Josee Caza
Josée Caza photographs “bumps, newbies, li’l cookies, big cookies and love”—“love” being young families. Located in Toronto, Canada, she’s been a professional photographer for seven years, and in February, 2010, moved into her own studio. The invitation is clear on her website—“Let me show you how portrait photography can be when it becomes the discovery of spirit and character through the eyes of a romantic.” Please visit Josée online at joséecaza.com and see her fabulous studio in Issue No. 11‘s “Inside Real Studios”.
Meg Borders
Meg Borders is a senior and lifestyle photographer in Eastern Washington with a craving for sunlight. Her work is unmistakable for it’s creamy backlighting, sun-induced ambers, and a romantic quality that’s marked by a warm glow. This distinctive style creates a sense of fairytale enchantment that has become synonymous with the artist, and her brand. You can visit Meg’s site to view her portfolio at megborders.com, and learn some of her styling tips from Design Aglow Style Guides for Seniors, Families & Engagements.
Jules Bianchi
Jules’ father gave her a camera at age 12, and she was immediately taken with the ability to freeze moments in time. Today, Jules’ main focus is wedding photography. Shooting weddings fits perfectly with her outgoing personality, eye for detail and sensibility for genuine moments, but lately she is finding great joy in bringing that same energy to family and pet portraiture.
Jules has a home studio in West Hollywood where she often sleeps in quite late because of her extreme night-owl tendencies. If you come by, you’ll experience an exuberant greeting by her fluffy dog, Olive. Thanks to Jules, Olive has become quite famous in her own right now…her book, “Olive Goes to Hollywood,” took second place in the Non-Event Informal Album competition at WPPI 2009. It is an accomplishment Jules is quite proud of.
An international award-winning photographer, Jules’ work has been published in magazines such as Los Angeles Wedding Magazine, Bride & Bloom, The Knot, Your Wedding Day, and Ceremony Magazine. Her work has also been featured in professional photography vendor samples from Leather Craftsmen, Willowbooks, Livebooks, Kolo, and Pictage.
Jules speaks and teaches other photographers on a regular basis at professional organizations on topics covering wedding photography, inspiration, and photography technique. She has spoken at Pictage PartnerCon, Digital Wedding Forum Convention, and Kevin Kubota’s Bootcamp, just to name a few.
David Beckstead
David Beckstead was named among “The Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World” by American Photo magazine in March 2007. David mixes his passion for art and travel to run a destination wedding photography business, traveling to over 65 countries and almost every state in the U.S. while maintaining a residence in “middle-of-nowhere” northeast Washington state. His wife and business partner, Kassandra, shares his passions and together they seamlessly meld their lifestyle with their business. David runs workshops across the U.S. and the world. Learn more about David at davidbeckstead.com. Read about the thought processes behind some of David’s stunning images in Issue No. 1‘s “How the Shot was Made: The Inside Story of Incredible Images.”
Boudoir Divas
Marissa Bouchèr and Kimberlee West’s site, The Boudoir Divas, is a bright infusion of passion and fun. Visually exciting and as colorful as the divas themselves, photographers and prospective clients can learn everything there is to know about the business of boudoir. Check their site for upcoming workshops at their San Diego studio, in Paris, France, and the Caribbean! A new posing guide (The Posebook) was released in February 2009. West says, “The hardest thing for boudoir photographers is posing a woman to make it look flattering and believable and realistic and sexy, so we created this posing guide.” Their original book, the Boudoir Divas’ Workshop in a Book, is available now on their site. In rich magazine format, this boudoir business guide covers everything from marketing to shooting to post processing. Also for sale on their site are actions and album templates. View the Boudoir Divas work in Issue No. 7‘s “Pillow Talk”.
Chenin Boutwell
Chenin is an award-winning wedding photographer whose work has been featured in Real Simple Magazine, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Ceremony Magazine, Rangefinder, Photo District News and numerous other publications. In her personal life, Chenin Boutwell is a wife and mamma to two-under-two. She is obsessed with food, babies, parties, wellness, design, decor and finding a great deal. Check out her exploits on fudgebananaswirl.com and for her sage advice on decidedly sticky situations, read Issue No. 4‘s “Wedding Etiquette for the Rest of Us: What the Bridal Magazines Don’t Say.”
Ashley Campbell
With a love for hardware stores, art supplies and photography, Oklahoma resident Ashley Campbell prefers country roads to city streets. While she loves the thrill of scouring through antique stores, she completely lacks the ability to walk away from vintage tablecloths, wire baskets and crocheted trim. Ashley’s background is in Fine Arts and photography. After stepping back from the professional side of photography, she embraced other creative outlets and chronicles those on her blog, Under the Sycamore. In the midst of raising 4 young kids who create wonderful (but messy) chaos, Ashley uses photography as a tool to celebrate the not so glamorous moments in life. Ashley holds to the belief that creativity is essential for her as an individual, artist and mom. She finds the most beauty in the mundane and relishes the adventure of parenthood with her husband Chris. Ashley is also a monthly diy contributor on the Design Aglow blog, and is also featured in Issue No. 11′s Inspire Project. Her projects have been featured on Apartment Therapy, NBC New York, Women’s Day, Real Simple, PetaPixel, Design*Sponge, CafeMom, The Sweetest Occasion, PoppyTalk, Craftzine, Curbly, Readymade and numerous other design publications.
Karen Carey
Karen Carey began her career over 15 years ago and has developed a distinctive style that honors her passion for artistry and excellence in her work. She is nationally noted for her soulful and artistic fine art portraits of children. Karen creates exceptionally moving images that celebrate childhood in a way that is pure and authentic by combining an eye for strong, yet simple composition with exquisite mastery of light. Her work is intimate and honest, bearing witness to the same passion, humor and sensitivity that she exudes in her own spirited personality. Her award winning artwork is hanging in fine homes and in fine galleries across the country, and can be seen on countless magazine covers and national advertising campaigns. In 2007, Karen began sharing her wisdom and creative approach with photographers at all stages of their careers through workshops, lectures and private mentoring. Learn more about Karen at KarenCareyPhotography.com and in Issue No. 6. Professional photographers can find out more about upcoming workshops and engagements at KarenCareyPhoto.com.
