How long have you been shooting professionally?
I joke a lot and say everything seems to run together because I can’t quite remember the exact date of my first session. I think it was in January of 2007 but that seems to be awfully a short time. I think it’s been more around four years.
Do you have any formal training or education in photography?
Nope, Nada, Zero! I consider my dad my first teacher…when I was little he bought a Pentax camera and apparently I was so obsessed with it, he bought me one so I wouldn’t mess with his. Although he actually didn’t teach me anything, I would walk behind him and see what he was seeing and photographing. It made me see things differently. I saw the beauty in flowers because he did a lot of marco floral shots. I also belong to many wonderful online forums where I felt I’ve learned a lot over the years. And I have a group of wonderful photography friends that we bounce ideas and questions off each other.
What camera do you use? Which lens is your most-used?
I started out with a Canon 20D and within the last year, I moved to the 5D mark II. Hands down my most used lens is my 50mm 1.4. It’s an extremely versatile lens for both portrait shots as well as landscape ones.
What additional equipment or gear do you find really helpful?
Oh gosh, when I look at purchasing something new, I really research it and ask myself if I really need it so I like to think all my equipment is special and useful to me. I’ve worked with the same three lenses that I purchased the first year into my business. I’m definitely a prime junkie….I like them for their sharpness as well as working fast and great in low lighting conditions.
How much digital manipulation do you do to your images and what programs do you use?
It really depends on the photo and what I think it calls for. I have been known to sit at the computer for what seems like hours editing and experimenting on photos. I work in CS4 and recently moved over to using Lightroom as well.
Do you have any rituals or mantras that you use to prepare mentally before a session?
Not really, I’m pretty boring! LOL!! The night before I just clean my lenses, charge my camera, pack my bag and all that fun and exciting stuff….that about it. Like I said, pretty boring.
Can you describe your process for getting your subject into that perfect pose?
You know…I really don’t know what I do. I’m not afraid to ask a child to lower their chin a bit or move their head in one direction or another. I want to get the perfect shot and I know that their parents are depending on me to deliver. When I do studio session, I’ll break out a fan (and have been known to pull out the blowdryer in the earlier days) so I can just get some movement in the hair. Just doing that, makes the world of difference.
How many hours goes into editing a standard session?
Since I started to use Lightroom, my editing is very streamline and fast. I try to do all my edits in there but I still come back to CS4 and do any skin clean-up that needs to be done, add a texture or two or to use a favorite action. I would say to do one session from uploading them to my computer to getting them in a client’s gallery is about 3-5 hours depending on how many proofs I show or how creative I get.
What inspires you personally and as a photographer?
Everything around me. First and foremost my kids. Just watching them gets my juices flowing. Movies, colors, magazines, other photographers, you name it, it probably has inspired me.
What mode do you shoot in?
Manual mode
Do you prefer color or black and white images? How do you decide which one for each image?
At first I was all over black and white images. I craved them like chocolate and believe me I LOVE chocolate. But lately just within the last year, I show more color images. I just go with what the image tells me to do or if my client says they want all color or all b/w images. LOL!!
How would you describe your photographic style?
Oh gosh, I think it’s hard for me to define my style…I like to rely on what others tell me it is and what they see. So from other say, they define it as light, airy and whimsical.
Do you ever get photographer’s block? How do you overcome that?
ALL THE TIME (notice how I bolded that)!! I was especially blocked the entire time when I was pregnant with Grant except for a few days of utter extreme creativity and it was during that time I came up with the idea of her Valentine’s card and her hair piggiehearts. I think everyone gets in a rut whether they want to admit it or not…they might not get into them as deep as some of us but we all do. I use to think that browsing flickr and other forums would snap me out of it but I found it that only made it worse. So instead, I would (and still do) just take a step back, take a break and put my camera away and focus on other things.
What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
Hands down kids, toddlers, babies and newborns.
Who have been your influences?
