inspiration in the galleries within this community. Also, it seems that just when I’m about to accept that I’m a lousy photographer, I’ll capture this great photo of one of my kids that really captures the moment, or who they are. That inspires me to forge ahead and try to learn more, with a glimmer of hope that I can get better.
Kellie is my idol! You rock, girl!
My seven year old and nearly three month old. I want to capture them as they are in the moment and not have to worry that I wasted the shot. So I really need help! So thanks for sharing your story.
The one thing that inspires me to take pictures is hearing someone say “wow” when I show them a picture I shot. I love seeing color come to life and I adore capturing the things we wouldn’t normally see. I have a really cool shot of my son’s long eyelashes, that still amazes me because in everyday life you don’t notice them, but when you capture them like that, they are simply stunning.
Rachel
the everyday moments with my kids is what inspires me. I want my photos to tell the stories of their lives.
Great interview! I have been thinking about “going pro” and this was very inspiring. I’d love a membership to Clickinmoms. I have been trying to sign up all day but the join page won’t load for me.
I was definitely inspired by my father who made sure to document our lives as children with pictures, a movie projector, and then a camcorder. He didn’t have those memories from his childhood so he wanted to make sure that his children had them. I also want that for my son. I want him to have those memories of those he has known and will get to know throughout his life as well those he never got a chance to meet.
I am inspired by my family. My daughter is the greatest inspiration, but it’s also very important to me to keep the legacy of my family’s history alive. the beauty around us also is a great drive to take photos.
So, I’m so touched by kellie’s story, and I love that she overcame such a huge obstacle and created something so beautiful. Thanks for spotlighting her!
I don’t think there is just one person who inspires me. My dad does for sure. He’s been a photographer since I was a little girl, my boys of course…they’re my main subjects! And I think mostly, I’m just inspired by learning. The more l learn, the more I love it!
my husband inspires me. he’s not afraid to get behind the camera, play with the settings and just shoot – I have issues doing that thinking, well the lighting is bad (or whatever) so I just won’t take a photo. He gets me to keep clicking away!
Just looking at the photos shown here has inspired me to learn more! I love taking photos of my kids and I also love scenery photos- I happen to live in one of the most beautiful places ever (IMHO!). I hope to learn more about basic and HDR photography over the next year. And I would love to be a part of clickin’ moms!
Thanks for the chance!
Thanks for such a great article about Kellie!
What inspires me? I would say the digi community is what has inspired me the last few years. I’ve learned so much and the majority in the community and so gracious about sharing knowledge.
My inspiration for photography? Definitely Jessica Claire (http://www.jessicaclaire.net/). That woman’s photos are breathtaking!!
I am just starting to collect things to start practicing. I would love to open a tiny buisness in a year or two, but I have so much to learn. This was such a fun and inspiring interview… I get so excited by looking at other people’s photographs online… I love to study how they posed their subjects and how they processed them… And, I just found clickin moms the other day through someone else! I loved what I saw!
My sons are, hands down, my greatest inspiration. They are no longer little but they encourage me to pursue my love of photography. Second, after a year of battling health issues, I have REALLY come to realize how precious every moment of every day is. I am excited to be challenged by Project 365 and have learned so much about my camera in the last two months!
I’ve said it before, but I love your site and the information that you share every day!
What great timing. I have my first paid shoot today and this is a fabulous boost of encouragement.
I know it’s cliche, but my kids are my inspiration. There is now way I would have embraced this hobby the way I have if it wasn’t for them.
First my children inspire me, looking at the photos I’ve taken and then finding that one or two of them really capture who they are. My other inspiration is coming from learning to use my camera and photoshop better, just seeing all of the creative things that can be done is awesome.
Thanks so much for these articles, it is just what I need as I make decisions on what I really want to do with my love of photography!
everything about photography inpires me I love taking pictures and seeing others work and the joy that photos give people.
My family inspires me the most. I love taking pictures and have wanted to learn all that I can to help me capture better pictures.
Family of course! And then seeing other’s photos – where I love the ideas, the angles, the colors, etc.
Seeing my kids faces light up with they see a new photo of themselves printed is my inspiration. Even my 17 month old claps with delight.
I am most inspired by other photographers. Good pictures that capture stories and trigger emotions are a huge inspiration to tell my own stories in a provocative and creative way.
TIME is the thing that inspires me to continue to grow in my photography skills! We all know the sayings and cliches about TIME–and they are all true! Our oldest son is now over 10 years old and it breaks my heart to think that in 10 more years, he will be almost grown, half-way through college and on his own! I love the line from “Fiddler on the Roof” that says “I don’t remember growing older, when did they?” I want to learn to “freeze” time by taking the best photographs I can of my children, and have fun while doing it!