Ria Czichotzki
Ria Czichotzki is a children’s photographer located in Fargo, North Dakota. Her boutique-style business, rialee photography operates out of a modern, natural light loft studio in the heart of downtown and provides her clients a relaxed and memorable photographic experience. Described as beautiful, heart-felt, and soul capturing, her work perfectly captures the essence of childhood. Ria enjoys helping fuel other moms’ passion for photography through her highly sought after photographerMAMA workshops. Recently, she launched two new divisions of her business; Happy Dog which specializes in modern dog photography, and Tiny Sprouts, an associate-based children’s photography business. You can find out more about Ria at rialeephotography.com, or see images of her gorgeous studio in Issue No. 8, “The Essential Issue”.
Marla & Shane
Through her documentary-style photography, Marla Carter creates distinctive fine art portraits for her clients. With the goal ever in mind of capturing images that will stand the test of time, Marla takes real images of real people–primarily maternity, baby, children, family, and seniors. Shooting entirely on location, Marla has been joined in the business by husband Shane for the past two years. His fun-filled beach shoots provide a perfect complement to Marla’s timeless style. Learn more about Marla and Shane at marlaandshane.com and view the amazing transformation of their chic new space in Issue No. 4′s “Inside Real Studios.”
Michael Chinn
Michael Chinn describes his style of shooting as combining “a likeness beyond everyday and a point of view which reflects realism and a fine art flair.” While his wedding clients appreciate this approach, photographers likewise benefit from Michael’s keen eye for classic style. Michael Chinn exclusive albums and boxes offer a clean, simple, and contemporary look and are designed and handcrafted in his San Francisco studio. View Michael’s beautiful wedding work at michaelchinn.com and learn more about his refined creations in Issue No. 4′s “Inspired Project: Fine Print Boxes with Michael Chinn.”
Jesh De Rox
Jesh De Rox is fascinated with life, and spends his time studying the way people perceive and connect with each other and the world around them. His work is centered in the desire to express these relationships. He has come to believe that the most important and precious parts of life are found in small truths, easily missed–that the world within is the root of the one without–and that the search for meaning is more about the search than the meaning. Currently he lives in Western Canada with his beautiful family, where he runs a successful fine art studio and continues his exploration. Learn more about Jesh at jeshderox.com. Check him out in Issue No.5′s “Life (As An Experiment): Jesh De Rox”
Rachel Devine
Commercial photographer, portrait photographer, Flickr superstar–it’s all in a day’s work for *Rachel Devine*. Her photojournalistic eye and preternatural knack for translating a child’s view of the world through photography have earned her a staggering 2,500,000+ hits to her Flickr page and an ever-growing list of commercial clients including Target, General Mills, FAO Schwartz, FOX studios and The Little Gym. Rachel has been photographing kids and teens commercially since 1995 and is now expanding her business to Australia to include consultations and tutoring for photographers. View Rachel’s portfolio at racheldevine.com and some of her favorite images in Issue No. 3‘s “We are Inspired.” She is also featured discussing commercial photography in Issue No. 7: “Branching Out”.
Nicole Hill Gerulat
Nicole Hill Gerulat, of San Francisco, California, has been shooting for eleven years, but the last six have been predominately
commercial work. With a love for photographing lifestyle, children and food, Nicole won the stock photography division in PDN’s Photo Annual 2009. Nicole is the founder of NicolesClasses.com and authored Photo 101: The Book -a helpful textbook on manual shooting that has received rave reviews. Please visit her online at Nicolephoto.com and in Issue No. 10′s “Better Image: Commercial Photography with a Side of Stock”.
Jerry Ghionis
One of the most influential and revered photographers of our time, Jerry Ghionis is a masterful storyteller. After almost 20 years of photographing weddings, Jerry not only sets the creative bar with his images, he continues to raise it. His style is both contemporary fashion and classic vintage, where beautiful lines converge upon luminous fields of light. He has an innate ability to capture candid intimate moments as well as his eye for detail and precision in depicting your unique love story. Widely regarded as one of the top five wedding photographers in the world, Jerry’s theatrical and iconic images have redefined modern wedding photography. He was the first Australian named in the first ever list of Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World by American Photo magazine. Jerry is also proud to have won the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) Wedding Album of the Year for a record seven times among his long list of accolades and WPPI included Jerry in their Top Five Wedding Photographers in the World. Jerry was also named as the Australian Wedding Photographer of the Year by the AIPP. Learn more about Jerry Ghionis at jerryghionis.com. Read about Jerry’s award-winning albums in Issue No. 1‘s “Featured Seminar: Shooting for the Perfect Album” and learn about his charismatic style in Issue No. 7‘s “Rockstars of Photography”.
Brianna Graham
Michigan-based wedding and portrait photographer Brianna Graham is nationally known for her eclectic style, vivid colors, and technique. Brianna’s boutique approach to wedding and portrait photography focuses on capturing her client’s personalities, and her sophisticated use of pattern and texture combined with her artistic style makes her photography unique. Often incorporating her collection of wallpapers, antique chairs, couches, throw pillows, etc. into her images, Brianna makes artwork as individual as the clients she photographs. She has been featured in several publications, most notably her cover feature in Rangefinder, and has also received multiple awards for her photography. To view more of Brianna’s portfolio, visit her website at briannagraham.com. Brianna shares her sales insight in Issue No. 4‘s “Up-selling as an Art: Getting the Most from Each Sale.”
Ann Hamilton
Ann Hamilton has a passion for photographing weddings and dogs. American PHOTO Magazine named her as as “One of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers of 2009.” The Knot Magazine named her “One of the Best Wedding Photographers” for Northern California 2010. She is also published in several books by Amherst Media, including the “Best of Digital Wedding Photography.” Ann’s dog work is featured in Photo District News (PDN), Rangefinder Magazine, Daily Candy, and the Yahoo! Flickr app for iPhone available in the Apple iTunes Store! Visit annhamilton.com to learn more and view inspiring photos of her Cow Hollow space in Issue No. 2‘s “Inside Real Studios.”
