i had so much fun receiving your questions! i love to think and formulate answers, so i've been thinking about each and every one of your fabulous questions for the last couple of weeks. i've had a great time with it!
here we go...
How did you get into photography, what inspired you and how did you learn?
My parents gave me my first Polaroid camera when I was three. We were having our annual vacation in Camden, Maine. I remember my mother shoving the camera in my hands, proclaiming that they had no pictures of the two of them in any albums. She now tells me she always knew I'd get a good shot, even back then. I never cut off anyone's heads and always had it level!
I was incredibly inspired by my mother's vintage Life magazines. I fell in love with the work of Lewis Hine and Dorothea Lange. They inspired me to capture emotion in a photograph.
I took a B&W film course in high school. They offered the first one my senior year, and you had to be top of the class to get in because there were so many people interested. I think there were twelve of us total. I loved it. Had my camera on me at all times. Never stopped after that.
I would love to hear more about how you make your living--is it mostly the photography work, or do you do other work as well?
I make my living through photography. I feel incredibly fortunate to be doing something I love everyday. The actual shooting time is so minimal compared to editing, client convos and organizing, bookkeeping, and social media. It's a constant, daily job requiring so many hours a day. But the most important part is the energy and intention I have to put into it. Even when I am trying to take a day "off" (which rarely happens!), I notice a shift in the energy. So it's a lot of emotional, mental, and physical work on my end that I do all on my own.
A day doesn't go by where I'm not thankful for what I do. I NEVER take it for granted. I was able to buy my home because of what I do and the energy and work I have put into my business. It's a tremendous feeling!
I also help Mark paint houses in the summer (we trade labor! he's now one of my second shooters!), model for artists and photographers, and teach my online courses!
Being self-employed is scary at times...especially here in Maine when the winter is long and slow. It requires tons of effort and you really can never put your work aside. It must be in the forefront always.
Will you and Mark have more babies?
Haha! Likely. With the little one getting so old, and our careers just blossoming, it's hard thinking how it would all fit. But we are excited for the day when it would become a reality! Likely in a couple of years :)
What beauty products do you use?
I only recently started investing in "beauty products" because for some reason when you're about to turn 30, everyone starts asking you this question! HA! I use MAC and Bare Minerals make up. For everything else, I use Derma-e. I have extremely sensitive skin and have allergic reactions to many cosmetics, so those are the brands I find to be the gentlest! Shampoo and conditioner is Burt's Bees. I swear by their lip balm! I always have one (or two) in my pockets!
I would love to hear your philosophies about relationship, couple's
communication, how to still believe in marriage after divorce. . .
anything along those lines.
SUCH a good question! I never thought I would get married again. I have (like so many out there) had my heart broken and have felt like I could never trust or love again. I started to guard my heart and become closed off, almost scared to do it all again. But Mark showed me a different way. We teach each other so much, and are continually leading each other through our fears with love and appreciation.
My philosophy in a relationship? To always be honest, open, loving, supportive, and each others best friend. Committing myself to someone is a big deal to me and I believe that no matter what happens, you have to be there for one another.
Getting married is a huge step for me. I never thought I'd get married. But I suppose when you find that right person who is willing to meet you halfway always, who is willing to do the work if necessary, and just truly and honestly loves you to pieces, it all seems....well, right.
We are each others best friends; our best cheerleaders. We love, inspire, motivate, and support one another. It's a wonderful thing.
How did you and Mark meet?
It's a small
town. We hung out in the same social circle. Everyone knows everyone
else here. I always admired his artistic talents and really connected
with his eye for beauty. But I never would have believed I would share a
love with him. It's been really interesting having a blossoming romance
with someone you kinda "knew." I feel like we have an advantage of
sorts. We got to see each other as we were as people, before we were
mates. It gives you an entirely different prospective!
What's your favorite food?
This is a hard one! I LOVE food! Does butter count? Or bacon? Or mayonnaise?! Those are my favorites and three things I couldn't live without!
What does your exercise routine look like? It sounds like you run a lot?
Yes, I run. I wouldn't say a lot, but many would say it's frequent HIGH-INTENSITY running! I run 5-6 days a week. My longest run is 7 miles, shortest is 3.4. I do speed work, weight lifting, and am now looking into Crossfit (thanks to a blog reader!). I build muscle very quickly and I really enjoy working out. I feel like it evens out my whole day. It makes me confident, strong, and happy! Recently the little one and Mark both started running with me. They go at their own pace, but it's nice to get out together!
Is there anything that has changed about your parenting philosophy over
your years of mothering? Are there any parenting choices you would make
differently, if you had them to make over again? What is the hardest
aspect of parenting for you?
The one thing that has changed about my parenting philosophy over the years is to let go. And that has come from being someone who is co-parenting and sharing custody. I had this notion of raising the little one in a very certain environment, with specific values, and parenting choices, and ALL of that had to be rearranged on my end because it simply didn't work anymore.
I had to adjust who I was as a mother. I had to let go, to be a different mother, but also learn to take care of myself first in order for it all to be okay.
In terms of parenting choices I would make differently, I honestly can't think of any. I always parent her the best I possibly can. I am very mindful of my parenting.
The hardest part of parenting for me is maintaining boundaries. Having a kid that goes back and forth and has two very different households can sometimes make the parent feel like they don't want to have boundaries or rules. Sometimes I feel like I have to overcompensate, but I remind myself that the boundaries and rules I set are minimal, yet important. She has a good balance of fun and also learning about life. My job is to prepare her for adulthood. I am teaching her how to be in the world. I have to remind myself of that sometimes. It's the most important job I have.
Her toys are so simple and few and I love that you attempt to rotate
them to give her fresh fuel for her imagination! I read a comment on
facebook that said you found her horses at antique shows? is that right?
