Cristen Farrell Photography | Portrait Photography
The Quick Survey:
- Name / Business Name: Cristen Farrell / Cristen Farrell Photography
- Located in: Santa Clarita, CA (Suburb of Los Angeles, CA)
- Started in: 2010 (Freelancing since 2008)
- Status: (Full Time, Part Time, Hobbiest, etc) Full Time
- Types of Photography: Portrait: Newborn, Family, Lifestyle, Senior, & Headshots
- Primary Camera / Favorite Lens: Nikon D7000 / 50mm 1.4
- Interesting Personal Fact: Aside from photography, nothing gets my blood pumping like a fast car with a big, loud engine!
Find out more:
- Main Site: www.cristenfarrellphotography.com
- Blog: www.cristenfarrellphotography.wordpress.com
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/CFarrell_Photog (@CFarrell_Photog)
- Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/cristenfarrellphotography
- Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/cristenfarrell
Short Bio -
I haven’t always been a “photographer”, in the traditional sense of the word. But what’s the definition of a “photographer” anyway? For years, in my case, it was driving friends and family crazy while I tried to snap away at them. Truthfully though, my love for photography came full circle when my first child was born. With every picture I took of him, I saw his silliness, energy, and spirit shine through, memories brought to life with my lens that I will treasure forever. That’s when this unorthodox plan to start my business first started to take hold; I wanted to provide others with that same close-to-the-heart experience. So what was I doing BEFORE photography became my my obsession? A few things, really. I spent 11 years in the corporate world working at a Fortune 50 company, a tiny startup, and a mid-sized nationwide company – hence, my extreme dedication to customer service and smooth operations. At some point in there, I put my other hobby, graphic design, to work and started freelancing. Freelancing is what put my business goals on the map and helped me determine how to work with clients with creative visions. As it turns out, advanced graphic design experience, especially with Photoshop, really lends itself well to professional photography. When my second child was born, I took the huge leap from hobbyist to professional and left my day job to focus full time on creating a successful business and a career that I loved. I feel so very fortunate to be excited to go to work every day. Photo sessions are not work for me…they are play time. I meet a gorgeous set of blue eyes, or a pair of rosy, chubby cheeks and I can’t wait to photograph them. I love meeting new people and giving back to my community. As I continue to challenge my own creativity and business savvy, I look forward to my business continuing to grow.
Grin And Share It Photo | Family Photography
The Quick Survey:
- Name / Business Name: Tessa Desharnais / Grin & Share It Photography
- Located in: San Diego, CA
- Started in: 2008
- Status: Full Time
- Types of Photography: Child & Family Photography, Newborns, Maternity & Senior Portraits
- Primary Camera / Favorite Lens: Nikon D700 / I couldn't function without my 50mm 1.4
- Interesting Personal Fact: I have an obsession with flip flops & watches. I'm sure my husband would say that I have far too many of both!
Find out more:
- Main Site: www.grinandshareitphoto.com
- Blog: http://blog.grinandshareitphoto.com
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Grin-Share-It-Photography/271898745872
Short Bio:
Being a professional photographer was never on my radar, even though I've been taking pictures my whole life. I always say that I was forced into it by the Moms in my daughter's playgroup, and now I can't thank them enough for believing in me more than I believed in myself!! After I shot my first paid session, I called my husband immediately and said, "THIS is what I am SUPPOSED to be doing!" I am forever grateful that I get paid to do what I love and love what I do. I think it shows in my work.
I have an addiction to Starbucks. Seriously, I'm not sure what they put in their chai tea lattes, but if I don't have one every.single.morning, my family doesn't like me very much 
I suppose you can say that I am a bit of a late bloomer since I didn't meet my husband until I was 32, had my first child at 33, became a photographer at 38, and had my second child at 39. And you know what, I wouldn't have it any other way!!!!
Missy B Photography | Newborn Photography
The Quick Survey
- Name / Business Name: Melissa Benzinger, Missy B Photography
- Located in: Walnut Creek, CA (25 miles East of San Francisco)
- Started in: Feb 2011
- Status: (Full Time, Part Time, Hobbiest, etc) Part Time
- Types of Photography: Newborn, Child & Family Photography
- Primary Camera / Favorite Lens: Love my Canon 50mm for newborns but my all around go to lens is my Tamron 17-50mm
- Interesting Personal Fact: When I’m not behind the lens, I work as a San Francisco Police Officer in the Bayview/Hunters Point District
Find out more
- Main Site: www.missyb-photography.com
- Blog: http://missyb-photo.blogspot.com/
- Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/missybphoto
Short Bio
I grew up around photography. I can remember growing up and thinking my Mom’s Canon AE1 was the coolest
thing ever and took every opportunity to be a big girl and use it. As I got older I became “that girl,” the one behind
the lens capturing every Birthday party, Christmas, Bridal Shower and every social event in between.
I remember the days of film, taking my prints to the lab and anxiously waiting for them to come back. Every time
it was like opening a present, sometimes you’d get photos that were like the socks you get from your Aunt, but
every once in a while you’d get the awesome radio control car or video game you’d been obsessing over all year.
Those photos are what always kept me excited about photography-the ability to capture that awesome moment
and preserve it in time forever. When digital first arrived I was a skeptic but now I’m in love- there’s nothing like
the satisfaction of finishing a shoot and literally running through your front door & loading that card to see how
the photos turned out.
When I had my son last July, I took photos constantly; it was amazing to see the changes in him every day.
As I began posting photos of him, friends started to ask me if I’d take photos of their family, baby or child. I
finally decided this lifelong passion was more than just a hobby. I never would have known how many steps it
takes to start a business; branding, taxes, licenses etc. I got it all squared away and officially launched Missy B
Photography in February of 2011 & I’ve been snapping ever since!
I love working with families and especially love being able to hold little tiny newborns and capture those first few
days when they are so fresh & new. With every shoot my goal is to create beautiful photographs that capture true
emotion and personality that I hope will be treasured for years to come!
Donald Norris | Family Photography
The Quick Survey
- Name: Donald Norris Photography
- Located in: Los Angeles, California
- Status: Full Time
- Types of Photography: Weddings, Headshots, Families, Corporate
- Primary Camera / Favorite Lens: Canon Mark 2 , 90mm ts
- Interesting Personal Fact: Former White House intern, Lead photographer of the "Yearbook Camp" at Burning man, I did not want to get into weddings at all.. but after I did... I found that I LOVE IT. Like sickly love it. It's what I was called to do.
Find out more
Main Site: www.norrisphoto.com
Blog: www.norrisphoto.com/blog
Twitter: http://twitter.com/norrisphoto
Short Bio:
Donald grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and began photography at sixteen while shooting pet portraits for a local pet store chain. He graduated from Towson University with a BA in Business and served three internships, one at the White House under President Bill Clinton.
For four years after graduation, Donald worked as a business counselor for actors at an acting school. He then transitioned full-time into photography, and naturally began in the area he knew best: head shots.
Over time, Donald embraced the full art of photography and branched out into nearly every area of artistic vision.
Donald has since been blessed to work with some of the best wedding photographers in the world, and even shoots some celebrity weddings each year. He is an active member with the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International and the Professional Photographers of America. His work has been featured in People magazine and on FOX’s Good Day LA.
Christine Bentley | Capturing Wedding Details
The Quick Survey
- Business Name: Christine Bentley Photography
- Located in: Irvine, California
- Started: 2006
- Status: Full Time
- Types of Photography: Portraits and Weddings
- Primary Camera / Favorite Lens: Canon 5D Mark II / 70-200 2.8
- Interesting Personal Fact: I met my husband while riding my Harley, well actually I met him after I crashed it into the shop where he was the service manager. We were married 6 months later!
Main Site: www.christinebentley.com
Blog: www.christinebentleyblog.com
Facebook: facebook.com/christinebentley
Twitter: http://twitter.com/chrisbentley
Short Bio: Oh lets see. I love tell the story about how I got started, mostly because it's pretty crazy. I had a fav photog who moved to Southern California and I pretty much freaked out because she took ALL the photos of my children. So I decided that the last session we had scheduled I would take mental notes of her equipment and just go and buy everything that I needed to do what she was doing. So after leaving the amera store with over $10K of equipment, I thought I was a "professional". My husband came home to find me in tears in our living room with a camera that had a black LCD screen. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING. Nothing was returnable and I was up the creek. I mean, I bought a 35mm lens cause the "35mm" sounded like "photo stuff" and I thought I needed it....I truly didn't even know what aperture was or ANYTHING. The learning curve was quit humbling to say the least.
Always up for learning (I have a Master's Degree in Education), I decided this was not going to get the best of me. The idea was to be able to take photos of my children, not really to start a business. Soon it became a healthy addiction and an artistic outlet. It was "me" time as all parents out there know you need that "me" time to indulge in your favorite hobbies. It was amazing to me that I could actually start making money doing this, I love it, still do.
I started to follow AMAZING photographers and learn from them. My early mentors who have now become friends are Bob and Dawn Davis. They started my career. I truly believe that. I took their workshop first, it was amazing and things have never been the same. I started simply with portraits, afraid to take on weddings, but realized soon enough, weddings are a LONG portrait session with a great story to tell. Then I was hooked. I blame and thank Mike Colon and his workshop on getting a lot of my business together, marketing etc. I have been really fortunate to have met some amazing people in this industry and if there is any advice I can give to those you start, do what you love first, and reach out to others. Without my early mentors, I would most likely still be lost.
A few short years later, I have a studio in Irvine. I have amazing clients both portraits and weddings. I have won Accolade and Merit Awards in both WPPI as well as PPOC. I plan on entering more images, and more and more. I continue to learn, I'll never stop learning, but now I also teach! Imagine that, I actually teach those in my community how to use their consumer DSLRs as well as do some professional mentoring. I believe in myself, I am blessed to have others believe in me, I am determined as all hell, but I love it, I love it all and I get to live it everyday!
Josh Gruetzmacher | Wedding Photography
The Quick Survey
- Name: Josh Gruetzmacher
- Located in: San Francisco, CA
- Status: Full Time
- Types of Photography: Wedding Photography, Engagement Photography, Travel Photography
- Primary Camera / Favorite Lens: Canon 5D / Canon 35mm f1.4L
- Interesting Personal Fact: I slept in Central Park in New York so that I could see the MET the next day.
Find out more
Main Site: www.joshgruetzmacher.com
Blog: www.joshgruetzmacher.com/blog
Twitter: www.twitter.com/joshgruetz
Short Bio: Happiness to me is being somewhere cool, surrounded by friends. I love to travel and experience new things. I am a very curious person. I love photographing life and real moments that matter. I have been photographing weddings for a little over 5 years, and I couldn't be happier. It is an honor to be able to do something that I am passionate about as a full time career. How did I get so blessed? I am engaged to the sweetest woman, and we’re planning our wedding, which will be in late October this year. I live in San Francisco, but travel all over for beautiful weddings. Yes, I would love to come to photograph your destination wedding in Greece. I am 25 years old, and in the last 6 years I have photographed over 100 weddings for awesome couples, traveled to 25 different countries, and picked up a college degree from SF State University in Visual Communication. Thank you for taking the time to check out my work!
Dana Underwood | Travel Photography
The Quick Survey
- Name / Business Name: Dana Underwood/ Dana's Eye Photography
- Located in: San Mateo, CA
- Started in: In 2008, I took about a year off and really ramped up my shooting. A lot. On August 17, 2008, I did a shoot with then-Senator Barack Obama and 6 key supporters. As I clicked away, not listening to any of their conversation, sweating through the armpits of my dress shirt and suit jacket, I thought to myself, "This is fun. I should try to get paid to do this."
- Status: Part-time.