Gene Higa
Recently, named One of the Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World, Gene Higa travels the world doing what he loves, photographing weddings near and far, and is one of the most sought-after destination wedding photographers today. Originally from Los Angeles, Gene makes his home in San Diego, but calls the world his office. Gene has been commissioned to photograph weddings all over the world, including Spain, Philippines, Peru, India, Italy, Greece, Hawaii, Jamaica, Thailand, Brazil, Barbados, South Africa, as well as across the United States. Gene also teaches and shares his approach to shooting weddings with professional photographers across the country, inspiring a new generation of photographers to reach for the stars. Learn more about Gene at genehiga.com and in Issue No. 2‘s “The Rockstars of Photography” and in Issue No. 9‘s “Gene Higa: Living His Brand”.
Christa Hoffarth
Lake Tahoe photographer Christa Hoffarth began as a photojournalist but was inspired to open her own studio in 2001. Recognized as one of the leading wedding photographers in the country, Christa travels the globe to shoot weddings for her clients. You will also find Christa regularly speaking at professional organizations on topics covering wedding photography, design, and marketing. Christa is the WPPI Buzz Award winner for 2007 in the category of Best Overall Marketing Campaign as well as winning the PPA AN-NE award winner for best Wedding Campaign in 2007. Christa’s work may be viewed at christahoffarthphoto.com and her marketing savvy makes Issue No. 3‘s “Crank up your Branding IQ: Simple Ideas for Developing a Rock-Solid Image” a must-read.
Mindy Harris
Being self-taught in photography doesn’t mean unschooled. In six surprisingly short years, Mindy Harris’ practical and technical knowledge came from much practice and study. “When I first got my camera, I looked up any bit of information I could find about camera settings, aperture, and shutter speed. I spent a lot of time informing myself.” While photography started as just a fun thing to do, she says, “Inspiration and motivation are two intangible qualities that bring everything else into line.” Mindy lives and photographs in sunny Los Angeles, CA. To see more of her amazing images and to contact her for your own session, please visit pastelphotography.com and see more of her work in Issue No. 10‘s “A Family Affair”.
Lena Hyde
Lena Hyde owns and operates a successful boutique studio in Palm Beach and her portrait work is in high demand for celebrities and socialites in Florida and beyond. Before shooting portraits, Lena was an art educator in San Francisco and an art columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Her experimental photography has been internationally exhibited in galleries and museums, including the Southeast Museum of Photography, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Gallery, American Embassy, Harare Zimbabwe, and Casa Fotografia Fuji in Brazil. Lena is a founding member of DesignAglow.com and works with select photography studios around the world as studio consultant.
Barb Uil
Barb Uil’s work has been described by clients and peers as having a childhood cheekiness, editorial flair, and narrative vision. Her simultaneously true-to-life and magical work captures the very essence of childhood whimsy, while her simple yet potent branding is instantly recognizable throughout the photography industry. Her work has been published worldwide in magazines such as Family Circle and Junior and her commercial clients include Australian Capital Tourism, Defense Housing Australia, and Australian Environment Water Heritage & Arts. She has also photographed many children’s clothing brands, including Dirty Laundry, Infancy, Babylicious and Anna Kosturova. Barb lives in the Gold Coast of Australia with her husband Art, their two oft-photographed girls, and travels throughout Australia and the U.S. year round. Discover Jinky Art at jinkyart.com.au. Read more about Barb in Issue No. 1‘s “Being Jinky.”
Nathan and Jessica Johnston
Michigan photographers Nathan and Jessica Johnston create fashion-inspired, photojournalistic images for the stylish bride. Their background in graphic design coupled with a love of film clearly inform the moments they capture. Describing their style as “cinematic weddings and lifestyle photography for the modern minded,” Jessica and Nathan strive to create timeless images as well. Their work has been featured in The Knot Weddings, Photo District News, Brides, and Metro Detroit Bride. Visit jessica-johnston.com and read Issue No. 4‘s “Portrait of Success: Jessica Johnston Photography” to learn more.
Andrea Joki
When Andrea Joki founded Ajaton Joki (“Timeless River”), her goal was simple: she planned to bring international-style portraiture to Helsinki, Finland. Her studied yet always evocative images capture all the wonder of life in a timeless manner. Learn more about Andrea’s work at ajatonjoki.com. Her beautiful post-processing is featured in Issue No. 3‘s tutorial “Textures and Blends: Photoshop Artistry” and in Issue No. 10‘s “Capturing The Heart: Creating Personality in Your Images”.
Anna Kuperberg
Anna Kuperberg is a wedding, portrait, and dog photographer based in San Francisco, CA whose photos have appeared in InStyle, Martha Stewart Weddings, and People. Her fine art photography has been exhibited nationwide and is in the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Art Museum, the St. Louis Art Museum, and the Portland Art Museum. She published the book, Designer Dogs: Portraits and Profiles of Popular New Crossbreeds. Learn more about all things Kuperberg at kuperberg.com. Read more about Anna’s work in Issue No. 3‘s “The Rockstars of Photography” and in Issue No. 7‘s “Dogged Determination”.
Tamara Lackey
Tamara is an award-winning photographer whose images have been described as expressive, authentic, and moving. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including Vogue, O Magazine, Town & Country, Martha Stewart Living, Elle, Inside Weddings, and Parenting magazine. Her photography has also been showcased on the Martha Stewart Show, and she has also been repeatedly profiled in Rangefinder magazine, and she will be featured in an upcoming article in Professional Photographer Magazine. Tamara runs a highly successful, associate-based studio in North Carolina, with an emphasis on portraits, weddings, and editorial work. Released in November, 2008, her new book, The Art of Children’s Portrait Photography (Amherst Media), is currently one of the top 3 best-selling titles in the publisher’s extensive catalogue. Learn more about Tamara’s work at tamaralackey.com. Check her out in Issue No. 4 as she teaches “How To Be Soooo Good With Kids”.
