To do a quick search of the FAQ, just hit ctrl or ⌘ + f and type in the keyword you want to find. You can also read more about how I work here.

What do you shoot with? What are your favorite lenses?
In 2010, I switched to a Nikon D700 with these lenses:

• 35mm 1.4
• 50mm 1.4
• 24-70mm 2.8
• 85mm 1.4
• 60mm 2.8 micro
• 70-200mm 2.8
• 45mm tilt-shift
• 15mm fisheye

However, I started out with a Canon Rebel XT, then 5D and 5D Mark II and the lenses below:

• 50mm 1.2
• 85mm 1.2
• 100mm 2.8 macro
• 15mm fisheye 2.8
• lensbaby 3G
• 16-35mm 2.8
• 24-70mm 2.8
• 70-200mm 2.8
• 45mm tilt shift 2.8

Why did you switch from Canon to Nikon?
See THIS post.

Tell me about your post-processing…do you use actions? How do you get that color!?
I now do most all of my editing via Lightroom (if you haven’t already, check out these amazing Lightroom and InDesign tutorials). And then if I need to get fancy, in some instances, I’ll work in Photoshop.

How do you get sharp images?
Blind luck + Nikon.  😉 In all honesty, this is something I have struggled with often in the past. I do know what can help in getting the sharpest images: make sure your shutter speed is high enough-something I often forget to focus on when working with moving kiddos in low light, LOL. When posting images on the web, you also need to make sure you do some form of sharpening first (I use the web sharpening action from itty bitty actions) and of course, you need to sharpen before printing (also, I use sharpening from itty bitty actions).

Do you offer classes, workshops, tutoring, mentoring, or can I be an assistant or work in your studio?
YES! We have several workshops coming up in early 2016 in Austin, TX! We do not have any openings for assistants or employees at this time.

Do you still have your marketing and photography templates for sale?
At this time, I do not have templates, etc. for sale. Please let me know if you’d like to be notified if this changes.

How did you get into offering digital files? Do you like it?
How: convenience for everyone involved and it IS the 00’s.
Do you like it?: ABSOLUTELY.

How did you get started? What kind of training did you have?
I got started much like every other mom who does photography: taking pictures of my kids.  I did have a fascination with photography growing up (I used to dress up my dolls and hold photo shoots with my mom’s Polaroid camera), but I didn’t really know what I was doing at all. And then one day I saw an image from the uber-talented and infinitely inspirational Jinky and decided that I wanted to do that, too.  And I just dove in.  I bought my first SLR (a Rebel XT), joined groups on Flickr, read EVERYTHING I could, and played, and played, and played until I started getting results I liked. And that’s that. I just learned by reading and doing and making a lot of mistakes along the way. Two books that you should read: Understanding Exposure and Photographing Babies and Children (google it…you can’t miss ’em). More tidbits and interviews HERE.

Can you tell me more about birth photography?
There is no quick answer on here for this, but the best piece of advice is to CHARGE APPROPRIATELY. Birth photography can be very, very time consuming (more hours than a wedding), plus you have to consider being on call for up to 6 weeks (which means no traveling, no important family events that you can’t miss, making sure your cards are always clear and batteries 100% charged, constantly checking your phone). It’s a beautiful thing to do, but it is not easy.

What apps do you use on your Instagram and iPhone images? How do you watermark them? Do you use special iPhone lens attachments? Are your Instagram images for sale?
All of the images on my Instagram feed were shot w/ an iPhone (4s) and soon they will be for sale! There are a bazillion editing and watermarking apps out there and you need to search and find the ones that are best for you. Honestly, I edit my images using a combination of several different apps at any given time, so it’s impossible for me to remember which ones and what settings I used for a specific image. On occasion, I do use an olloclip for macros or super wide angle images, but most of my Instagram images were shot without it. But all in all, you can’t rely on apps or fun lens clips to achieve good iPhone images. The same principles of LIGHT (good light), composition, and careful focus apply in iPhone photography as they do with any other kind of camera that you would be using. That is my NUMBER ONE bit of advice for achieving interesting and beautiful iPhone images. Hands down. What do they say? “The best camera is the one that’s with you.” Right. On.