Inspired, A Very Special Project | Brenda Acuncius Photography

One of my VERY favorite photographers are up today and I am besides myself to get to feature Brenda Acuncius! She is one of the brain children behind not only The Bloom Workshops and F2F workshops but The Bloom Forum itself. She was one of the first photographers I fell in love with and now am blessed to call a friend! Her work is beautiful but also is so poignant and unique and all her own. Whether she is indoors in her studio or outdoors her vision is fantastically fun and completely one of a kind. I can’t wait to show her off today!! Let’s get to know her a bit better!!

You Can Find Brenda’s Website HERE, Blog HERE and Her Facebook Fan Page HERE. You can find her Pinterest HERE. And for information on Bloom you can find their Website HERE, Fan Page HERE, and Blog HERE.

Hi Beautiful Brenda!!

Photo Credit: Laura Siebert of Eye Smiles Photography.

Let’s get to know you! How would you describe yourself in three sentences?

Oh my…let’s see. I’m determined, driven and a bit of a dreamer. If we are friends, we are friends for live and you can depend on me. I adore my family and would give my left leg to protect them. LOL!!

What sparked your passion for Photography?

Definitely when my first child was born (Gracie). I just wanted to freeze special moments of her. Then I discovered scrapbooking. That basically was the catalyst to pick up a camera (or in my case my point and shoot) and start documenting her. But failed miserably at the scrapbooking part. Luckily I realized what drew me to it in the first place were the photos and the rest is history.

Whats in your camera bag?

Basically what I started out with 5 years ago. I upgraded from my 20d to a 5d mark ii a few years ago. I shoot with primes, the 85mm 1.8 and 30mm 1.4. My 50mm 1.4 crapped out a few months back so I’m resorting to using my nifty fifty 50mm 1.8.

What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?

I actually started with a point and shoot and I found it more confusing to learn than with a DSLR. My family convinced my husband to surprise me with a Canon 20d for Christmas and luckily he is such a great researcher with stuff like that he opted not to get the kit lens with it and instead got the 85mm 1.8. That lens spoiled me so I’ve stuck with primes ever since. Just a few months later I added the 30mm 1.4 and the 50mm 1.8.

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

Well…since my 50mm 1.4 died on me and we had our Face 2 Face workshop a couple weekends back, I decided to rent the 24-70mm 2.8 and I really enjoyed using it. It was really flexible and great for shooting indoors and getting a lot of the background. I do wish it was a bit more wide open but in general I liked it so I’m probably going to splurge and buy it. It’s a great versatile lens and between you and me, it was a nice change of pace not to have to switch out lens.

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

Work hard, follow your gut, don’t give up and be your own person. Don’t compare yourself to others….you are original.

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

That would be the incredible and talented Amanda Keeys (http://www.amandakeeysphotography.com/). I can still see so many images in my head of hers that I was in awe of. The way she got kids and portrayed childhood was and still is so perfect to me.

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

I have and will always be a “MUG” shot girl. I love to get up close and just get focus on the eyes.

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

Hands down it would be my dad. We lost him 2 years ago to heart failure on Father’s Day and I wish I had more photos of him with us and especially my kids.

Describe your style in 3 words.

Fresh, commercial and clean.

Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?

Well, I am NOT the most graceful person in the world so you can image I have a book full of them. I’ve walked into trees, fell in water, wore my shirt inside out and had my barn door open (many times).

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

Hands down it would be managing my time. Between the family and kids and running 2 businesses, it gets a little crazy.

Favorite time of day to shoot is?

Pretty much whenever.

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

Interior decorating or graphic design.

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

I never had any formal training but I did shoot film when I was little with my dad. I worked in the darkroom with him too and even though I was little and stopped doing it, that bug was instilled in me by him and I think he helped me developed my eye for photography.

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

I just don’t go in and start shooting. I talk to the kids, find out stuff about them so we can connect. I’ll sing songs with them, dance, act goofy, play games. I just really get them to talk with me.

What are your photography related goals for 2012?

I had to cut back on things due to time so we finished up our last online workshop back in February of 2012. It was bitter-sweet but it was time to close that chapter. I’m going to concentrate more on shooting my kids since I feel I haven’t really done that as much as I would like to lately as well as focus on the 
Bloom Forum.

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

I think my biggest AHA moment was that rules are made to be broken. I really took to heart all the so-called rules of photography and how I needed to follow them. But then I started to think and look at my photos in my client’s eyes. For example if I have a great shot but the horizon is coming out of my subject’s head….it’s OK because for me not to show it wouldn’t be fair. Client’s don’t see the technical stuff like we do…they just see their children.

Biggest Photography related insecurity?

I need to be able to say “NO” more. I have a hard time with that and then I get super busy and get behind. I know what’s best for me so saying no to a client isn’t going to hurt me.

Digital or Prints?

Prints

I am SUCH a fan of Bloom. The forums, the workshops. I love it all. What is the driving force behind that?

Thank you so much! It’s crazy to think back about how it all started and if anyone said did you know you would be holding workshops and running a forum now I would have laughed my @ss off! LOL!! I just had so many inquiries about doing a workshop and being a mom and not have any extra money to travel to partake in one, I just thought what about holding them online instead and make it easy to access for everyone. Then I meet Kristy Lane and our photography styles are so different we thought it would really great to team up and teach and so we did. It’s been 3 years since our first online workshop and we just wrapped up our 2nd Face 2 Face in person one. As far as the forum, we had so many students that wanted to stay connected after the workshops ended so that’s how the forum started. I’m so extremely happy with it and with all our mini workshop teachers, moderators and members. I’ve been told many times that Bloom is such a great tight-knit, helping community and that is the BEST EVER compliment ever.

Starting out when I thought of studio work I am ashamed to admit the first thing that came to mind was the studio chains such as Picture People and such but you have such a fresh and amazing way of capturing real expressions, and genuine unique portraits in your studio work. Any tips on how to achieve that?

Thank you again! Honestly I just take the same approach when I shoot natural light. Get “MUG” shots, try to get movement (by using a fan) and get real giggles and connections. And you can totally shoot wide open using studio lights which for me that makes a HUGE difference.

What is a photographer’s must have in their photography bag of tricks in your opinion?

Quite literally your manual!

Starting out what is the one thing you wish you knew?

Be prepared for anything! I’m constantly learning new skills as well as tweaking my business methods.

Fun stuff:

Favorite Color:
Orange

Favorite Season:
Fall

Biggest Guilty Pleasure:
Anything that has to do with J.Crew

Pet Peeve:
Negative people

Favorite Pandora Station:
I’m ashamed to say I don’t listen to Pandora

Studio or On location:
On location (I take my studio equipment to client’s houses)

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A vet

One thing no one knows about you is:
I’m a font junkie

Pc or Mac:
PC

Lightroom Or Photoshop:
Both

Film or Digital:
Digital but fixing to dabble in film again

Props or No Props:
Minimal props (fan, hats and scarves)

If you could travel anywhere it would be:
Scotland and New Zealand

Glass Half Empty or Half Full:
I hope I see it as half full

Favorite photo ever taken:
The one of my niece wearing angel wings

Raw or Jpeg:
Raw

Favorite Music to Edit to:
I actually edit to movies

Favorite Quote:
“Do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa

Most valued material possession:
My dad’s ashes

Processing Style:
Hazy

Coffee or Tea:
Neither

If you could photograph a Celebrity who would it be?
Hugh Jackman (he seems he would be so laid back and fun to shoot)

What kind of Camera bag do you rock?
My Ketti Bag