Anna Mayer
Anna Mayer is a much loved and sought after children and family photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area, also now serving the Chicago & Milwaukee region of the Midwest. Anna’s honest, happy images capture the joy and magic of childhood. Her ability to connect with children and families coupled her smart business sense has taken her from a part-time adventure to a full-time studio serving multiple cities across the U.S. within the space of 7 years. Being mother to four active and adventurous children has honed her ability to see life through a child’s eyes and a mother’s heart. Her work continues to inspire clients and fellow photographers alike! Anna and her husband/business partner currently live and go crazy in Milwaukee, WI with their gaggle of offspring. There they are working to build a second market and eventually open another brick-and-mortar studio while continuing to maintain the Los Gatos, California studio via a monthly commute. Enjoy her work at annamayer.com.
Mango Red
Randall and Ryan Dagooc, also known as Mango Red, continue to inspire and excite. Their work has been featured in magazines such as Roam, Status, and Wedding Essentials. They have also reaped accolades locally from the WPPP (Wedding & Portrait Photographers of the Philippines) including second place in the 2006 photo cup (in their first year entering). They also earned Rookie of the Year honors for 2007 from the WPPP. The brothers bagged the first three places in the “Getting Ready” category, the first two places in the “Environmental Portrait” category, third in the “Bride and Groom” category, and first, third, and seventh in the “Prenup” category during the year long contest. See more of their amazing work at mangored.com and in Issue No. 10‘s “The Rockstars of Photography.”
Marianne Drenthe
Marianne Drenthe’s unique brand of children’s portraiture is nationally renowned and distinguished by her use of deep, rich color, ethereal captures in areas of natural beauty and urban decay. These qualities have contributed to make Marmalade Photography’s boutique studio a Chicagoland destination studio of choice. Marianne enjoys life in the ‘burbs with her husband of 15 years and her two beautiful daughters who continue to provide joy and inspiration every moment of every day. This past year has seen the premiere of the highly anticipated and successful See The Light Workshops which are directed at children’s and family photographers who want an injection of inspiration and dose of good sense for their path to success. You can find her work at www.marmaladephotography.com and in Issue No. 6: “The Style Issue”.
Elizabeth Messina
From the time she first picked up a camera at the tender age of twelve, acting as both stylist and posing friends, until the time she began photographing weddings a mere nine or so years ago, Elizabeth Messina has always done things her own way. With a talent for nurturing while nurturing her talent, this native New Yorker is taking a nation by storm with her innovative photography. Now shooting everything from magazine covers to commercial shots, to mommies to be, this renowned wedding photographer’s work can be seen in publications such as Elegant Bride, InStyle Weddings, Us, The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner, OK!, Town & Country Magazine, Modern Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Grace Ormond Wedding Style. Elizabeth was recently named one of the “Top 10 Photographers in the World for 2008” according to American Photo, chosen as one of the “Top 25 Trendsetters of 2008” by Modern Bride, and recently won the grand prize for PDN’s Top Knots 2009. Check her out at elizabethmessina.com and in Issue No. 9‘s “Rockstars of Photography”.
John Michael Cooper
John Michael Cooper, a 22 year photography veteran – shooting things his own damn way. From high volume Vegas style weddings to extravagant events across the country, John first arrived into international attention because of his unconventional approach in conjunction with a “dress unfriendly” concept of art that inspired the current Trash the Dress craze that is consuming brides and changing their views of photography as they know it. Check him out in Issue No. 6‘s “Rockstars of Photography”.
Michelle Moore
Michelle Moore is fashion editorial and high school senior portrait photographer working in both Seattle and Los Angeles. She had the pleasure of shooting her first Magazine Cover last October with 90210 star Jessica Lowndes. Michelle loves helping high school seniors see their inner and outer beauty with her boutique-like portrait experience, and bringing awareness to healthy body image through her fashion and celebrity editorial work. Learn more about Michelle and her photography at www.michellemoore.com and in Issue No. 10‘s “Head of the Class”.
Sara Morris
In addition to opening her premises, Sara Morris was nominated for Indy’s Top Wedding Photographer in 2009, making 2009 a banner year. While she’s a more portrait-based photographer, she has traveled to places like Chicago and Alaska to shoot weddings. She specializes in family, children, high school senior portraits— “modern portraiture with a vintage flair,” and weddings. On her blog, Sara states, “I have had a camera in my hands for as long as I can remember, but that’s not exactly how my storytelling began. I would sit around as a little girl tearing out page after page from fashion magazines, collecting images and pinning them on my overcrowded bulletin board. The colors, the clothing, the scenery, the hand gestures and eye contact…it was the way all the pieces fell together to create the perfect image that truly inspired me. And, that is what still inspires me today, and why I love what I do! I am one of the lucky ones!” Check her out at saramorrisphotography.com and in Issue No. 10‘s “Inside Real Studios”.
Laura Novak
In 2007, Novak was named by Eastman Kodak as one of two “Photographers to Watch” nation-wide and has indeed had many members of the press and public watching as she has grow her business to include several unique services such as affordable children’s portraiture with Little Nest (littlenestphoto.com) and high-end family photography that is carefully integrated into the architecture of her clients’ interior design (lauranovak.com). Laura also has a popular children’s lifestyle blog with a significant following at lauranovakkids.com. View photos of her beautiful studio in Issue No. 3‘s “Inside Real Studios.”
Huy Nyugen
Huy Nguyen is married to Joy with three kids and lives a peaceful life near a quiet lake in Dallas, TX. Between the daily bustle, he enjoys the morning cup of coffee, late night glass of wine (and occasional poker game) and his children’s silliness.
In his past life, Huy has worked for a few major newspapers, the most recent being the Dallas Morning News. Now, he is focused on rocking with wedding world with strange notions, challenging ideas, and innovative projects. Huy is honored to be recognized as the WPJA Photographer of the Year 2005 and one of of American Photo Magazine’s Top Ten Photographers in 2009.
Huy is the founder of The Foundation Workshop and its photographers’ forum, and the The Yin Yang Workshop.He is also available for private workshops and open to requests for teaching seminars. All of Huy’s activities can be found at www.huynow.com and www.f8studio.com
Tanja Lippert
100% film photographer, Tanja Lippert specializes in weddings, fashion, commercial, music & fine art photography. She lives in sunny California, but travels worldwide for photography assignments. Tanja is very passionate and committed to her craft. She loves adventure, creativity, traveling, spontaneity and inspiring others. She’s a dreamer and a hopeless romantic at heart. Tanja thanks God that he has blessed her with creative gifts and abundant love. On top of all that, she is pretty much a big dork!! Tanja’s work has been published all over the world and she feels blessed to get to work every day as an artist. Check out her work at tanjalippertphotography.com and in Issue No. 10‘s “Dork Energy, Chicken Suits and Kamikaze Style”.
Adele and Sean Reding
Adele and Sean Reding live, laugh and love in Elizabethtown, Kentucky along with their two beautiful daughters. Although they hope to take the South by storm with innovative emotional imagery, their biggest priorities will always be God and family. View their work at adeleredingphotography.com and learn about their creative and awe-inspiring style in Issue No. 7‘s “Inside Real Studios”.
Red Leaf
Red Leaf Studios, specializing in intimate weddings and portrait photography, can be found in the vibrant city of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. This husband and wife team was recently featured in Photolife magazine as one of the top 5 Wedding Photographers in Canada. The love they have for each other is closely followed by their love of photography, and this is apparent in their work. Time spent studying the work of Richard and Amy will reveal their captivating lighting and posing style. Visit their website at redleafstudios.ca or their blog at lightandtruth.ca to experience their style first hand. If you are interested in the actions that they have for sale, be sure to visit redleafboutique.com and stop by redleafonlineworkshop.com for their online workshop. Check out their article “Light Years Ahead” in Issue No. 9.
Jay Reilly
Commercial photographer by day. Bass player for The Red Fox Tails by night. Dad all the time. Husband most of the time. Surfer when he has the time. He’s living a fun full creative life and shooting anything between, weddings, editorial assignments and large advertising campaigns. There is no photography assignment too large or small. Visit his website at jayreilly.com and see Jay’s work in Issue No. 7‘s “Life on the Stock Market”.
Heather Rivlin
Toronto child portrait photographer Heather Rivlin specializes in black and white photography for newborns, babies, children, and maternity. With her casual yet classic style, Heather records real moments and provides her clients with heirloom portraiture. She is also the coordinator as well as an affiliate photographer for the Greater Toronto Area Chapter of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing families experiencing the death of a child the opportunity for remembrance photography. View Heather’s portfolio at heatherrivlin.com and read her insightful advice in Issue No. 2‘s “Newborn Photography: A Collection of Truths.”
Sarah Petty
Having come from a small business family where both grandfathers, her father, father- in-law, husband, brother, two sister-in-laws and 1 brother-in-law all own small businesses, Sarah Petty had an advantage entering the world of small business ownership. After watching her father teach full time at a community college while turning his small one-bay auto repair shop into a new, state-of-the art, 17 bay, full-service auto service facility, it taught her that success doesn’t come easy. Her parents taught her to live within her means and that education is always worth the investment. Petty’s education and work experience contributed heavily to her becoming one of the most successful studios in the country and one of the most in-demand speakers on the circuit. Sarah got her feet wet at Central States Coca-Cola in the corporate marketing department where she learned the importance of branding from one of the best brands in the world. During this time, she earned her MBA from the University of Illinois. From a direct marketing firm to becoming marketing director at a top area advertising agency, she spent years helping small businesses grow. Feeling fortunate to hold a camera several hours a week, her primary tasks involve marketing her studio and teaching other photographers how to market their businesses. After a year of planning, she launched Café Joy, a monthly subscription service where she sends ideas and education to her members each month. Sarah talks about branching into higher sales in Issue No. 7‘s “Petty Ambition”.
Jeff and Michelle Richardson
With a motto like “For People Who Like Pictures,” Jeff and Michelle Richardson are the perfect pairing, not only for each other, but for their happy clients as well. When not plying dance goers with sumptuous pre-prom parties, this dynamic duo stays busy running a successful photography studio specializing in wedding photography, seniors, families, prom photographs, children, maternity and more. Their infectious personalities and attention to capturing real photographs have awarded Jeff the Senior Portrait Artist of the Year award in 2005, 2006 and 2008, and Michelle a spot in the Top Ten in America for the past two straight years. For information regarding upcoming workshops and for more information about these compelling photographers, (and to schedule your next photo session or event), please visit Richardsonstudio.net and check them out in Issue No. 9‘s “Not Your Mama’s Prom”.
Sarah Rhoads
Sarah and Chris Rhoads of Sarah Rhoads Photographers are a husband and wife photography team based in Seattle, Washington. Passionate about telling couples’ stories from a “unique artistic perspective,” they are “excited about creating imaginative and honest imagery.” They specialize in wedding photography, shooting nationally and internationally.
In their free time, Sarah and Chris have a mint green Vespa scooter they like to cruise on around town. They enjoy hanging out with friends, going to movies, shows, and going to live music shows. Sarah and Chris have been featured in the following magazines, forums and blogs: Professional Photographer Magazine, May 2009; Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom, Winter 2009; The Knot, Real Weddings; several design blogs; Wedding Inspiration blogs; Southern Wedding blog. Their
own blog was one of the top winners of the Professional Photographers of America’s monthly, Professional Photographers Magazine in a “FreshBlog” competition in June, 2009. Check them out at sarahrhoads.com and in Issue No. 9‘s “Blog”.
Dane Sanders
Meet Dane Sanders – portrait and wedding photographer, husband, lecturer, mentor, father of four, author and positive thinker — at his website, danesanders.com or check out the newly released expanded edition of his book, Fast Track Photographer. Join the conversation at his weekly free podcasts, Ask Dane, Tuesdays, 4:00 pm PST, AskDane.com, where he invites photographers, entrepreneurs, coaches and business people to share their tips and answer questions. Come on, you know you can both learn and contribute.
