This spotlight is on Catherine of Vanilla Tree Photography.
What do you like most about photography?
Tough question! There are so many reasons
why I love photography!
But I think the thing I like very most is
that I can take something ordinary and turn it into
something extraordinary.
That I can take something seemingly small
and insignificant and make it into
a beautiful piece of art.
Having a child with autism has made me
learn to appreciate the very small things and
to see the beauty in things that I might otherwise
take for granted. And perhaps that's why this is
what I like most about photography.
Do you have a specialty or a favorite subject to shoot?
I really love newborns and models.
I know, pretty much totally opposite!
But, there you have it.
I don't particularly have a specialty.
I get a lot of babies and kids,
some families and some special needs kids.
I have worked with several boutiques
taking photos of their products on models.
I am happy to do seniors, couples, maternities,
glamour/beauty, and bridals too.
I also like doing landscapes, nature, still life,
horses, and lifestyle.
I know you're not supposed to be a jack of all trades,
but my brain gets too bored just doing one thing all the
time, so I do lots of things. I like it that way.
One thing I will not do, weddings!!
P.S. I started trying my hand at fine art photos,
I'm addicted!
What got you started with photography?
How long have you been shooting professionally?
I have always been a picture taker, seriously!
My parents bought me a little point and shoot (film) camera
when I was 10-ish. I always liked trying to take landscape
and nature shots throughout the years.
However, I never thought
of photography as a future career for myself.
In fact, I have a degree in Economics,
not even close to photography!!
Like many out there, after having kids I wanted to
learn to take better photos of them.
I got out our dslr that my husband had
bought but we had never really used
in the year or so we had it because we
never tried to figure it out and it frustrated us.
(You're welcome for that run on sentence).
I decided to figure that crazy camera out!
I read some online tutorials and learned
what aperture, shutter speed, and iso were.
And then I just started playing with the camera!
I also decided to take an online course on
photographing people. Nothing fancy, just the
basics. And I started trying to figure out how to
edit photos in photoshop. I knew graphic design,
but not photo editing.
Sooo, long story short, I asked for volunteers to
help me practice for that online class I previously mentioned.
Of course everyone volunteers for that, right?!
Soon I had people asking me to take photos for them.
I decided, hey, I'll just do it for fun and charge a small fee.
(Yep, I was one of 'those' photographers).
But I quickly learned that as I was getting better,
I needed to start charging more and perhaps
maybe I should turn it into a business.
(If you're worried about me paying taxes, I already
had a business license because I already had
another business, so don't worry).
And that was nearly 3 years ago that I
'officially' started my business.
My original name was Vanilla Buttercup Photography.
I changed it last year to Vanilla Tree Photography.
Wow, I talk a lot, sorry!
What’s your favorite editing tool/action?
Oh goodness, so many!
I'd probably have to say the Curves tool.
It's such a powerful tool and you can
accomplish so much with it!
What's your favorite lens to shoot with?
I have 3 lenses I shoot with.
In my studio either my 35mm 2.8
or my 50mm 1.8.
Outside I use my 50-200mm 4-5.6 most of the time.
On my wish list, 77mm 1.8 (only $1050, yikes)!
Do you have any advice or tips for amateurs?
Do what you love, love what you do.
Practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more.
Learn about light. How to use it, how to control it.
Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle.
(Well, don't compare yourself to anyone else at all, really).
Never look down on someone unless you are helping them up.
Stop shooting in auto mode and learn that dslr!
Did I mention practice?
Work hard and be nice to people.
Dreams take work to come true.
Ask for a critique of your work and be prepared to take it.
Try everything and figure out what works best for you.
Listen to music while you edit photos.
Your family is important, don't forget them!
Did I mention practice.....?
Here are some photos from Catherine.
