Meet Rachel Leib . . .

Rachel Leib

"You don't have to be the best, just better than last week"

Location: Fishkill, NY (Yeah, I said FISHKILL)

DOB: 12/28

Children:2, Caitlin 6 in Aug and Julia 3 on the 26th

Husband: Frank

Animals: Dog, Troy

Contact Info:Rachel@Rachelleib.com

Name of Business:  Rachel Leib Photography

Website:  http://www.rachelleib.com/

Blog: I'm a failed blogger

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Rachel-Leib-Photography/359382543949?ref=ts

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Rachel_Leib

Email: Rachel@rachelleib.com


What's in your bag? (if you are building your bag, what do you desire for your bag?)

Canon 20D

Canon 50D (Technically it's my husbands)

420EX flash

50mm 1.8

24-70 2.8

75-300-5.6

10-22 3.5-4.5

My very 1st lens Sigma 18-200 3.5-6.3

& a reflector I don't yet know how to use yet

What's your favorite editing software?

LIGHTROOM 3!!!!!!!!!!

Favorite Food: Japanesse

Favorite Color:  pinkish/purple

A few of your favorite things:

Coffee, gadgets... I love technology! I Hope to get an ipad but will wait for version 2 or 3, the laugh and smile of my kids!

What or who inspires you?

My kids inspire me because I want to be a good role model. I have two little girls and I want them to see from their mom that they can do anything they want at anytime in their lives. Life just also inspires me, you never know what you're going to see and where and I love when I am able to capture an image that makes me feel something.

Name something you just have to have everyday:

Coffee and my itouch

Tell us all about your journey into the world of photography. When did you realize that this is what you wanted to do and why.

Talk about making a long story short! I've always been into photography my entire life. Like many people I got my DSLR when I had my first child.  I tried to work with a school sports/studio photographer so I could learn, but that didn't work out because our schedules didn't mesh. So I did a few jobs here and there while teaching myself, but used a program mode or the green box. It wasn't until a few years back I even tried manual and was really intimidated by it so I stayed with my safe modes. I did have a website but never told anyone about it becuase I wasn't confident in my "ablilities" and would never have called myself a photographer!! It wasn't until I found MeRa while googling "manual techniques" that any of it made sense! Her way of explaining things made it click for me and so I tried a little here and there. Even with MeRa's blog I felt I was alone in my efforts and didn't really have anyone to actually talk to and ask questions, so my growth was slow and painful. It wasn't until the SOAR Scholarship that things really turned around. The group of women that I "met" and have gotten to know have literally changed my life! I would not be even close to where I am without them (you). With their guidance and support I have continued to work (and get better) on manual (the only way I shoot now) and have a new website, confidence and I actually call myself a photographer!!!! As I continually learn about technique, I am now also teaching myself about the business side and I know I can always count on my "Soar Sisters" to be there to answer my questions. So that explains the journey into the world of photography....The "why" part is much easier and shorter :) Because I LOVE to take pictures!!!! I love trying to capture moments that can instantly bring you back to that time and evoke some emotion. Video is fun and fine but I prefer photos for my memories. I would get some nice compliments on my pictures so I decided to try and make a small business out of something I love to do :)

If you already have a photography business please tell us about it, type of photography you do, how long you have been doing it, etc...

I have a 'Business' (is it a business if you haven't yet turned a profit?). I've been doing mainly portraits of children and families and hope one day to include weddings. The new website and my official coming out as a photographer (see I said it again) has been since Feburary. I've done a lot of freebies to have new photos for my site and a few modestly paid jobs. With the help of a "sisiter" or two I now have collections to offer my clients!!!

Who is your favorite photographer that you follow and why?

Well MeRa Koh for the above reason :) I'll check out Jasmine Star and Melissa Jill when I have time but I MAKE the time for MeRa and (ladies that were at MeRa's workshop with me know the next one....so say it with me) Jerry Ghionis!!!! What he does with natural light or a video light is just amazing! He makes ART! My long term goal is to take MeRa's lessons on technique and Jerry's style and take my family portraits to a different place...really find and define my own style. They both really inspire me to do and be better and I thank you both (Not that I ever met Jerry Ghionis).

