Inspired, A Very Special Project | Deb Schwedhelm Photography

I absolutely doing these interviews. The end of the year got a bit crazy for everyone and this project slipped just a tad but the great news is we have a full roster for 2013. This project indeed will go on. Truthfully I was wondering if I should save this to kick off the new year but I couldn’t resist. Deb is so inspiring. She is one of my favorite photographers and one of the most wonderful people I have had the pleasure of getting to know. Her work speaks volumes and never fails to blow me away.  There is so much soul jam packed into every single image she shares.  I always come away feeling inspired and uplifted.  I just love this woman! I have no doubt you will too if you don’t already!
You can find Deb’s Website HERE, and her Facebook page HERE.

How would you describe yourself in three sentences?

I’m a mother, wife and artist. Photography feeds my soul and I absolutely believe it’s what I’m meant to do in life. I am dedicated, hard working, stubborn and I dream of great things!

What sparked your passion for photography?

I had ALWAYS loved taking snapshots but what honestly started my journey in photography was…rats, maggots and flies. Let me explain. 😉 We had a San Diego housing situation, October through December 2005, that involved rats in the attic space, maggots dropping from all our ceiling vents and thousands of flies (at one point, I vacuumed up 200 flies in two hours). We were reimbursed two months of rent for our hardship and it was with that money that I purchased my first DSLR (in January 2006) and began teaching myself photography. And I’ve never looked back!

I also have to acknowledge and thank my supportive husband for having faith in me and encouraging me to take the leap.

What’s in your camera bag?

Nikon D3S
35mm f/1.4
50mm f/1.4
24-70mm f/2.8
Lensbaby composer with double glass optic

For in-the-water shooting:
Nikon D700
35mm f/2.0
SPL underwater housing

I also have a lot of film cameras and equipment; however, they are sadly just gathering dust on my shelves.

What camera/equipment did you start out with?

Canon 20D
24-70mm f/2.8

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

Out of the water: Right now, I’m totally into my 35mm f/1.4, which I recently purchased. It rarely is off of my camera. But I also love my 50mm f/1.4.

In the water: It’s my 35mm f/2.0 because that’s the only lens that will fit in my housing.

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

Work really hard. Allow yourself time to learn and grow — be patient. Don’t get caught up in or worked up about what everyone else is doing. Always remember that you are unique — the true art of photography comes from within and there’s no other you out there.

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

It was absolutely Sally Mann – pretty much from day one of my photography journey.

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

I’m so passionate about shooting in the water and it seems that it’s all I want to do lately.

Describe your style in 3 words.

Raw, intimate, evocative

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

It is challenging to move every 2-3 years, especially when it comes to restarting a portrait business with each move. However, I also feel that moving has fostered so much growth in photography. So I guess I should say that I welcome the challenge. 😉

Favorite time of day to shoot is?

The last 15-20 minutes before sunset.

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

I have no idea.

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

I have no formal education in photography; however, I do have a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Nursing.

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

We talk. We laugh. We play. And I am always honest and respectful. If they need time to get comfortable with me, I give them that time.

What are your photography related goals for 2012?

I really want to continue to work on my underwater personal project as much as possible, before we leave Tampa in July 2013 or June 2014 (departure date depends on where my husband’s next assignment is). And I dream of one day having a solo show.

How do you push yourself to keep growing and learning?

One of the ways I push myself to keep learning and growing is to simply keep shooting. And that’s not always easy. There are times when I’m in a funk, I think I suck and I don’t feel like picking up the camera – and it’s during those times when I have to push the hardest.

Any big ‘aha!’ moments?

One of my biggest ‘aha’ moments was at Cheryl Jacobs workshop, which thankfully was early on in my photography journey. I was sharing with her that I felt different than everyone else and that I didn’t fit in [amongst the other photographers in the forums I was participating in]. She told me I was on the right track and to just keep doing my thing. She encouraged me to just keep shooting and embrace those differences.

This photo was taken from my first client session, back in 2006. It’s one of the photos I brought to CJ’s workshop. And it still remains one of my favorites.

Biggest photography related insecurity?

That I’m not able to keep doing it. That I’m not going to be able to create another photograph that speaks to me and I deeply love. That my best work is behind me.

Digital or Prints?

Prints. Huge prints.

How do you set yourself apart from other local photographers?

I don’t really worry about it. There is no other me (nor you) out there! By being true to ourselves and embracing what makes us (and our work) unique, we naturally set ourselves apart from the rest.

If you had to recommend ONE thing that a photographer needs in their camera bag what would that be?

A great prime lens.

What would you say your biggest muse is?

Without a doubt, my children.

Fun stuff:

Favorite Color: black
Favorite Season: Depends where we’re living at the time. Here in Tampa, my favorite season is winter. Every other season is too hot and humid.
Biggest Guilty Pleasure: coffee
Pet Peeve: annoying repetitive sounds
Favorite Pandora Station: Mumford & Sons
Studio or on location: definitely on location
What did you want to be when you grew up? a doctor or an accountant
One thing no one knows about you is: I had two AV nodes, which caused my heart would race (190-200) for hours. In 2002, I had a cardiac ablation and they burnt the extra AV node and one other spot on my heart.
Pc or Mac: Mac
Lightroom Or Photoshop: both
Film or Digital: digital
Props or No Props: no props
If you could travel anywhere it would be: anywhere…I really love traveling.
Glass Half Empty or Half Full: definitely half full
Raw or Jpeg: raw
Most valued material possession: either my annual family books or my Drobo (it’s where all my family’s photos are)
Processing Style: black & whites are rich and sometimes moody. color is minimal and natural.
Coffee or Tea: coffee!
If you could photograph a celebrity who would it be? Sally Mann because she’s been such an inspiration in my photography journey. I really do hope to meet her someday.
What kind of camera bag do you rock? Not sure I really rock it, but I love my BUILT cargo camera bag.

Favorite photo ever taken:
This one. It’s speaking to me the most right now.

Favorite quote:
I have always loved and been inspired by these awesome words from Cheryl Jacobs-Nicolai:

What Every Aspiring Photographer Should Know
– Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don’t look outward for your style; look inward.
– Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It’s like money; you only have it when you don’t need it.
– Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a consensus.
– Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don’t fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you’re stressed and anxious.
– Learn to say “I’m a photographer” out loud with a straight face. If you can’t say it and believe it, you can’t expect anyone else to, either.
– You cannot specialize in everything.
– You don’t have to go into business just because people tell you you should! And you don’t have to be full time and making an executive income to be successful. If you decide you want to be in business, set your limits before you begin.
– Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don’t, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that’s tough.
– Accept critique, but don’t apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn’t not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.
– Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business “Precious Chubby Tootsies”….but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?
– Remember that if your work looks like everyone else’s, there’s no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you’re cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as “the cheaper photographer”.
– Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.
– It’s easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you’ve got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don’t spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you’ve outgrown your current equipment and you’re being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.
– Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.
– Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.
– Never compare your journey with someone else’s. It’s a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never “arrive”. No one ever does.
– Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacency.