Inspired, A Very Special Project | Lisa Holloway of LJ Holloway Photography

Two photographers featured this week!! Absolutely feel so blessed to be able to feature two such AMAZING women here in such a short time span! If you missed Tuesday’s feature with Joy of Wildflowers Photography you don’t want to miss it! You can find it right HERE. You can also find information by going back through the January archives and looking up ALL the talented photographers we have featured here so far. You will not be disappointed! I seriously can not tell you what a dream this has been for me. I am in total awe of the amazing people I have had the honor of contacting and interviewing here. Incredibly in love with each and every story and image they have so openly shared!

This Week we have the INCREDIBLE Lisa Holloway! Lisa is one of my biggest photography crushes. I am so beyond excited to share her with you here. I have been following her work for roughly a year and a half now. I found her first on Ilovephotography.com. Her work is rich, full of color and life and vibrancy. She captures a wide range of emotion from moody to completely joyful. I am SO excited to meet her at WPPI in Vegas and then come to her neck of the woods in Arizona in the Spring to trade family sessions. In addition to her outstanding talent for photography she is also a mother of NINE children. Yes NINE! Seriously amazing. I am always in awe of how she balances it all.  Aside from all that she is just a wonderful person. She is quick to share information and a little birdie told me she may be hosting a workshop which if it does come to fruition I will find a way to attend!!

The best way to really get my point across here is to show ya! So here we go!!

You can find Lisa’s Website HERE and her Blog HERE

Hello Gorgeous Lisa!

You can say “Hi!” to her on Facebook right HERE.

Lets get to know you! How would you describe yourself in three sentences?

First and foremost, I’m a wife to my wonderful husband, Jeff, and the mother of 9 amazing, crazy kids; our house is NEVER quiet!  I love everything outdoors; the mountains, the ocean, hiking, camping, exploring new places…taking that dirt road that you can only see on the topographical map.  When it comes to my photography, I’m crazy stubborn, a perfectionist, and strive to see into the very soul of my subjects…the camera and lens in the right hands can truly work magic and reveal so much more than just a pretty picture.

What sparked your passion for Photography?

I’ve always loved it!  Pictures have fascinated me for as long as I can remember.  National Geographic has always been my favorite magazine…I love being lifted off to another time and place.  My passion for portraits kicked into high gear when my 5th child, Adrian was a baby.  I saw some amazing work done by other photographers and decided that I wanted to do that, only better!  And thus began my crazy obsession.

Whats in your camera bag?

I shoot with the Canon 5D Mark II and have the Canon 40D as my trusty backup.  Lenses include the 85mm 1.2L, 70-200mm 2.8L II, 16 36mm 2.8L II, 50mm 1.4, 100mm 2.8 macro, 90mm TS, and the Lensbaby Composer.

 

What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?

I started out with the Canon 40D and the kit lens that came with it (the 28-135).

 

If you could only use one lens an entire session which one would you choose and why?

I would choose my 70-200L, hands down!  I LOVE the creamy bokeh and super sharp images it produces.  It’s my favorite lens!

What advice would go give to someone just beginning in photography and hoping to have a business of their own?

I would advise people to REALLY get to know the technical ins and outs of their equipment, AND photographing people before they decide to walk the business path.  I think they should really strive to develop their own style.  The business side of things isn’t nearly as fun as the photography side, so it’s something to really think about and consider before taking that leap.  Once you cross over to being a business, there are so many more things to think about other than just taking pictures.  It’s sometimes hard to find that balance.

 

What was your first official Photographer crush if you had one?

Ansel Adams!

 

What kind of photos do you like to take for just yourself when not working with clients?

I love dreamy, moody types of images; images that make you stop and think. Images that can be interpreted in many ways and sometimes even images that make people a bit uncomfortable because of the variety of possible interpretations.  I love the natural world and I love pictures that look like they walked off the page of a fairy tale story…I’ve always been inspired by the fantasy world.

 

If you could photograph absolutely anyone who would it be dead or alive?

Cleopatra!  Without a doubt!

 

Describe your style in 3 words.

Moody.  Intense.  Soul seeking.  (Ok, that’s 4…I cheated…LOL)

Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?

I haven’t had anything too terrible happen *knock on wood*, but there was that one time I tried to jump over a little stream and landed in it, instead. LOL

Any challenges you have had to overcome to be where you are today?

My BIGGEST challenge has been finding the time to mesh my love for photography and my business with my family duties.  Finding that balance is a never-ending struggle.

Favorite time of day to shoot is?

I love the last 2 hours before sunset; who doesn’t?

If you had to stop taking photos right now, what would you do instead?