- Types of Photography: Portraiture, Travel
- Primary Camera / Favorite Lens: Canon 5D / My current love affair is with my 16-35mm f/2.8, but if I had only one lens I could have with me, it would be my well-worn 24-105mm f/4.
- Interesting Personal Fact: In 2009, my girlfriend and I logged nearly 250k frequent flyer miles in our cross-continental relationship.
Find out more
Main Site: www.danaseye.com
Blog: www.photorious.com
Twitter: @danaseye
365 Journal: http://www.danaseye.com/Projects/3-6-5/6083661_apfeL
Short Bio:
In 2004, on my way to Nepal, I laid my hands on a digital camera for the first time and discovered a pastime that quickly became a passion. Since then, I have been constantly searching for opportunities to combine photography with every element of my life...including travel, friendships, work, and family. As a former engineer, I enjoy my creativity with a touch of structure. Photography lets me indulge my appetite for gadgetry while *trying* to produce something that I (and hopefully some others) love to look at. To me, a perfect image is as interesting on the thousandth view as it was on the first. And not always for the same reasons. I enthusiastically vouch for the emotional and artistic power of making consistent shooting a lifestyle choice.
I am a Baltimore native, a lifelong Orioles fan, and now reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. I spend my days in the marketing department of a biotech startup and devote practically all other time to photography (and packing for flights).
Marianne Wilson Photography
The Quick Survey
- Name / Business Name: Marianne Wilson (Marianne Wilson Photography)
- Located in: Ventura County, CA
- Started in: Weddings Full-time in 2008, Portrait Photography in 2001
- Status: Full time all the time.
- Types of Photography: Wedding and Portrait. I try to concentrate on a style that is modern, romantic and has a quirky flair.
- Primary Camera / Favorite Lens: Canon 5d and a canon 35mm f/1.4L (love!). I do have a little love affair with my canon 70mm-200mm 2.8IS though
- Interesting Personal Fact: I am allergic to blue food coloring, no raspberry slurpees for me!
Find out more
- Main Site: www.mariannewilsonphotography.com
- Blog: www.mariannewilsonblog.com
- Twitter: MarianneWilson
Short Bio - Word from the Photographer
I have been in love with photography since the first time I shot a roll of tri-x 400 and developed it (then I became an ilford girl) in the darkroom. The process of creating was something I was born to do. I loved going out with friends and taking beautiful, fun, funky photos of them. As a wedding photographer I have gotten to experience all of my favorite things: Photography, people, and love, all in one place! I find myself constantly wanting to capture people and their unique personalities which is why I think I could never get tired of the excitement that comes with starting a new life and weddings. I have my degree in Photography and Media from CalARTS which was such an amazing experience and has really helped me see the fine art aspect in shooting portraits and real life. all-in-all I feel so blessed to constantly be meeting new people and getting to collaborate with them to create awesome photos and capture their unique moments
Jim Abram – Wildlife
The Quick Survey
- Name / Business Name: Jim Abram, Jim Abram Wildlife Photography
- Located in: Pollock Pines, California (The Sierra Nevada Mountains)
- Started in: Began in 1971 and became serious about wildlife photography in 2007
- Types of Photography: Wildlife, Nature
- Primary Camera / Favorite Lens:
- Nikon D300 Camera/Nikor 80-400mm and Nikor 105mm Macro Lens
- Nikon Coolpix p5100 mounted to a Swarovski 20-60x power, variable high definition scope
- Interesting Personal Fact: I've been on two birding trips to South America
Find out more
Main Site/ Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/jimabramwildlifephotography
His short bio from Flickr:
"I live in the Sierra's and am lucky to have such a beautiful place to chase photos of wildlife.
My wife and I travel to many great areas in the Western United States and like keeping a photo journal of the wildlife and beautiful scenery that we see.
We are avid birders and do so almost everyday, hoping to see a new one.
We have been lucky enough to travel to South and Cental America and see hundreds of beautiful species of wildlife in their natural enviroments. We love being in the Rain Forest."