Carrie Sandoval
“My mom says my love of art was obvious by age two. What started out as finger paints, crayons and Playdoh evolved into oil paints, pencils and then Photoshop.” After receiving a BFA in Graphic Design from California State University Fullerton, Carrie went to work as an Art Director for an advertising agency, a job she truly loved. In July 2000, Carrie made a major career change: she delivered her first healthy baby and became a full time mother. Within weeks, she bought her first point and shoot digital camera. “I spent countless hours staring at my precious miracle, snapping so many pictures because I wanted to absorb and preserve every amazing bit of him.” Becoming a mother was the catalyst that caused her love of photography to blossom. Two years later, after the birth of her twin girls, she decided to get a bit more serious. At the time, consumer-end digital SLR’s were not available and after much debate, she replaced her “point and shoot” camera with a Nikon D100. As a busy new mother, Carrie was unable to attend classes so she dove into research in books and on the internet during nap times. Having a fine art degree, she could easily critique her own work, then practice until she was pleased with the outcome.
Carrie met Brittany Woodall in a children’s photography forum in 2003. They were enamored by each others work and quickly formed a friendship from across the United States. Carrie was especially drawn to Brittany’s work because of her young age. At a mere 16 years old, she had more talent than many well seasoned photographers. Carrie and Brittany met in person for the first time in 2005 and their friendship was validated. They continued to critique each others work on line and grow together. They met in person again in 2006, to welcome Carrie’s 4th child. It was a dream come true for both of them; photographing a newborn together for 2 weeks straight. Their passions were escalated to another level and they both began specializing in newborns., In early 2008 at the age of 21, Brittany moved to southern California to team up with Carrie on photo shoots and to work on their many projects. Since then, Carrie and Brittany have been written up and featured on the cover of “Professional Photographer Magazine” as well as numerous photography publications around the world, worked with Carson Kressley on Nikon’s how-to series “Look Good in Pictures”, been interviewed by the New York Time’s Gadgetwise, worked with high-end baby product companies for their advertising images and have been commisioned by celebrities such as Pink (People Magazine, July 4 2011), Ziggy Marley and Jeff Gordon to photograph their new babies. Carrie and Brittany currently offer “Baby as Art” workshops, teaching their style and techniques to other photographers who are passionate about photographing newborns. Carrie and Brittany plan to publish a fine art gift book titled “Baby as Art”. Learn more at capturedbycarrie.com and in Issue No. 6: “The Style Issue”.
Jasmine Star
Jasmine Star is an international wedding photographer based in Orange County, California. A rising starlet in the industry, Jasmine just completed her second year in business with 80+ weddings under her leather belt, completed a national speaking tour sponsored by ADOBE and Showit, and loves to shoot people. With her camera. Jasmine lives with her husband and fabulous dog, and at times struggles to determine who is her favorite. She loves to eat chocolate, run on the beach, and spends too much time writing on her blog. Jasmine hopes to take the wedding industry by storm. Or learn how to make pot roast. Whichever comes first. Jasmine will be featured in Design Aglow’s Issue No. 8. To see more of her work, visit jasmine-star.com
Susan Stripling
Susan Stripling owns and operates a boutique destination wedding photography business in Tallahassee, Florida and her wedding commissions span the globe–from Wisconsin to North Carolina, New York to Napa, and Columbia to the Caribbean. Her fresh, inspired wedding work can be seen in the pages of The Knot, Modern Bride, Inside Weddings, Bride and Bloom, and the style section of The New York Times. Susan lives in Tallahassee with her husband, their two gorgeous daughters, and their dog. View more of Susan’s work at susanstripling.com. Read about Susan’s post-production workflow in Issue No. 1‘s “Portrait of a Portriat: See How an Image was Created from Start to Finish” and her expertise with destination weddings in Issue No. 7‘s “On Location”.
Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser
Husband and wife photography-team Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser shoot, create, work, play, and laugh together on every job they do. Their passion for creating compelling, fresh images and the joy with which they approach their work is evident in every shot. Clients and photographers alike stalk the the blog is found for their daily dose of The Kaisers’ inspiring images, humor, and absorbing take on the minutiae of everyday life. Learn more about this award-winning duo at theimageisfound.com and in Issue No. 4‘s “Nate Kaiser: The Business is Found.”
Jen Thompson
Jen Thompson aims to capture all that is true (and aesthetically-pleasing!) in both her portrait and graphic design work. She adores simple composition and creating honest images with a documentary flair. Her newest project, Majenta Creative, marries a marketing, advertising, public relations and graphic design agency with Jen’s boutique photography studio. Jen resides in Central Oregon with her paramedic/firefighter husband Jake and their two young boys. Find Jen at jenthompsonphotography.com. Read about Jen’s flair for presentation in Issue No. 2‘s “Be Visible: The Beauty of Marketing.”
Tinywater
Tinywater is not your average photography studio. Celebrated artisan Caroline delights in seriously great photography (but without being too serious). Haute, personable and fabulous, she not only appears on numerous websites and in magazines for her photography, she is one of the nation’s top dog agility competitors as well. Traveling with her Portuguese Water Dogs to shows when she’s not plying her trade with amazing photography, she also spends time fostering rescue dogs or nourishing her foodie and gamer side.
From newborns, to fun, flirty senior sessions, to kids, lifestyle family photos and more, whether vavoom vintage or hot haute couture, Caroline’s genuine love of photography allows her to be true to not only herself, but to who clients truly are: unique works of art. Putting an artistic face on photography, Tinywater embodies the fresh, fun personalities of clients, and delivers energy and charm as addicting as their renowned art. Check out the innovative style at tinywater.com and in Issue No. 10‘s “The Real Deal”.
