Inspired, A Very Special Project | Kristin Ingalls Photography
This week I am completely excited to spotlight this wonderful photographer! I discovered her via Clickinmoms when I first joined on their Clickinmoms Pro end of things and have been consistently blown ever since. Her emotive, beautiful work and her carefree approach to photography is a breath of fresh air. To me Kristin embodies what I hope to capture in my own work. Real. Life. Happening.
Let’s get to know her!
You Can find Kristin’s website HERE and her Facebook page HERE.
Hi Kristin!
Lets get to know you! How would you describe yourself in three sentences?
I am a mother of three, wonderful girls. I am a reluctant artist with perfectionist tendencies and a huge sweet tooth. I’ve always been quite technically minded as well as artistic and much better with images than words, so photography is a natural fit.
What sparked your passion for Photography?
I know this is the most cliche answer ever, but, while I’ve always enjoyed photography, my passion was really sparked by my children and wanting to capture their childhood. Once I started looking online to learn more about photography, I found out there was so incredibly much to learn! I started implementing some of what I was learning and saw improvement in my work. After that, I was hooked.
Whats in your camera bag?
I have lots of lenses, but like to travel light. Since I shoot mainly outdoors and can zoom with my feet it’s often just my D700 and 85mm 1.4 or 135mm f2, plus the 50mm just in case I find myself in a tight spot.
What Camera/Equipment did you start out with?
I had a film SLR at one point, but never used it much. So, I guess I really started with a Nikon D70 and a kit lens which was quickly replaced by a 50mm 1.8.
If you could only use one lens an entire session which one would you choose and why?
I often do shoot sessions with just my 85mm 1.4. The 85mm just suits me. I love the bokeh. I find that focal length to be very flattering for faces. Plus, I don’t feel like I’m too close or too far away from the people I am photographing.
What advice would go give to someone just beginning in photography and hoping to have a business of their own?
This is perhaps another cliche answer, but I think that my best advice is to focus on photography first and get the basics down cold before even consider opening a business. To get the basics, my best advice would be to focus on one thing at a time. For example if you are struggling with exposure work on that first, don’t try to get everything all at once or you are likely to get overwhelmed. Also, I could have saved myself a lot of frustration if I had learned early on to not compare my journey with anyone else. Photography is definitely a journey, not a race. There is no finish line. There is always more to learn. That’s part of the charm as far as I’m concerned.
What kind of photos do you like to take for just yourself when not working with clients?
My business is part time, so a lot of what I do is for myself. There are many things I like to capture, but the top three are my girls just doing what they do on a daily basis, my girls in the beautiful surroundings of the Pacific Northwest, and macro nature shots.
If you could photograph absolutely anyone who would it be dead or alive?
I don’t know that there is any one person that I would love to photograph more than the three girls who are in front of my lens every day, but I have always thought it would be fun to travel and document the people/places we go.
Describe your style in 3 words.
Organic, pure, and just a bit whimsical.
Any challenges you have had to overcome to be where you are today?
I think my biggest challenge is trying to overcome my perfectionist tendencies. I am definitely my own worst critique and then some. I see the flaws in every image I take. While it does push me to always keep improving, I think it has also has slowed my progress. Initially it did things like kept me clinging to shooting in aperture priority mode because I was afraid I wouldn’t do a good job in manual. These days it keeps me from experimenting as much as I would like. Currently, I am trying to really embrace failure as I’ve come to realize is often necessary for growth.
Favorite time of day to shoot is?
I’m a sucker for the hour before sunset as the gentle, golden light really suits my style.
If you had to stop taking photos right now, what would you do instead?
Personally, I would love to get back into ceramics, but if I couldn’t do that, I’d have to break out the charcoals or something. I need a creative outlet to be whole. Professionally, I’m starting to feel the pull back to design already, so I would likely go in that direction.
Have you attended college or had any formal education in Photography?
I was a design major in college but I studied graphic design and ceramics. I didn’t take a single photography course in college, but I do think my major serves me well in photography. I have taken a few photography workshops, but I would say I’m very much self taught through countless hours or practice, research, asking for critique, more practice, well, you get the idea.
Do you ever get nervous before your sessions?
I am almost always nervous before a session, but once I have the camera in my hands things just seem right, and I relax into the session.
What would your dream session be like?
My dream session would have my girls in it of course, on a good cooperative day. I am picturing them in flowing dresses in the woods. Golden sunshine. A bit of a breeze. Dancing.
What are your photography related goals for 2012?
My current photography related goal is to move beyond technically sound images to images that capture more than just the likeness of someone, images that capture part of who they are, and images that move people. How’s that for a lofty, open-ended goal?
How do you push yourself to keep growing and learning?
I think there’s always something more I want to know, so I just keep working. Though there have been slumps, there’s always something I am wanting to improve.
Biggest Photography related insecurity?
Really, my biggest thing is confidence. I’m sure it’s related to the perfectionist in me, but I worry that my work will just never be good enough no matter how many people tell me otherwise.
Digital or Prints?
Both, but if I had my way every single client of mine would talk away with a huge wall print or a nice album.
If you could change one thing about the Photography industry what would it be and why?
I’d like to see more work on building each other up, and less stealing and tearing each other down.
Fun stuff:Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Season: Summer
Biggest Guilty Pleasure: Soda
Pet Peeve: Lies
Favorite Pandora Station: Shuffle 🙂
Studio or On location: On Location
What did you want to be when you grew up? ScientistPc or Mac: Mac
Lightroom Or Photoshop: Both
Film or Digital: Digital, mainly
Props or No Props: No props
If you could travel anywhere it would be: I wouldn’t mind being back in Hawaii right now.
Glass Half Empty or Half Full: Half full
Favorite photo ever taken: Favorite ever? Wow, that’s like asking me to pick my favorite kid. Can I just quote Imogen Cunningham and say “Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.” No? I can’t? In that case, while it may not be the favorite, I think this one of my three girls playing Ring Around the Rosie will always be among my favorites. I love this one for how it captures them exactly how I want to remember them when they are grown. Three happy friends playing together in the sun. <3
Raw or Jpeg: RAW
Favorite Music to Edit to: Pandora, shuffling all my stations.
Favorite Quote: “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” — Robert Brault
Most valued material possession: Is it awful to say my camera? I feel like I should pick something more meaningful, but the camera does allow me to document so many things more meaningful than any possession.
Processing Style: Soft, yet clean
Coffee or Tea: Green TeaWhat kind of Camera bag do you rock? Kelly Moore Hobo
Wonderful interview! You have such a beautiful way of using light outdoors, Kristin <3
Kristin, I loved reading more about you! Thanks for sharing with us. I love how you find light in your photos, and I looove the color.
I loved learning more about you Kristin! I adore your work. I especially love your locations and how nature is such a big part of your style. Beautiful work!!!
Oh Kristin it was such a pleasure to read more about you! I love how soft and pure your work is! And that hug/kiss in the 4th image?? Awwwwwwwwww! <3