I've never thought of shopping for unique toys there. Are you ever
worried the safety of the things you find....that they may contain lead,
arsenic, etc.
Actually, the older she gets, the more toys she has! While I tried to keep things minimalistic and few, as she has gotten older and her room bigger, she seems to collect more and more. Her room is filled and often it just completely overwhelms me. Most of it is art supplies and horses. But this is one of those things about "letting go"...she is not me. She is her own being who has a completely different aesthetic and way of collecting every odd and end she can find. There are rock, twig, feather, and moss collections. She has buttons stored everywhere. Jewelry can be found all over. Bits of taped up paper cover her shelves and under her bed. Her doll clothes and wooden figures and Playmobile literally scatter the room with no real home. She hates when I clean up (although she adores when I vacuum!), and prefers to organize things in her own way. So yea...we're different. And that's okay.
In terms of finding antique toys, I wouldn't worry about the lead paint unless it is something that is clearly an issue. Most of the things we find are not THAT old and things like the Breyer horses would have no problem at all. If something is suspect, I wouldn't buy it.
Where does the name "bluebirdbaby" come from?
I don't know if anyone knows this, although it's been in the "about" page for quite some time! When the little one started to crawl she was fascinated by the bookshelves. She loved the bird books and would pull out the same one over and over and turn to the "bluebird" page and point and giggle excitedly. She become my little bluebirdbaby, and this blog was named after her.
What features on the Mark III were worth
the price difference for you?
ISO, ISO, ISO. I wanted a full-frame camera that could handle the low light situations I find often when shooting weddings. It was time I had a professional camera. This is my job; how I support my family. The investment was well worth it, even if I'm still paying it off!
What lenses did you buy with your canon?
I am a prime girl! I LOVED my 30mm 1.4f Sigma for my old Nikon, but with the full frame I opted for the 50mm 1.4f, 35mm 1.4f, and I'm saving for the 85mm 1.2f and a 24mm tilt-shift. Then my kit will be complete :)
What's your favorite thing/place to photograph in the whole world?
My favorite thing to photograph is a couple in love! I love when two people are so in love that they completely forget I'm even photographing them and instead get lost in each others gaze! When people are just totally themselves in front of the camera, it makes my job such a joy!
How did you start your photography business and what tools you use as a professional photographer?
I owe the start of my photography business to this blog! I photographed a wedding because a local couple loved my photos here and they asked if I would mind photographing their beautiful wedding (hello betsy and andy!). I jumped feet first into it and loved every minute! So I just slowly started building up my portfolio, did a lot of unpaid jobs, and it went from there!
As far as tools I use, I'm guess you mean equipment and editing software? I use a Canon 5d Mark iii which I recently purchased. Lenses are listed above! I have Lightroom and Photoshop and use both to edit my photos. A lot of the photos you see on Bluebirdbaby are not edited at all. But I always edit photographs from my jobs.
Are you all eating Paleo or just gluten free? Can you share some of your recipes?
I eat both! I have Celiac's, so I don't eat gluten at all. I eat Paleo and have been since December. I feel great! I was having many digestive issues which landed me in the hospital with no explanations and many tests. I went Paleo and felt normal again for the first time in a long time. I eat a lot of fat and protein and greens.
I bake a lot for Mark and the little one (who are both gluten-free), but don't eat it myself. For recipes, I just modify whatever I make for them to be Paleo for me. For instance, the little one loves shrimp scampi with pesto. I make that for them with chard over pasta, but leave off the pasta for me and have a big bowl of chard with shrimp and pesto. Yum!
For other meals, I love omelets filled with greens and onions and garlic. Fried eggs with avocado and hot sauce. Turkey sliced thick rolled up with lettuce, mayo, and avocado. Big garlic salads. Lots of meat and seafood. Tonight we are having garlic salmon with asparagus!
What are your style sources for clothes and decorating? Which blogs,
magazines, etc. do you turn to for your ideas, or does it just come
naturally.
Those are a few of my recent favorites. I don't have the time to visit many websites a day, so I keep my inspirational list minimal. For magazines we receive TONS of fashion and art publications. Mark really loves mail! So we get everything from Vogue and Vanity Fair (my fav) to The Sun and Bomb Magazine.
For my own style, I pretty much develop it myself. It obviously must come from somewhere, but I have VERY particular tastes. I have to find something I really love to buy it, and it could mean it's a $5 shirt at a thrift shop or a $100 shirt at some boutique. I don't buy much and when I do buy something, it's something I REALLY want or would walk away completely mad at myself for not buying.
I tend to have a hippie-tom-boy-with-an-edge style. I am super petite which sometimes makes buying clothes hard. It's hard to find pants small enough. I think the most elegant outfit can be jeans and the perfect tee, paired with jewelry and some kick ass boots. I love roaming about the house in an oversized cashmere sweater and nothing else. When I go out, you can either find me in rolled up skinny jeans and a plaid button down and leather jacket, or a completely gorgeous slim fitting black dress. I like variety. I like the chance to dress up. And I adore how clothes can transform a person.
How
do you guys manage to make creativity such an important part of your
lives? By the time my kids are in bed, I am too pooped to even think
straight!
Ha! Well, Mark and I are complete night owls. I've been battling an awful flu/cold bug for the last two weeks, so I am now understanding what it's like to collapse into bed around 10 p.m.! Otherwise, we put the little one to bed and stay up until midnight working in the studio. We have a lot of energy and are highly motivated creatively, so we typically get really pumped up to work at night. On the weekends, we are all either in the studio making something or outside painting, or going to galleries, or a combination of them all!
This has been so much fun! Thank you for the wonderful questions!! Happy Thursday! xoxo