Justine Ungaro
The daughter of highly acclaimed D.C. photographer, Diana Adams, Justine Ungaro grew up in Washington D.C. and earned a philosophy degree from VA Tech. A year-and-a-half after graduation, she decided to leave corporate America in the dust and devote her full time efforts to a career in photography and has never looked back. Justine cut her creative teeth in the D.C. wedding business and immediately garnered awards from WPPI, Photo District News, Eventpix, the Wedding Photojournalist Association and the coveted title of International Event Photographer of the Year (Esprit Award) from the International Special Events Society in 2005 and 2006. She was also named among Washington D.C.’s top wedding photographers by Washingtonian Magazine from 2003-2007. In late 2006, Justine moved her life and business to Los Angeles, CA where she currently resides with her fiance, a television producer and art director. She continues to travel to D.C. and abroad to shoot a limited number of wedding commissions there each year. In Los Angeles, her photography business is deeply rooted in the music industry, as well as children’s portraiture and weddings. Her style has been called classic yet contemporary, a little vintage, a little rock & roll but clients and fans agree that it is always packed with life and emotion. Learn more about Justine at justineungaro.com and in Issue No. 5 ‘s “Taking Your Sales to the Next Level.”
Erin Vey
Aside from shooting the cover of the October issue of Professional Photographer magazine, Erin Vey ’s work can also be seen on the cover of the Simon and Schuster New York Times Bestselling book Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz. Through her lauded Barkives fine art stock photo selection, she’s worked with a variety of commercial clients including Penguin Press (another image of Gracie will appear a summer 2010 release). Photography by Erin Vey is located in Seattle, Washington, and you can see her fabulous work at erinvey.com and in Issue No. 10‘s “Life’s A Niche”.
Vicki Taufer
Vicki Taufer and her husband, Jed, started V Gallery in the cramped basement of their house at the age of 23. With a focus on artistic portraiture, the business evolved into a 4,000 square foot studio with 8 employees in just 3 years. Vicki attributes a large portion of her success to the high profile image she has created for her portrait gallery. Vicki has spoken to photographers both nationally and internationally, including South Korea. She has been recognized by Kodak as one of the up and coming photographers in the industry. Learn more about Vicki at vgallery.net and in an upcoming issue of Design Aglow.
Nichole Van
Nichole has repeatedly been labeled as a hot, up-and-coming photographer. Notably, Nichole won International 8×10 Portrait of the Year from Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) for 2007. She has taken first, second, and third place honors from WPPI in several of their international print competitions and has won over 30 international accolades for her photography. Nichole was honored in January 2011 as a top ten finalist in Professional Photographers of America’s (PPA) International Grand Imaging Awards in the wedding category. Her work was has been featured on the cover of Rangefinder magazine and she has been profiled in a feature article in Professional Photographer magazine. She has also been featured in numerous local and online publications. Nichole runs the popular Flourish Emporium website which features editing and workflow solutions for photographers. She also provides instruction to other professional photographers with her {life as art} Workshops and has presented classes at WPPI’s international convention, as well as IPPA. Nichole currently holds an Accolade of Outstanding Photographic Achievement from WPPI. She lives in a tiny town in the mountains of Utah with her husband and three children.Visit nicholev.com to see more of Nichole’s work. Nichole’s eye for selecting just the right spot for shooting is apparent in Issue No. 2‘s “The Art of ‘Seeing’ the Perfect Location.”
Jose Villa
People often ask Jose Villa how he developed his style, and how he creates images that stand out in today’s highly competitive wedding market. Well, Jose is a fine art wedding photographer. His approach applies fine art photography to the living, breathing, fast-moving phenomenon that is a wedding. Yes, he does some documentary photography—you need to capture the important moments at a wedding—but he also composes and directs. For Jose, it is all about making something beautiful, even if he has to insert himself into the situation and recreate a moment. Ultimately, his goal is to craft vibrant, energetic, fine art images that are as unique as the people in the photographs. Jose’s work has been seen is Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Inside Weddings, Instyle Weddings, Elegant Bride, Pacific Weddings, Modern Bride, The Knot, American Photo, Rangfinder, PDN photo, and many more. View Jose’s work at josevilla.com and in Issue No. 5 ‘s “Rockstars of Photography.”
Amy Wenzel
Though she wasn’t doing much with the styling end when she got started, Amy ultimately produced images that reflects her
dynamic signature style. Now Wenzel is so much happier for taking the necessary control in order to produce the sort of photographs she wants to produce. While styling comes naturally to Amy, she’s really begun to perfect her skill over the past couple of years, coming into her own in being able to translate what’s in her head to the images she takes. “If you have the style, you learn to develop and master your craft.” Having a niche where one can focus and become the best at one or two things, as opposed as being a best- of-everything type photographer—the Jack of all trades, master of none, is wise advice. “Choose what you love to do and become the best at what you love.” Amy Wenzel, a creative portrait and commercial photographer, has been in photography for five years and operates Amy Wenzel Photography from home, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
She specializes in photography of babies, children, pregnancy, family, senior girls and fashion related commercial projects.
You can visit Amy’s work at swissmissdesignhaus.com and amywenzel.com and see her in Issue No. 11‘s “She’s So Stylin’ – Mastering Photo Props With Amy Wenzel”.
Whitebox Weddings
Sara and Mel are friends, neighbors, and the founding members of the growing whitebox family. This year they added their newest “mascot” to the Whitebox team when Mel and her hubby had their first baby, Mason. They follow their passion to live the life they love. Between juggling being super moms, changing diapers, taking care of the chickens, dogs and cats of the whitebox farm, and making gourmet meals from their own home grown veggies, Sara and Mel still somehow manage to make time to take a few photos here and there! Everyone’s lives are a little crazy these days. They embrace the insanity and capture life as it happens. Check them out at whiteboxblog.com and in Issue No. 9‘s “Outside the Box”.
Tara Whitney
After starting a blog in 2004 simply to keep in touch with family and friends, Tara Whitney soon found her photographs gaining notice from mothers across the nation. Her business has since snowballed into a successful career. Known for her fresh, happy family images, Tara dares to go beyond traditional poses and styles to find the authenticity of her subjects. She prefers to capture her clients in a casual and oftentimes quirky manner, typically following along while they laugh and play together. Living and working in Orange County, Tara counters the sameness of everything by creating images that are far from uniform and that allow every person she photographs to feel unique. You’ll also find Tara shooting in many states across the U.S., traveling to accommodate those clients who aren’t local. View more of Tara’s work at tarawhitney.com and in Issue No. 5‘s “Modern Lifestyle Portraiture.”