I am inspired by my daughter who changes every day. I want to capture her personality and spirit on camera!
My inspiration cmomes from my father. He passed away many years ago, but I feel like I’m making him proud by carrying on his tradition of documenting life through pictures.
I am inspired by photographers (especially my friend, Jen) that take such precious pictures of babies and kids! While my husband and I don’t have children yet, we hope to in the near future and I would love to learn what I can to capture the blessings that they will be in our lives.
I started Project 365 this year and have been posting my photos on Flickr. There are so many amazing photographers there and quite a few have inspired me. Just seeing their photos makes me want to become a better photographer and learn so much more!
I would say my three kids inspire me the most. To capture those special moments and those every day moments as well. Other photographers inspire me to achieve their level of excellence! I just love stalking their blogs and learning from them.
People! People inspire me period. I know a lot of people go for kids or weddings or family shots, but my eye tends to go towards older people. The real “seniors” out there. I am no pro but I recently was asked to photograph a 50th wedding anniversary party and while there, I was completely entranced by the faces and stories and the years and years of love that is written in wrinkles. I wish there were more photographers out there that see that too.
Great interview! And thank you for the chance to win!
Color and texture inspires me. I love traveling and seeing the unique colors and textures in each location. Being able to record those details help me to remember my favorite places and times with my family.
Amateur photography is a family legacy. Actually, my mom did it professionally for a while. In my dream, world it’s what I would do. I love capturing life on film. I’ve done some shoots for friends and even though I already knew it, discovered I’d been bitten by the bug to learn more and more.
My inspiration is definitely my kids. I wish I would have had my digital camera when they were born! I wasn’t a very good photographer and it was so expensive to develop pictures that I just didn’t take as many photos to improve. Now it’s hard to get them to let me take photos. I guess I’ll have my chance to get more creative with baby shots, we’re expecting another one!
My wife inspires me! She is the real photographer, not me, but I love to see her work and wish I could take pictures they way she does – she has a special way of seeing the world.
I guess I’d have to say my dad and youngest brother. The two of them are always encouraging me in my creative pursuits and telling me how much they enjoy both my photos and my scrapping.
Thanks you so much for this post! I’ve been wanting to take the plunge into the “professional” photography business for a while now & I think this is going to help me do that! My inspiration not only comes from my two crazy little boys, but also from seeing what other photographers can achieve! One of my favorite photographers is Rebekah Westover (rebekahwestoverphotography.com) She is amazing! I would love to get to the point that she’s at, when I look at her work, I don’t just see a pictures…I see moments!!
Awesome interview! Thanks, Kellie! As someone just getting started in photography, so much of what you said was all too familiar: the many demands of the business operation side, huge amount of time that goes into each session from start to finish, etc.! I’d LOVE to win a membership to Clickinmoms! What inspires me to better my photography skills? So many things! But, largely, an INTENSE DESIRE to create beautiful eye candy for my clients AND for me! I delight in the amazing work of Kelley Ryden, Megan Sugden, and Patti Schmidt and dream of reaching that level of excellence in the future!
For the past nine years we have lived in “no-man’s land.” We live 15 hrs from any of our relatives, and our kids are losing out on having relationships with their grandparents, aunts, cousins, etc.
We only get to see one side or the other about once a year, and it’s SO important to me to learn to take photos that will help capture the relationships, since that’s all we have to hold on to until the next visit.
I want to learn to take photos, not just snapshots, so the children can see and remember their extended family, and how important family is to our lives.
My kids have always inspired me to take photos. And since my DS came along, I take lots of photos daily. But what is inspiring me to learn more about photography right now is my new camera: a Canon Powershot SX10 IS. It is an awesome camera and I want to learn to use it to it’s full potential!
Just one thing that inspires me? I can’t narrow it down to just one. I find inspiration everywhere, from documenting my son’s childhood to photography blogs and magazines. If I find a photograph I love – I want to learn how to photograph like that myself. Thanks for the inspiration and the opportunity. Have a great weekend!
I am inspired by this blog: http://www.audreywoulardblog.com.
She is incredibly talented!!!
My Daughter! She is growing so fast and capturing her many expressions and daily milestones is so cool! I have had my digital SLR for a year now and I am amazed at how much just having a better camera inspires me to want to take pictures! I really want to learn how to get off of auto more!! That is my goal for this year.
