Inspired, A Very Special Project | Tonya Cook Photography

This Tuesday I am so excited to introduce you to Tonya’s beautiful body of work.  Based out of Ohio she has a clean and oh-so-real influence that just leaps right out of her imagery.  You can tell what an amazing knack she has for connecting with her clients as well.   There is just such a genuine happiness that flows right through. Let’s get right into it!!

You can find Tonya on Facebook HERE.

Hi Tonya!!

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

I am a scatterbrained photographer and mother of 4 who is on an endless quest to keep the house clean and become more organized. I love trashy novels, coconut candy, and yard sales. I don’t know how to sit still and I usually have a bazillion projects going on at once.

What sparked your passion for photography?

I spent my whole life trying to find a creative outlet, a way to express myself. I picked up a camera about seven years ago and that was it. I had finally found what I’d been looking for.

What’s in your camera bag?

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 50D, 24-105L, 50mm 1.4, and a Lensbaby

What camera/equipment did you start out with?

Canon Rebel and an 18-55mm.

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

For outdoor sessions, it would be my 24-105. I love its versatility. For indoor sessions, my 50mm 1.4.

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

Take the time to get it right in camera!

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

Leah Brady

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

Odds and ends: Rusty bolts, chipped paint, and old forgotten things.

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

I never got to meet either of my grandfathers. I would love to be able go back and photograph them in their little coal mining town.

Describe your style in 3 words.

Clean, vibrant, and modern.

Most embarrassing moment on a session would be?

This just happened a few weeks ago, actually. I was waiting on a client to show up at my studio and went out to check and see if they were there. They were, and I ushered them to my door in the cold rain, only to realize that I had locked my keys inside. There was no way to get in quickly and we had to reschedule.

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

It is always a challenge balancing 4 children and a business. I think we all struggle with this every day.

Favorite time of day to shoot is?

I am one of the MANY that love the golden hour… I wish I could shoot every session on a hazy summer evening an hour before sunset.

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

I spent a lot of time thinking about this question, and I can honestly not come up with one feasible answer. I certainly hope this photography thing works out!

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

Nope, I am obsessively self-taught.

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

I just keep people talking: ask questions, tell stories. I keep them engaged so they stop noticing the camera pointed at them.

What are your photography related goals for 2013?

GET ORGANIZED! Also, I will finally have my website up and running!

How do you push yourself to keep growing and learning?

I am very competitive, even when it’s just with myself. I always feel like the next shoot needs to be better than the last, so I am constantly striving to do better.

Biggest photography related insecurity?

Lots of times there are new things I want to try but I hold back for fear it will not fit with what people have come to expect of me. It’s hard for me to put something different out there. I’m gonna work on that this year!

Digital or prints?

Digital.

How do you set yourself apart from other local photographers?

I honestly try not to compare myself to other photographers, so I am really not sure. I just focus on making an awesome experience for my client and producing the best work I can.

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

I am pretty happy with where I am equipment wise, so I am really hoping to invest in a few workshops this year.

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

Tissues! They are so much easier than photoshopping out boogers!

What would you say your biggest muse is?

I know this is where everyone says their children, and I love photographing mine also, but my muse is definitely the city. I just love all color and texture, and the old mixed with new. No matter how much time I spend exploring, I always find something I had not noticed before.

Fun stuff:

Favorite Color: green

Favorite Season: spring

Biggest Guilty Pleasure: reality shows and the food network

Pet Peeve: improper grammar

Favorite Pandora Station: Air Supply, I am a child of the 80s

Studio or On location: studio for newborns, location for everything else

What did you want to be when you grew up? a librarian

Pc or Mac: PC

Lightroom Or Photoshop: Photoshop

Film or Digital: Digital

Props or No Props: I usually only use props for newborns.

If you could travel anywhere it would be: Italy

Glass Half Empty or Half Full: for me – half empty, for everyone else – half full

Favorite photo ever taken: The one below of my daughter. This was just taken a few weeks ago. I woke up and had the best light coming through my bedroom window and had to take advantage of it.

Raw or Jpeg: RAW

Favorite Music to Edit to: I do not listen to music when I edit. I am too easily distracted.

Favorite Quote: “Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso

Most valued material possession: my camera, of course.

Processing Style: clean

Coffee or Tea: YES

If you could photograph a celebrity who would it be? Anderson Cooper

What kind of camera bag do you rock? I have a Cheeky Lime for when I want to look cute, but 99% of the time I rock my functional and comfortable, Lowepro Flipside.