Jeff and Julia Woods
Jeff and Julia Woods’ photography is a original blend of photojournalism and lifestyle; as photographers they each have their own style which they enhance by working together to produce a unique perspective. Jeff’s love of fashion and modern culture coupled with Julia’s passion for capturing relationships and stories come together with creative images that showcase their client’s hearts and minds with contemporary urban imagery.
They have developed and implemented acclaimed marketing strategies which are the foundation of their business’s success. They conduct private workshops instructing nationally and internationally recognized photographers in all aspects of studio management, marketing and creative inspiration. They are official spokesmen for Canon USA, Explorer’s of Light.
Jeff and Julia have been honored to have their work recognized by numerous associations. Their albums have been accepted into the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) loan collection, Wedding Print of the Year from Wedding Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) print competition, five Kodak Gallery awards, two Kodak Elite award and eight Fuji Masterpiece awards. They both have received their master and craftsman degrees through Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Their work is regularly featured in Rangefinder, PDN, Professional Photographers of America, American Photographic and The Rainbow trade magazines as well as various technical resource books. Their work is featured in such consumer publications as Grace Ormonde, Martha Stewart Weddings, In Style Weddings, Modern Bride and Bride Magazine.
Jeff and Julia find their career in photography highly rewarding; it allows them to do what they love both professionally and personally. They balance the demands of busy careers with the joy of raising 4 small children in their hometown of Washington, IL. Their studio is located “On the Square” in Washington and is supported by a fabulous staff fully devoted to their wedding and portrait clients. To see their work, visit jeffreyandjuliawoods.com. The Woods are featured in Issue No. 8 of Design Aglow: The Essential Issue.
Audrey Woulard
One of the most sought-after children’s photographers in the Chicagoland area, Audrey Woulard documents the lives of children and their families with a unique sense of style and editorial flair. Working exclusively with natural lighting both on-location and in her downtown Chicago loft, Audrey shoots both portrait and commercial work. Her work has been published in such magazines as InStyle, Better Homes and Gardens photography edition, Chicago, and Chicago Scene. View Audrey’s stunning images at alwphotography.com and in Issue No. 4‘s “Rockstars of Photography.”
Kimberly Wylie
Known for capturing the essence of her subjects in her imagery, Kimberly Wylie has been recognized as one of the nation’s top children’s photographers. Prior to becoming a photographer, Kimberly had a career in the field of investment banking and finance. She attributes a large portion of how she and her best friend and business partner, Jessica Sikes, grew their business to be one of the nations most profitable studios to a strong knowledge of the fundamentals of business and marketing.
Now catering to a discerning client base including celebrities and professional athletes, Kimberly has had the honor of photographing some of the most wonderful families internationally. Working together, it is her joy to create walls of breathtaking art for each family. Kimberly’s work has received multiple awards, including features on “Extreme Makeover Home Edition,” in Professional Photographer magazine, and multiple TV spots and newspapers nationwide. Kimberly also writes occasionally for Professional Photographer, which highlights some of the industry’s most pressing topics. Lastly, Kimberly was awarded the prestigious PPA Master’s Degree in and has been awarded 3 loan collections for her works of children and babies. You can learn more about Kimberly Wylie Photography on facebook and twitter or at their website www.kimberlywylie.com. Also, check out her fine art overlays created exclusively for Design Aglow in the Stroke Of Genius and get her advice in the upcoming product, Selling Without a Studio.
Holli True
Holli True is a high school senior portrait photographer based in Oregon. With a strong passion for working with teens, Holli decided to specialize specifically in senior portraits for girls, giving them the model experience during their photo shoot. For the past two years she has created a boutique photography company unlike anything in her area. Holli’s style of photography is a mix of modern, editorial and fashion with emphasis on bringing out her client’s unique personality and sense of style.
As Holli continues to grow her business, it has naturally moved into the realm of education and mentorships. She hosts her own Workshops entitled “Be Inspired”, the focus of the workshop is posing, lighting and running a successful senior portrait business. In November 2011, she released “Field Notes: Workshop in a Book” a complete guide to senior portrait photography, available on her site. Holli was also asked to be one of the key speakers on the Seniorologie Tour, traveling to cities all over the US in 2012. Learn styling tips from Holli in Design Aglow’s Style Guides for Seniors, Families & Engagements.
Spanki Mills
The girl named Spanki. Yes. Spanki. It was her dads nickname and well, there was a lot of love and little thinking and a birth certificate with a name, and there you have it. Once you meet her, you will soon know there was no other name for her…she is Spanki. She knew at a young age she was an artist, although it might have been her report card grades in math and english that clued her in, but none the less she was born to create. Spanki started her career as a professional faux painter, but quickly noticed her love for photography and slowly watched her work evolve as she seems to paint the colors into her images. Her personality is bold, fun, and outgoing and that shows through her images. Spanki is a well known senior photographer, but being as she has four kids of her own, she equally enjoys a fun family session. Spanki has struggled with the business side of photography just like most and after a year of missing out on a lot of family time, she decided to rework her business structure and now teaches and mentors others who feel beat by the job they want to love. To see more of Spanki’s work visit her at spankimillsphotography.com and learn some of her styling tips from the Design Aglow Style Guides for Seniors, Families & Engagements.
Michelle Huesgen
Michelle Huesgen of Untamed Heart Photography is a photographer of all things lovely. Children, weddings, seniors, commercial…she loves it all. Raised in a small town, she was surrounded by rugged nature and the simple life. As a child she spent many afternoons driving along the countryside admiring the colors and landscapes of the great outdoors or traipsing barefoot through the creeks exploring run down shacks. Today she strives to bring those colors and landscapes into her portraits. She believes in magic and mystery, simple beauty and eclectic style, but above all she believes in love. The rolling laughter, profound happiness and undeniable passion that are forever found in its presence, are felt through her work. See her amazing work in the Luxe Wedding Studio Magazine and learn some of her styling tips from the Design Aglow Style Guides for Seniors, Families & Engagements.