A: As a kid, I was obsessed with looking at and taking pictures. I was especially fond of black and white vintage photos. Hours were spent pouring over my Grandmothers photos. When looking at pictures, no words were needed. They could tell a story all on their own and I loved that!
On a side note, I was adopted at 3 days old and didn't find my birth family until I was an adult. Guess what my maternal grandfather loved all his life? Yep, photography! How cool is that?!?
Q: Did you go to school for photography?
A: No, I went to school for Business Management. I know, what a boring answer. I'm simply a self-taught girl with a passion for photography.
Q: What's with the name Gypsy Tree?
A: No, it doesn't mean I photograph Gypsy's in Trees, as one telemarketer asked me. And yes, he was serious. When I started picking a name for my businesss I knew two things, I wanted it to be different and I wanted just the name to spark creativity in me. I started brainstorming creative words that I loved. Gypsy immediately came to mind. When I was a girl, the thought of a Gypsy would bring lovely swirling dreams of bright colors, gorgeous fabrics, traveling in a covered wagon with pans clanging off the side and sleeping in tents. Can you tell that often filled my childhood dreams? Tree just seemed to naturally go with Gypsy, at least in my mind it did. Hence, Gypsy Tree was born.
Q: What kind of camera and lenses do you use?
A: I am a Canon girl! My favorite lens is my 50 mm and I always shoot in RAW.
Q: Do you do weddings?
A: I do take on a few wedding clients each year, so make sure you contact me early on to ensure you're one of the few! That gives me a nice balance of family time and giving my wedding clients the attention they need and deserve. My two littles are getting older and only have a few years left at home before they leave the nest. In the past year I've been reminded more than once how precious life is and I want to soak up every single second I can with my sweet little fam.
Q: What do you use for editing?
A: I use Photoshop. I totally believe in a little editing and tweaking. Hello, we all want to look our best. I enhance color, brighten eyes and smooth skin. You know that pimple that waited until the morning of your shoot to show up? Yeah, we’ll remove that bad boy. I want to enhance all the gorgeousness God graced you with!
I believe in the importance of integrity in a story, so I can’t paste Uncle Billy-Bob into the group portrait if he’s late to the session. I will make you look beautiful, though. But you were beautiful in the first place.
Q: What do you use for lighting?
A: Natural light, baby. The more, the better. I love love love good light. My favorite time to shoot outside is an hour before sunset (the golden light).
Q: What is your style?
A: I just want to tell your story, is that a style? I like to take images that allow true emotion to shine through. I want to produce images that stand the test of time and fifty years from now your grandchildren will still think the pictures are cool. That's if cool is still a cool word fifty years from now.
Q: What inspires your photography?
A: My littles. Golden light. Love. Vintage fashion. Laughter. Yard sales. Color. Mornings. Texture. Pinterest. Flowers. Farms. Hearts.
Q: What can I expect during our session?
A: Lots of fun. A relaxed atmosphere. Lots of me laughing like a fool. A little bit of me saying "stop, I can't hold my camera still when I'm laughing this hard". I like to allow everyone to just relax and be themselves, that way we avoid those awkward posed shots. If your lucky, you might get to see me screaming like a freak if I see a spider. Oh yes, you're hoping for that one, huh? It's not a pretty site.
Q: Are you willing to travel?
A: Absolutely! I will travel within 30 miles of Irvona, basically most of the central PA area. Additional miles will be $.50 per mile. Accomodations will apply depending on the distance.
Q: What does it mean if the photographer gasps and says don’t move?
A: This is good. Very good. This means the lighting is amazing, the location is wonderful and you are doing your job. It means I looked at the image in my camera and saw magic. I will probably immediately show you this image accompanied by a “y’all are gorgeous!”.
Q: If I’m talking, won’t there be pictures of me with weird faces?
A: Yes. I delete those. In my years of doing photography, I’ve found this method of non-posing, posing, to be the most efficient at capturing people in their normal, relaxed state. By me not telling you to tip your head this way every 2 seconds, my clients tend to relax and just enjoy the ride. I will, believe me, ask you to tip your head if I need to…but I find the most enjoyable moments are captured as you are throwing your head back in laughter.
Q: How do you choose the locations you shoot at?
A: There are so many places I love. If I’m driving around and see a gorgeous spot, I make a mental note and normally wheel in there to check it out. I love shooting at places that are special to you as a person, couple or family. It gives your images that much more meaning. I’ve shot everywhere from in a lake to at a junkyard. I love to be different and try new spots.
Q: Where do you get your prints made? What album vendors do you use?
A: If I told you, then I’d have to…
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