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Posted on July 29, 2011

I am so excited to start “Fotog Feature Friday” where I will be featuring one of my favorite photographers every Friday! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I know I will! So first up on the list is the extremely talented, Julie Paisley of Julie Paisley Photography! Many of you know of her work, for those that don’t you should definitely check her out! I have admired Julie’s work for quite some time, so when she agreed to be featured on my blog I was super excited! Julie has an amazing use of light! You will see exactly what I mean as you read through her interview! So without further adieu, ladies and gentlemen, Julie Paisley:

 

Julie is the mother to two miracle children; a 13 year old daughter whom she adopted from Russia, and a 10 year old boy who she was also blessed with! She has been married to her wonderful husband for 18 years and he is also her business partner! Her family is very involved in church and she gives all the credit of her successful business to God. Julie never meets a stranger! She is extremely out going, and I can tell you from personal experience…a total sweetheart! She loves life, friends {& yes…Facebook friends are REAL to her hehe}, anything vintage, & cupcakes! It is a tradition of hers to eat cake at every wedding. Julie’s dream is to live in a big farmhouse with fields of wildflowers and a really cool barn!

 

How long have you been shooting? Professionally it’s been almost 2 years!

What made you want to become a photographer? I HATE studios!  When we would go, it was soooo stressful and to be honest, we went several years
without having professional pictures made! When we lived in Naples, FL were were “gifted” with a lifestyle photography session, I fell in LOVE
and I knew if we could ever afford to invest in the business, this is what I was going to do!  It took me 6 years to get to that point but I’m so happy I made the plunge!

What does Photography mean to you? Wow…big question…to me there is NO PRICE on good photos!  It means the world to me, my photos of my family are my most prized possessions…I ADORE pictures, every time I look back on them memories all come flooding back…being a photographer is the most amazing  job ever…seriously!

What struggles have you faced along the road to the success you now have? I think the biggest struggle is dealing with people…there are some mean ones out there!  When I first started I was torn apart for the being the “new kid on the block” and “having cheap prices”.  Now I’m established and “I’m too big for my britches” (sorry, that’s a southern term, lol) I take my photography very serious, it is my baby, my heart and soul is in it and when someone takes a stab at me, my photos, my clients, it hurts.  It has been a big challenge for me to ignore what people say and think and just do what I love.  I have also struggled with balance.  Having a business and being a wife and mommy is hard work…I work on this daily!

What’s in your bag? My Nikon D700, my 50 1.4, my 35 1.4 and my 85 1.4

What is your favorite piece of gear? All of the above! LOL!

Where do you draw your inspiration? From EVERYWHERE!  Seriously, my eyes are always open!

Describe your style in 3 words: 3 words, really? LOL! Ok…here goes…Romantic, Whimsical, Vintage-Chic (haha, I cheated a bit)

Ideally, how many sessions do you take on a month? I would like to keep it at 16, but sometimes it’s more (I’m really trying though!)

What’s the secret to balancing family life & business life? When you find that one out, please let me know! LOL!  I think the secret is just put your family first…set business hours, schedule time off and stick to it. It’s so hard, I battle this daily!

Which photographer, if you had to just pick one, would you say inspires you the most? Joy from Wildflowers Photography…I seriously LOVE her and
so happy to call her my friend!

Name one photography trend that drives you insane! Just one? LOL…ok, here goes, selective color…

Any secrets, tips, or tricks for getting that perfect shot? Just relax and let your subject be themselves.  Play with the kids, talk with your clients, make them feel relaxed and in turn you will get that shot…Oh and I have to have good light…it’s a must!

What is your favorite subject to work with? Newborns…LOVE them!

What advice would you give to beginners in the photography business? Find your style and practice, practice, practice!  I also highly recommend workshops, hands-on learning is the BEST!

 

Be sure to check out more of Julie’s work at the following:

www.juliepaisleyphotography.com

https://www.facebook.com/juliepaisleyphotography

 

To keep up with future “Fotog Feature Friday” posts, please “like” my fan page on Facebook! I will keep everyone informed of new posts on there!

www.facebook.com/DesiraeToddPhotography

 

 

 

Posted on July 25, 2011

I just love seeing little Miss Charis every 3 months for her sessions! It is incredible to see how much she grows within that short period of time! Charis was FULL of smiles and silly faces this go around and just kept me laughing! I can’t wait to see her again at her 1 year session!

Posted on July 15, 2011

Please feel free to share this video, but kindly link back to me! {DTP Actions & Design fan page is best!} If you would like to see more of these short video tutorials, please comment below and let me know what else you would love to see! Enjoy!

Posted on July 12, 2011

I had prepared myself for the worst when I arrived at little Parker’s house and his grandma and daddy told me that he was not a happy camper that day! Normally, this means that I’m going to be given quite a fight to get the shots that I want. Parker completely surprised me! Within 5 minutes of me getting him he was the happiest little guy! He fell asleep within 15 minutes and slept hard as a rock! I guess all that work mommy and daddy put in before I got him paid off! Parker is part of my “Watch Me Grow” plan! I can’t wait to work with this little cutie again when he turns 6 months!