Inspired, A Very Special Project | Love and Water Photography

I discovered Love and Water Photography through Facebook not long ago but was instantly taken with their beautiful images. There is such a purity. Such an amazing imaginative and original perspective. The best word I can think to use is magical. Their work is just magical.

Name: Shawn-Marie and Adam Ravazzano

What is your Business Name?
Love and Water Photography
What is your Facebook Fan Page?
http://www.facebook.com/loveandwaterphotography

What is your Camera Body?
Canon
Website: http://www.lovewaterphoto.com
What inspired you to become a Photographer?
Both Adam and I wanted to pursue a career on our own, doing something we both enjoy and leaving more time to spend with one another which was our ultimate goal. Working together photographing weddings and underwater portraits combined all our loves in to one!

If you could only keep three things in your camera bag at one time, what would they be and why?
Besides cameras, that would have to be lots of snacks… apples, water, nuts, lollies… so we don’t get hangry 🙂

If you are a Professional Photographer, what was your first paid session like?
Before we formed Love and Water we operated separate photography businesses. My first booking for weddings was by a free spirited young couple with two small children, they found my ad by chance and trusted me to photograph their wedding despite the fact that I had only photographed once as a second shooter, and before that only a handful of portraits. Their celebration ended up being the reason I fell in love with weddings – they were ridiculously in love, gorgeous inside and out, so laid back and because of all these positive vibes the images were some of the best we’ve taken.
Jump in a time capsule. What would you do differently if you could? Do you have a cautionary tale?
Adam and I were married in Australia (my family lives in Chicago – I moved to Australia in 2008 to be with Adam after my college graduation).

A few weeks from our wedding I found out that my mum wouldn’t be able to fly to be there, it was heartbreaking. Given the chance to do it over, I would have had a ceremony closer to them so my mum would have been able to see me in my wedding dress.

What’s in your camera bag?
A Mark III camera body, two Mark II camera bodies, two underwater housings depending on what we’re shooting, and a selection of lenses.. 15mmfisheye, 35mm, 135mm, 50mm, and 70-200 🙂

Above all, what inspires your art the most?
The ocean, couples who are in love, and warm, welcoming people.

Do you have any personal projects in the works?

Always! When the ideas come the best ones are usually brought to life within a week because we can’t stop thinking about them! That’s when you know you’re pouring your heart in to something 🙂
Any one token piece of advice to someone that has just picked up a camera for the first time?
Find positive influences and ignore the negative, there are plenty of both around. Seek out those who are willing to help. And be sure you make a business plan and stick to it!

What is one thing you will never get tired of photographing?
Women and water – I know that’s two things but they’re the subjects we love most!

If you could sit across any one photographer with a cup of your favorite warm beverage, and talk shop for an hour, who would it be and what would you talk about?
Adam – Ray Collins a award winning water photographer and dog lover and he just seems like an all around nice guy.

Shawn – Melissa Jean of Melissa Jean Photography. She’s an inspiring photographer, a mentor and friend who has been there for me since long before I began photographing professionally. And, above all, she appreciates a piece of cake just as much as I do.

Favorite Snack to Edit to:
Does coffee count? Coffee coffee coffee!

Favorite time of Day to Shoot at:
Sunset, and the minutes before sunrise

Favorite Quote:
Live Love Life

One thing you do NOT like to Photograph is:
Corporate events

If you could Photograph anyone, who would that one person be?
Adam – A mermaid session with Miranda Kerr. Shawn – Cara Delevingne, she’s totally kooky and I think would be lots of fun to shoot.

One thing no one knows about you?
This sounds weird but because of my name (Shawn), a lot of clients think I’m a guy before meeting me.

Best Photography Investment you ever made:
A plane ticket to Maui!

Photoshop or Lightroom?
Both!

If you could live anywhere it would be:
An island with clear water, sunshine, and plenty of rock pools for our dog Marley to enjoy.

Pants or No pants?
Bikinis and boardshorts

Natural Hair Color?
Brown with random streaks of sunshine!
Last Book you Read was?
It’s not really a book but White Horses is a great magazine that is more like a collection meaningful short stories.
Can you sum up your Photography in just four words?

Colorful, carefree and timeless

If your Photography had a theme song, what would it be?
Somewhere over the rainbow
Favorite Non Photography Related Website is:
Facebook