Inspired, A Very Special Project | Deanna McCasland Photography

This edition of Inspired is of one of my newest favorite Photographers. I love Deanna for her honest, and incredibly emotive quality she really brings through her images. Her photographs are more then striking and require no words.  The tell stories all of their own.  I am always left captivated and wanting more!More then anything though her lifestyle images move me. Her love for her children and her maternal influence just flows right through.

You can find Deanna on Facebook HERE and her website HERE.

Hi Deanna!

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

I am a homeschooling mom of 2. I have an introvert personality. I really, really love coffee.

What sparked your passion for Photography?

Not to sound too cliché, but it was my children. Other than taking photography in high school I never had a huge interest in it. And then once they were born I started to love it more and more.

Whats in your camera bag?

Nikon D700, 34 1.4G which stays glued to my camera, a old 50 1.8, a 100mm macro, and a old Canon AE-1.

What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?

Nikon D5000 & the old 50 1.8 lens mentioned above. The quality now in my work is 10x better, but I pretty much built my business with that camera. It took a while to save up for an upgrade so I just rocked what I had!

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

My 35 stays on my camera these days. I was faithful to my 24-70, but I had heard so many things about the 35 I had to try it. So a few months ago I sold my 24-70 and have been in love with the 35 ever since. I love how it lets me get wide for lifestyle shots, but still close when I need to be.

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

To find their own voice, style and art before they try to learn the business. If you start the business first then your clients will dictate your style. Trust me from experience.

What was your first official Photographer crush if you had one? (Had to leave a note here but OMG Deanna!! HONORED! Okay we will carry on *SC)

Oh gosh…probably you, Sarah! LOL I remember when I first started I found your work and loved it so much. It showed me photography could be fun! From there I slowly evolved my style into what it is now.

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

I have really been loving film for my personal work. My husband got me my Canon AE-1 for my birthday and it’s been a nice break from client work and it’s fun to learn and experiment with it. I also recently just joined in on a yearlong Now You workshop where you photograph yourself once a week for a year. It just started, but I can already tell will be a fun self-discovery journey and the women you meet in the group are remarkable. It’s been quite a blessing so far and quite a change since I’m usually the one running from the camera. I much rather be behind the lens, but this is really helping me love to be in front of it too.

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

That would have to be my Great Grandmother. I lived with her when I was little. She raised me, my mom, my aunts, and cousins all on a big farm. It was an amazing place to grow up. I wish more than anything I had more photos of it and of her.

Describe your style in 3 words.

Real, honest, simple

Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?

Showing up to a session without my camera! Or the time I ended up in the emergency room having to get my wedding rings cut off because I fell in a hole and somehow hurt my hand on the side of a barn! I have quite the list of embarrassments!

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

The biggest challenge so far would be trying to switch over from very traditional portrait photography with the props and posing to lifestyle photography. It was hard because I kept attracting clients who wanted the “perfectly posed” photos, but eventually over time I started attracting the ones I really wanted. I stopped putting any posed photos on my Facebook, took everything off of my website and only posted what I wanted to sell. It took time, but finally fell into place.

Favorite time of day to shoot is?

If Im shooting inside it would have to be as soon as the sun comes up and starts filling my home with morning light, but if Im outside about an hour before sunset.

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

I would pour all of my energy into homeschooling my little’s and I would just be a full time mom.

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

I never went to college for photography. I have taken a couple of workshops, a handful of online classes and the rest has just been trial and error.

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

I have a introvert personality, but I know how to take charge when I need to at sessions. I am a chatterbox with my clients. I talk their ears off, I ask them questions about their life, what the like to do, about their family, etc…I try to have them forget that I’m in their home to photograph them and hopefully feel like I’m just a friend coming over for coffee.

What are your photography related goals for 2013?

First off is to become more organized. I am a mess! Really! Next is to start teaching my Moms+Camera workshops to help moms who want to take better photos of their children.

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

I am always learning by participating in forums like Learn Shoot Inspire or Clickin Moms. Interacting with other photographers has always been a huge help and motivation to keep learning. I also try to take at least 1 in person workshop a year and 1 or 2 online classes a year. I never want to stop learning!

Biggest Photography related insecurity?

That no one will “get it.” I get extremely nervous about posting my work out there for the world to see.

Digital or Prints?

Digital

How do you set yourself apart from other local photographers?

I honestly do not look at their work. I look at photography on pinterest and of course “like” my favorites on Facebook so I can see new blogs come up, but other than that I try to stay focused on my work and my clients. Lifestyle photography is a growing trend, but I still think I have my own style compared to others in my area. I just hope that if I stay focused on me Ill attract the kind of clients who like my work and I can give them my all and treat them like gold to keep them coming back and of course spread the word about me. I have never spent one dime on advertising. My entire client base is based off of work of mouth referrals so that says something. I also do not want to know their prices, packages, etc…I price myself at what I think I am worth. No one wants to be known as the “cheaper photographer.”

What do you think your next photography related investment will be?

Maybe a new camera when I outgrow this one.

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

If the photographer is anything like me I would say band aids.

What would you say your biggest muse is?

My children for sure.

Fun stuff

Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Season: Spring and fall. I cant really choose.
Biggest Guilty Pleasure: Ben & Jerrys
Pet Peeve: Smacking food or gum
Favorite Pandora Station: I don’t listen to Pandora, but Im big fans of the Lumineers, the Avett Brothers, and Wildchild.
Studio or On location: On location
What did you want to be when you grew up? A Veterinarian
One thing no one knows about you is: Right before I had to start my junior year of high school I had to have surgery to remove skin cancer on my scalp. The tanning bed turned my birthmark in to cancer and I had to have some of my scalp removed (about the size of a half dollar) and it left a huge scar which is why I tease my hair back every day to keep it hid. Stay out of the tanning beds!
Pc or Mac: PC
Lightroom Or Photoshop: Photoshop
Film or Digital: Digital for clients, film for fun
Props or No Props: No props
If you could travel anywhere it would be: Australia
Glass Half Empty or Half Full: Definitely half full
Favorite photo ever taken:
This is a favorite right now:

This is a favorite at the moment.

Raw or Jpeg:
Raw
Favorite Music to Edit to:
Anything from the 90’s
Favorite Quote:
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I’ve ended up where I needed to be.” –Douglas Adams
Most valued material possession:
My family photo books.
Processing Style: Film like
Coffee or Tea: Coffee….really, really strong coffee.
If you could photograph a Celebrity who would it be?
The Avett Brothers without a doubt.
What kind of Camera bag do you rock? Jo Tote

One of my first images:
This was from my first ever newborn session! We all start somewhere right?! And don’t get me started on that watermark! LOL