Category Archive: Inspired Project
  1. 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.

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    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

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    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!

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    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 🙂

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    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.

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    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 🙂

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

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    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!

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    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!

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    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.

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

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

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    Favorite Quote:
    Live Love Life

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

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    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.

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    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.

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

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    Photoshop or Lightroom?
    Both!

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    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.

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    Pants or No pants?
    Bikinis and boardshorts

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    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

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

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  2. Inspired, A Very Special Project | Sarah Wolfe Photography

    This Tuesday’s edition of inspired I bring you the amazing Sarah Wolfe Photography. I have been following Sarah for years now. Her work is warm and ethereal and special.  You can tell she infuses so much of her soul into her imagery. I especially love her shares of her sweet family, including her newest tiny addition Ben. I am always completely in awe of her and admittedly stalk her Facebook page a bit. You will see for yourself why below.  I also kind of dig that we share a name. I know Sarah may be one of the most common names… ever, but hey.

    Hi sweet Sarah!

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    What is your Business Name?
    Sarah Wolfe Photography

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    What is your Facebook Fan Page?
    https://www.facebook.com/sarahwolfephotography
    What is your Camera Body?
    Canon

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    Website: http://sarah@sarahwolfephotography.com
    What inspired you to become a Photographer?
    I lost my parents at an early age and that’s really had an impact on how I value my relationships. The only photo I have of me as a child with my parents is a tiny wallet sized photo of my mom and me on Santa’s lap. I know life is full of changes and I think photography gives us a all an opportunity to freeze time. I love taking pictures of children because they grow so quickly and of people loving one another. A photo is a memory on paper, something tangible you can hold that can make you remember things or moments you might otherwise have forgotten.

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    If you could only keep three things in your camera bag at one time, what would they be and why?
    My camera of course, my 85 mm lens and my 50 mm lens.

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    If you are a Professional Photographer, what was your first paid session like?
    I was so anxious! I’m actually anxious before every shoot, I get butterflies in my stomach, sweaty palms and I check my camera to make sure it’s charged and my ready to go several times before I leave. I was very afraid I would freeze up at my first photo shoot, that I’d forget how to use my camera, that we wouldn’t be able to click and that the whole thing would be awkward. It went well though! I really believe the anxiety keeps me on my toes and I do a better job because of it.

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    Jump in a time capsule. What would you do differently if you could? Do you have a cautionary tale?
    I wouldn’t have done so many free shoots in the beginning and I would have taken business classes to be more confident in the business aspect of my photography.

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    What’s in your camera bag?
    A Canon Mark II, 50 1.4, 135L 2.0, 85 1.2, and a 100 2.8 macro

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    Above all, what inspires your art the most?
    Childhood, I love how authentic kids are and the interactions between people who love each other.

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    Do you have any personal projects in the works?

    I just had my last baby in January and I’m trying to document as much of his first year of babyhood as I can while still staying present and away from my camera as much as possible.

     

    Any one token piece of advice to someone that has just picked up a camera for the first time?
    Shoot what you love and learn as much about your camera as you can.

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    What is one thing you will never get tired of photographing?
    I will never tire of photographing my own children and people I love.

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    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?
    That’s a hard question because there are so many photographers I admire. I’d have to say Adriana Varela of Adriana Varela photography. She’s my closest photographer friend and while I talk on her with the phone fairly often, I’ve never met her in person. If we were face to face visiting, I think we’d talk about our little boys, motherhood and plan a shoot together!

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    Favorite Snack to Edit to:
    Just coffee

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    Favorite time of Day to Shoot at:
    two hours before sunset

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    Favorite Quote:
    “Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” ~ Mary Oliver

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    One thing you do NOT like to Photograph is:
    Weddings or big groups of people. I’m pretty shy and introverted.

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    If you could Photograph Anyone, who would that one person be?
    I’d want to time travel back in time and photograph my grandmother with her little boys.

    2009

    Sarah was kind enough to share one of her starting out images from 2009!

    One thing no one knows about you?
    I dream of writing books one day.

    Best Photography Investment you ever made:
    Time, time reading book after book on photography, time learning photoshop and time out shooting. There’s always more to learn
    Photoshop or Lightroom?
    Both!
    If you could live anywhere it would be:
    I am happy living here in the woods of Washington state. I dream of living in another country one day when my children are older.
    Pants or No pants?
    Pants
    Natural Hair Color?
    dark brown
    Last Book you Read was?
    I read “The Giver” by Lois Lowry out loud to my family
    Can you sum up your Photography in just four words?

    love, connection, childhood and warmth
    If your Photography had a theme song, what would it be?
    I don’t have a particular song, but I always listen to music that remind me of my clients while I’m editing.
    Favorite Non Photography Related Website is:
    zara.com I am in love with their clothes!

    2 Lovely Comments  •  Leave a Comment for Sarah

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