Inspired, A Very Special Project | April Nienhuis Photography

Oh where do I begin to express how much I adore April and her work!! Her amazing eye for lifestyle, her beautiful processing and black and white images and the mood she sets in her imagery is incredible.  Just in love.  She is so hardworking and so generous with her time.  I had the pleasure of hanging with her a little bit at WPPI and she is just as personable and fun in person as she is online!! I can’t wait to show her off! Here we go!

You Can find her Website HERE and her Facebook Page HERE.

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

I’m laid back, determined, and quiet. I know that sounds like an oxy-moron but while I can very easily just go with the flow when I put my mind to something there’s no stopping me. My goals tend to push me out of my shell.

What sparked your passion for Photography?

Like so many out there I’ve always loved photography but I never really learned about it until my first daughter, Layla, was born almost 6 years ago. I wanted to take good everyday pictures of her but couldn’t so I scoured the internet reading everything I could and haven’t stopped since.

Whats in your camera bag?

Canon 5d Mark II, 100L, 35L, 45 tilt-shift, and a 580 ex II speedlite

 

What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?

Nikon D50 and two zooms that were on my previous film camera.

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

Depends on the subject. When I second shoot weddings I use the 100L about 95% of the time and when I’m photographing my kids I’m usually using the 35L.

 

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

Don’t feel pressured to go into business because everyone says you should. Operating a photography business is extremely hard and time consuming and you really have to want it to succeed.

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

I honestly can’t remember for sure. I can say that I have loved the work of Bobbi + Mike for a very long time and still do.

 

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

Most of what I shoot is for myself as my only clients are when I second shoot weddings. I love to photograph my children just being themselves in their natural surroundings. I also love nature and enjoy laying in the grass to get an awesome new macro shot and I’d love to explore landscapes more.

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

I’d love to photograph my great grandmother. Particularly, I’d love to go back in time and photograph the one and only time that my great grandmother got to meet and hold my youngest child. I knew I should have brought my camera with me to the nursing home that day but I went against my instincts. Never again.

 

Describe your style in 3 words.

simple, minimalistic, natural

 

Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?

I don’t think I’ve done anything too embarrassing but at the last wedding as we were finishing up bride and groom portraits in the first location I tripped in a hole and fell to the ground. It took me a minute to get up but all was well.

 

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

Time. With three small children it can be difficult to find the time to spend studying photography and expanding my knowledge. I could very easily just be satisfied with the work I produce and let my growth be dormant but I refuse to let that happen and even if it’s only for 10 minutes a day that I find the time to study.

Favorite time of day to shoot is?

I can’t really choose a favorite time as I love them all for the variety in light that is produced. I do have particular places that I love to shoot at certain times during the day though.

 

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

I would love to be a storm chaser. I know, I’m a little crazy.

 

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

No. I’ve never taken any photography courses or workshops. About 90% of my education has come from the things I’ve read on Clickinmoms and from the woman I second shoot for, Andrea Murphy (and today is her birthday so Happy Birthday Andrea!).

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

This isn’t too much of an issue for me since I generally second shoot and tend to observe and watch from the background. However, when I do occasionally photograph someone other than my children I just like to make the subjects feel silly which in turn results in great, natural smiles and laughter.

What are your photography related goals for 2012?

One of my big goals is to study light more, explore natural light and modifying it more in depth along with learning about off camera lighting techniques. I’m also obsessed with posing right now and what works and doesn’t work for different body shapes and facial features.

 

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

I’m rather competitive so that ‘fault’ in myself manages to push me to constantly compete with images that I’ve taken in the past and to create better.

Biggest photography related insecurity?

My lack of knowledge when it comes to using off camera flash. I’m very comfortable with on camera flash but would feel so much more secure with off camera flash knowledge. It’s on my list to learn though.

Digital or Prints?

For myself? Prints, they make my heart happy. I love looking at the digital images on my hard drive but nothing compares to seeing prints on my wall of the people I love the most.

 

If you could change one thing about the Photography industry what would it be?

The negativity. There’s a lot of it out there right now and I wish it would stop. The photography community is what we the photographers make it and a little positivity and encouragement will go a long way.

 

What is the one thing you couldn’t live without in your Camera bag?

Other than my camera and lenses I would have to say my reflector. I love the look that a reflector provides.

Fun stuff:

Favorite Color:
None. I truly love them all.

Favorite Season:
Spring. I love the thought of starting over with a clean slate just like nature does every spring.

Biggest Guilty Pleasure:
Baked goods. I love to sit down with a slice of cheesecake, a giant cupcake, or a pile of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Pet Peeve:
Gum chewing. Hearing someone smack gum is just as gross as watching someone talk with their mouth full of food.

Favorite Pandora Station:
I rarely listen to the radio but I love any generation and genre other than heavy metal. It really depends on my mood.

Studio or On location:
Location.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn’t want to be anything really. I didn’t have any goals or ambitions. I admire those who find their passions early on in life.

One thing no one knows about you is:
I’m not a fan of icing but love cake. On the rare occasion that Andrea and I have a slice of cake at a wedding we’re shooting we split it, she eats the icing and I eat the cake.

Pc or Mac:
PC

Lightroom Or Photoshop:
Both. All culling and initial edits are in LR but I do all my final tweaking in PS.

Film or Digital:
Digital. I admire many film photographers and would love to learn about it more sometime in the future.

Props or No Props:
No props unless it’s a lovey or something else super special.

If you could travel anywhere it would be:
I’ve always wanted to go to Australia. I’m not sure why but I’ve dreamed about it since I was a little girl.

Glass Half Empty or Half Full:
Half full

Favorite photo ever taken:
I have a lot of favorites for many reasons but I think my most favorite would be this one of my three children. There was no set up for the shot involved as I was just testing the light in this particular location, my daughter’s room, and they all ran over, sat on the bed, and begged me to take their pictures. They’re expressions, including my youngest in mid run to see the picture on the LCD screen, and the fact that they’re only half dressed are 100% them.

Raw or Jpeg:
RAW

Favorite Music to Edit to:
None. I’m a rare breed and work better in silence.

Favorite Quote:
Not necessarily a quote but I love the Robert Frost poem The Road Not Taken. I mean, who wants to take the same path in life that everyone else has?

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Most valued material possession:
A quilt that my great, great grandmother made me. There is no monetary value for that beautiful compilation of material.

Processing Style:
I feel like my style is clean with a film-like twist to it. Is that even possible?

Coffee or Tea:
Neither. Can I have a coke instead?

If you could photograph a Celebrity who would it be?
I’d love to photograph someone funny and expressive like Jack Black.

What kind of Camera bag do you rock?
I use a shootsac when I’m second shooting weddings but I’m currently in the market for something that will also hold my camera body. Any suggestions?