Yet one more fabulous way for me to procrastinate! And yet one more idea that is not my own, but all the rage among photography blogs! I have so many lovely and dear (and smartass, fresh, and ornery) photography friends and even though I mostly “talk” to them on-line, they are really close to my heart, they help me work through challenges, critique my work, and give me support and love. I thought it would be neat to highlight them here so you could get to know them as well… if you are located outside Boston, or have friends and family that are, you might just find out about someone right in your own backyard!
So let’s talk to Shey Marin (http://www.sheymarinphotography.com/)! Shey grew up outside Frederick MD and just returned to the area after living in Indianapolis for a few years with her [cute] husband Dave (both Wake Forest Graduates). She was a Capacity Manager at Adidas and her husband was practicing dentistry and then completing his Masters in Science in Dentistry and Certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at Indiana University. After a FANTASTIC trip to Australia for the summer, Shey and Dave have relocated back to Maryland so Dave can start up his practice (Detterline Orthodontics) and Shey can really focus on her photography business.
Shey, you and I have “known” each other for about 3.5 years and we’ve hung out a few times on both a social and a professional basis (we actually met before we started shooting professionally). You know I love you and think you are the greatest, so there is even more love now that you agreed to be interviewed on my blog!
What’s the greatest thing about your new life?
Oh there are so many incredible things…but if I had to pick the best it would be working side by side with Dave as we both pursue our dreams. It’s crazy and hectic and overwhelming every.single.day, but I LOVE seeing him make his patients happy, and he has 16 HUGE prints from Shey Marin Photography all over his office walls…so I think we are both beaming with pride.
Have you found any great places to shoot sessions? Any new dream locations you are dying to bring clients to?
Absolutely….and it’s one of my other favorite things about being here in Maryland now! There are so many great urban spots, beautiful parks and stunning nature spots. My home studio is set on acres of insanely amazing fields and forests at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain, and I am DYING to do a session in the tall grasses before sunset this fall. [Yay! I think I found you a family for this!]
What do you shoot with? What’s in your bag? What would you like to be in your bag?
I use Nikon’s D700 and I loooooove this camera. I only carry a few necessities with me on photosessions…my camera and backup camera, 24-70 2.8 Nikkor lens (which never leaves my camera) and I bring along the 50mm 1.8 just in case. I carry 20GB of memory in 5 4GB cards, an extra battery, lens cloth, business cards, and then smarties/a pez despensor/a red feather cat toy as props to get attention. I would love to add the 70-200 so that I can go to Africa on a safari and capture amazing animal images…one day I will make that happen!
Where do you find inspiration?
I find so much inspiration in my clients and their stories. Each family and each child has their own little spark and I find myself on a quest each session to really capture their personality. I also become really inspired by nature and locations I find. On any given day I’ll be driving down the road and without even knowing it I’m scanning the sides for shady meadows or pockets of light – I’m sure it’s distracting for my passengers…but they’ll forgive me. Last but not least I’m always inspired by other artists and creators, and I love collaborating together and challenging each other.
How would you describe your style?
I would describe my style as modern lifestyle…a mix between classic and photo journalistic. I have a pretty laid back personality and it definitely carries into my photography style. I prefer people and things as they are in real life, and seen through my eyes. I don’t work with backdrops, off camera lighting, or elaborate props….not because I don’t admire them and think they’re great, but more because my style is very natural and playful, and I enjoy capturing the unscripted moments. Plus you don’t want to see me dragging that stuff around…I would be bound to trip myself.
What was the turning point that made you want to want to “do this.”?
My mother was a photographer and I always enjoyed learning from her and having art as a part of my life. After graduating college I entered the corporate world and left the creative sparks mostly behind. While I loved my job at adidas – and I mean LOVED my job – there was definitely a big piece missing in the creative aspect. One day I was telling my husband how I felt like something was missing, and he suggested we take a photography course together. As things like that normally go with us, by the time the class rolled around there was only 1 spot left, so of course I took the spot! ;) It worked out great though because it helped me bridge the gap between my previous experience with film and the newer digital mediums, and from there I was hooked.
When you aren’t taking pictures, or editing, what are you doing?
There’s other time in the day? We’ve been exploring Frederick, Baltimore and DC and seeing all our friends around here. We’re loving being closer to family now, and taking care of the farm we live at is a welcomed task. I love doing anything outdoors, and I can’t wait to start checking off all the awesome sushi restaurants.
What’s on your iTunes playlist right now?
A mixture of some bands I started really following during our summer in Australia – basically everything that reminds me of the beach, sun, sea, and the freedom that a full summer of travel holds. John Butler Trio of course, Matt Costa [Yay! I love him too!], Will Conner, Mike Pinto, Slightly Stoopid, Rob Sawyer, The Beautiful Girls, and Xavier Rudd.
If Dave could describe you at this very minute, what would he say?
Totally put together. Bwaahhahaha…ok realistically wearing a pink Colts hoodie, blue and red lobster printed yoga pants, and a few moments away from falling asleep at my desk. Great combo.
Do you Facebook? Twitter? Blog? What do you think of all this contact contact and communication and networking?
Yes to all three! I admit I was skeptical at first of being so ‘available’ everywhere, but I’ve connected with so many new and old friends, and it’s allowed me to reach out to an incredible community here in Maryland. I love google reader too, it helps me sort through all my interweb obsessions. Friend my business on Facebook!
So let’s take a look at some of your gorgeous work!
For this senior shoot I wanted an edgy, fun and more urban feel. I processed this by running a basic midtone boost in curves and dragging the shadows deeper a bit, sharpening using unsharp mask at a low opacity, running portraiture at a very low opacity on a duplicate layer, running a soft light layer at a low opacity and erasing back some of the skin, and then burning and sponging more of the edges.
I know this kid (well, not really, but I feel like I do!)! You photographed him throughout his entire first year and it was so awesome to not only watch him grow, but watch your skills and style evolve! Fantastic!
For his one year birthday we went to a park and I wanted to highlight the fun colors of the playground and how they matched his big blue eyes. I did a basic midtones bump using curves, with a layer adjustment to increase the highlights and deepen the shadows just a bit. Then I ran a multiply layer at a low opacity on just the background by erasing him back into the photo. I used the patch tool to reduce the undereye circles which many babies have, ran an additional curves layer on just the background to make the blue pop a bit more, and then I sharpened using unsharp mask and was done!
For newborns I prefer a slightly softer look, since the babies themselves take center stage in all their newness and cuteness. For this image below I converted an already proofed color image to black and white by running my favorite black and white action (originally recommended to me by you, Kristina!) Totally Rad Action’s Bitchin’ black and white. After running it I went into the curves adjustment and deleted it out, and then created my own custom curves adjustment which had softer highlights and shadows. It was already sharpened from the color version so I just saved and then I was done!
Gorgeous work Shey! Thank you so much! Any last parting words?
Check out my holiday card special! And thank you!
Great interview!
loved the interview!!
Loved reading this, great interview!
great interview!
Great interview! Cooper (the boy with the big blue eyes) and I definitely miss having Shey around! Who’s going to document him now?
two of my fav photographers (and people) chatting … what could be better???
Great interview. Love the style you both wrote it.