I think what inspires me to learn more is seeing what other people can do. There are several photographers that really inspire me, and when I read their blogs and see what they can do, it makes me want to be better at it!
Kellie, you are such an inspiration. Following your blog is what made me what to dig more into photography. God has truly blessed you with a talent for this!!!
FAMILY! That’s what it’s all about, right? Sometimes I feel bad when I look at my day and realize I’ve spent 3 hours taking pics and/or doing digiscrapping. But my husband is always so supportive and even grateful! He knows that I’m not just doing it for fun, but because I want to capture the changes and activities of our FAMILY. Thus, I have been deemed the ‘family paparazzi’. No one is exempt: grandparents, syblings, cousins, and even friends over for playdates:) The people we love are always worth the time…
I am inspired by others pictures and want mine to improve to a new level. I just got a new DLSR camera, now I just need to figure out how to get it out of automatic mode.
I am inspired by others pictures. I look around the digi world and see such wonderful photos. I bought a DSLR but I don’t know how to use it very well yet but it is something that I love to learn and play with.
I check out this website everyday for inspiration. I, also, love taking pictures of my grand daughters, they are so much fun.
My two gals (11 & 5) inspire me everyday! I love to capture those wonderful moments they share and I love to capture was totally different personalities they both have. I look forward to learning something everyday to help improve.
Kellie, thank you so very much for the marvelous interview. The pointers were awesome. I have my first ‘photo shoot’ for a friend of mine — her children (they are older). I am nervous as anything – lol…But this interview really has helped me
How inspires me to take photos – oh my – there are so many marvelous photographers around. But I have to admit that one of my biggest inspiration are Ansel Adams photos, since I love B&W photography. His photos are incredible
Thank you for the chance to win the membership.
Seeing all the amazing pictures people use on their digi scrap pages has really given me the desire to take better pictures. I am just starting to learn more about the process, which I know can be very time-consuming, but my goal is to learn and improve in the months to come. Thanks for the chance to win a membership to a site that will help me reach my goals!
My three beautiful girls inspire me to take better photos. They are 6, 4 and 1 and they have beautiful spirits that I enjoy being with everyday. It frustrates me when I can’t seem to capture that spirit with my camera.
I get inspired by looking at other’s amazing pictures. I am trying really hard this year to learn more about my camera and utilize all of its abilities!
The thing that inspires me to take better photos is my horrible memory! By taking photos, they trigger memories for me… since going to digital cameras 6 years ago, I’ve been on a quest… and 3 cameras later… to get the same quality photos as my 35mm took… this Christmas, my DL finally broke down and got me a Canon Rebel… I LOVE this camera!!
My kids are my inspiration – and a beautiful day outside! Staying in the house all winter is a drag and it’s so hard to take nice pictures, but as soon as the nice weather comes, great pictures are so easy to take!
Thanks for the great article – it was inspiring too!!
My inspiration is coming from not wanting to miss a single moment. Even at work, I’m trying to take more and more pictures. Thanks for these posts, I’ve always wondered what it would be like to go pro.
~Jennifer
My four kiddos are what inspire me to want to improve my camera skills. Those early years fly by way too fast and I want to remember them!
I am still trying to advance beyond auto-mode with my camera and am reading everything that I can online. I also like reading anything by Scott Kelby. He has a series of books that show photographs with the ‘recipe’ for each one showing what settings and lenses he used to take the photos. They are called The Digital Photography Book, Volumes 1 & 2.
Wow…it’s been so much fun getting to know Kellie a little more through these 2 posts!! Congrats on your successful business, Kellie!!
My inspiration lately, comes from my husband being deployed. He is missing so many little things around here that I feel like I need to capture it all on film…Sean’s basketball games, Emma’s first lost tooth, and many other things.
My daughter is my favorite subject and my biggest inspiration. I love just looking at her face
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I’ve always been inspired and supported by my Dad. He picked out my first 35mm for my 16th birthday ( a long time ago) and bought me my current camera just because he knew that I’d enjoy it. He also sends me phototgraphy magazines and articles. It is a passion that we both share and has become one of the ways we connect (the other is our bicycle riding).
Definitely my children inspire me to be a better photography–especially with the upcoming arrival of a new one. I want her pictures to be perfect!
I love Holly Harandon from Holliewood studios. I love to go to her site and look at the demos and see if I could get something similar (which is impossible) but certainly fun to try. Another site that I love is Darren Rose and the weekly tips. I don’t do them all.
Thanks for the chance to win…
Flor
I am inspired by my desire to capture the stories of my 3 children (ages 15, 12 & 3) growing up. They grow up so fast!