Some dream jobs include being an Egyptologist or an astronomer.  I’m fascinated by the ancient past, and the unknowns in our universe.

Have you attended college or had any formal education in Photography?

No, and no.

What do you do to get your clients to relax with you?

I talk to them!  It’s kind of funny, because I’m honestly a pretty quiet, and shy person, but I open up when I’m working.  I have no problem making fun of myself or acting like a complete goof; whatever it takes!  I think I come across as a real, easy going, and relatable person.

What are your photography related goals for 2012?

I’d love to have more sessions this year!  I especially love working with high school seniors and hope to do more of those sessions.  I want to keep up with my personal work and photograph my own as much as possible, especially my little Elliott’s first year of life.  Babies grow and change at such an amazingly fast rate, and I don’t want to miss any of it!

How do you push yourself to keep growing and learning? Any Big Aha! Moments?

I try to take my camera out and shoot often!  If I come up with some bizarre, crazy idea, I really try to bring it to fruition.  My BIGGEST AHA! moment happened several years ago when I was told that my lighting was ‘flat’…it was then and there that using directional lighting clicked in my head.  I’m always trying to find new ways to put it into practice.

Biggest Photography related insecurity?

My biggest insecurity lies more in the business side of things vs the actual photography itself.  I sometimes feel that for the time I put into it; I should be making more money than I do.  I don’t think I’m that great of a business woman.

Digital or Prints?

Prints are what I like, but ironically, I sell digital.

How long does your processing usually take you?

I can take anywhere from 2 or 3 minutes to do a simple edit, to upwards of 30 or even more minutes for a more involved edit.  One thing is certain; I’m a nit-picky perfectionist when it comes to editing and will often come back days later and revise previous edits until they are just right.

What is your favorite kind of location to shoot in?

I LOVE the great outdoors…I love beautiful back lighting and I love moody directional lighting.  If I can find a place that has all 3, I am in heaven!  And yes, I do have such places up my sleeve. 😉

If you could trade places with another photog for a day who would it be?

I’d LOVE to trade places with Annie Leibovitz for a day…she really gets to shoot some amazing people and pushes the envelope frequently.  Love that about her!

How the heck do you do it all with NINE kids?! I am in total awe of you!!

I don’t know! LOL  I don’t feel like I’m all that successful at it…if I’m busy with photography, my house suffers.  If my photography is going slow, I feel like my creative side suffers.  It’s hard finding a balance!  And I SO wish there were more hours in the day!

Favorite photo ever taken:

I think it’s honestly impossible to choose one favorite photo.  They change frequently and I definitely have more than one.  You ask such tricky questions, girly! <3

Fun stuff:

Favorite Color: turquoise

Favorite Season: fall

Biggest Guilty Pleasure: Coffee and cinnamon toast

Pet Peeve: Oh gosh, don’t get me started.  Just one?  Ok, people who are ‘open for business’ before they are clearly ready.  I find new ones every day and it drives me batty.

Favorite Day of the Week: Friday

Favorite Pandora Station: Any one of my many 80’s stations I’ve created. Sheesh, I’m getting old!

Studio or On location: On location.

What did you want to be when you grew up? A veterinarian, archaeologist, or astronomer. (I’d still love to be an archaeologist or astronomer).

One thing no one knows about you is: I was allowed to operate a nuclear power plant in a past life…scary, isn’t it? LOL  Seriously though, I was a Navy trained nuclear electrician before I became a Mom and photographer.

Pc or Mac: PC

Lightroom Or Photoshop: BOTH.

Film or Digital: Digital.

Props or No Props: No props.

If you could travel anywhere it would be: Egypt.

Glass Half Empty or Half Full:  Sadly, half empty.  I’m a bit of a pessimist and need to work on that!

Raw or Jpeg: Raw.

Favorite Music to Edit to: Either 80’s music, or more New Age

stuff…think Enya, nature music, etc.

Favorite Quote: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.”

Most valued material possession: My camera gear, hands down.

Processing Style: Rich and moody.

Coffee or Tea: Coffee.

If you could photograph a Celebrity who would it be? The Duggars! I’ve already done the Masche sextuplets (at age 2 no less) so what’s a few more? LOL

What kind of Camera bag do you rock? I have the Epiphanie ‘Belle’…love it and especially love that it is in my favorite color!

That was fun!!! Seriously LOVE her. Isn’t she amazing?!

I can’t wait for next week’s photography feature! It will resume next Thursday! I hope you enjoyed!!

Coming up we still have interviews from Jasmine Star, Bobbi + Mike, Amy Lucy, LoraLee Swinson, Denne Boring, Kelley Ryden, Emma Wood and More!!