The first person that really made me want to try photographer and drive me to improve is Amanda Keeys. I would sit at the computer for hours and just go through her gallery. I still remember a photo of a boy with a lizard on his head that I just loved. And then throughout the years, I’ve admired Peta Mazey, Molly Hilton, Joyce Smith, Stephanie Rausser, Jinky, Kristy Lane, Creative Mama’s own Stacey Woods and so many others. It’s funny because most of their work is at the opposite end of the spectrum than mine but I think it’s key to always keep an open mind about photography and always have that desire to learn. Just because someone’s work isn’t like what you do doesn’t mean it’s not beautiful and inspiring. I actually usually find myself drawn to their work, just because it’s so DIFFERENT than mine.
Do you listen to music while you edit your images? If so, what’s your favorite music for editing?
I actually pop in a movie on my laptop and listen to that. Usually one of Harry Potter’s flicks does the trick. Usually by the end of the movie, I’m done editing so it’s actually my clock. LOL!!
How do you handle a shy child, pushy parent, or difficult bride?
I don’t go into a session with any child and start shooting one minute in. I like to sit down and talk with them…find out what they like, if they have a boyfriend or girlfriend, what their favorite song is and then if during a session and they start to stray from me and look like they are about done, I go into singing or talking about school or their boyfriend/girlfriend….talking about that ALWAYS gives me those sweet and genuine smiles. As long as you don’t get frustrated, they don’t. Remember, kids pick up on stuff like that so definitely curb that if it is a frustrating session. Try to make it fun and just remember, you can go have a margarita after the session is over if you need too! LOL!!
How many images do you typically have at the end of a session, portrait or wedding?
When I first started out I was the dictionary definition of an overshooter. But one session I did was my AHA moment and when I left, I actually felt like I was a photographer and that I had arrived. I shot a family of four in their house and left with only 74 images on my card and I wasn’t worried. I remember driving home in my car with a HUGE smile on my face because I knew I had some awesome images. I learned to wait for the shot to come to me and I wasn’t afraid to tell them what I needed them to do. That session was my defining session! So back to the question, I usually shoot between 100-200 images just depending on who, how many and what I’m shooting.
What challenges or struggles did you face early on? How about currently?
Definitely my pricing. It’s hard to put a price on your work….your sweat, love and tears. I think as moms, we tend to downsize what we do on a day to day basis so most of use tend to lean toward lower prices. I struggled and struggled with it but I finally told myself that I was worth it, my work was worth it and the time that I was going to spend away from my family and kids needed to be worth my time. So I set my prices and never had to lower them.
As far as any current struggles…I struggle with time management. I’m horrible about delegating my time out. If there is a workshop for people like me, send me the info because I’m in desperate need of some help. LOL!!
Have you ever considered ending your career as a photographer? What were the circumstances?
I don’t think I ever REALLY considered actually doing it but there have been times where I’ve said it out loud and to myself just out of pure frustration.
What is the best advice you have received regarding photography?
I was told early on when I wanted to get all those great color pops to just embrace my style. I tried and tried back then to saturation color on all my photos when I started out but it just didn’t feel right to me. I kept going back to the soft colors but back then, if you told me that was my style I would have told you you were crazy. Little did I know, it was and even from the beginning, my style and look was beginning to form and evolve. One of the best feelings is when someone says they saw a photo without seeing who took it and they instantly recognized it as your work.
What advice would you give another photographer?
Be true to yourself and what you love. DO NOT SWAY from it no matter what people say, or what is suppose to be right or wrong. Your photos are a reflection of you, not someone else.
Brenda is both an on-location natural light photographer as well as studio photographer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. When she’s not out on a session, you can find her either working at one of her and business partner Kristy Lane’s BLOOM online or in person workshops. She LOVES to spend time with her two wonderful kids and fantastic husband and let’s not forget her fur baby too. Other than photography, she loves to attempt to sew, attempt to play tennis and attempt to workout (notice attempt being the operative word)!
You can find her work at her personal blog and she just recently joined f8studios and now works with f8kids alongside Kristy Lane.
Website:
www.brendaacuncius.com
Blog:
www.brendaacuncius.com/blog
BLOOM:
www.bloomworkshops.com
f8kids:
www.f8kids.com
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