Besides photography, what else do you do , i.e. work, domestic engineer, volunteer?

I'm a stay at home mom - my kids and husband are my full-time job and I try to find/make time for my passion which I have gotten better at doing as well. I have done some volunteer work as a photographer, in fact I have a volunteer job coming up on the 23rd with two radio stations doing a charity event for St. Judes.

What are some of your other hobbies and/or things that you like to do besides photography?

Honestly....this is it! Other than being with my family and friends of course!

Do you have any other businesses that you are incorporating and/or combining in your photography business or that is separate other than photography?

Nope

If there is one thing in the world that you would like to change, what would that be and why?

Hum, there are a lot of things I'd like to change but I think first and foremost....I'd like people in general to be nicer and the world safer.

Name three things you would like to do before you die?

Have the finacial freedom to travel more, give my children life experiences/adventures to help mold them into the awesome adults I know they'll be, have a successful career as a photographer.

List three goals you would like to accomplish in 2010:

Have at least one session a month, a wedding (pereferably small) by the end of the year and to be able to consistently produce sharp images. With that said, I know not all great pictures are tack sharp but I'd like to be able to produce them as it says to me I know how to use my camera.

Please tell us about the photos you are submitting and why they are your favorites.

 One my first attempts at shooting on manual a few years back and I think it looks really cool.

Cailtin 1year old (now 6)-I got one of my all time favorite shots with a point and shoot! I think it has an old feel to it and she looks like a doll.

This is from our last vacation to California where I took A LOT of pictures. I shot in manual and had the time to just sit there on the beach and play with my settings as the kids had a good time. When I look at this picture, it reminds me to "slow down!" I also liked catching Caitlin just enjoying the ocean and not knowing I was taking her picture (she gives the 6yr old pouty face a lot now)

We had a family BBQ over the holiday weekend with family I don't get to see often. My cousin wanted a silly picture of him and his new wife but I got this in between. It shows me promise in my efforts in pursuing this dream....still have a long way to go though.

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Thank you Rachel for participating in the Spotlight!  You were one of the very first women I started conversing with during our journey with SOAR and I am so grateful for the friendship we have developed.  I am so excited to watch, learn and grow along with you in this fantastic journey we are on.  I know you will be a very successful photographer.  I really LOVE your spider web image, it's awesome!  Thank you for all that you do, you're an amazing women! 

Meet Ajira Darch . . .

        photo courtesy:  Jeannie Guzis

Ajira Darch

There are so many wise sayings in the world. It's amazing.  So inspiring to connect with the reality that others have been where you are in some shape or form.  I like to remind myself of that, and of this: 'Wherever you go, go with all your heart. -Confucious'

Location:


El Cerrito, California... we're moving but planning to remain in the San Francisco Bay Area. Wish us luck in finding a house.

DOB:

November 14th. An auspicious date. Why, you ask? Because I was born on it! Ha!!

Children:

So far we have a son. His name is Chésaweh and he lights up our lives.

Husband:

Cameron. We have the ultimate love story. I'll have to blog the whole thing one of these days. I knew two days after meeting him that I was in love. We clicked from the moment we met and haven't stopped since. He's a singer/songwriter and has a day job running his general contracting business. I used to help him in it at the start of our relationship but not anymore. Apparently I was an excellent painter! :D

Animals:

Just the deer that come hang out in our garden, the peacock who visits our neighbourhood on occasion as well as the dogs and cats who live in the homes around us.

Contact Info:

415-425-7543

Name of Business:

ajira darch photography

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Email

What's in your bag? (if you are building your bag, what do you desire for your bag?)

I am the incredibly lucky person who won a Canon 1D Mark IV from Scott Bourne. He's an amazing artist, and generous as well which is incredibly lucky for all of us! Love reading his blog and tweets. And the camera is incredible. I spend so much less time editing. More and more of the images I want to share are SOOC. I don't know if I'm the only one, but I'm loving the images coming out of our time together so far, which hasn't been long.

My trusty Canon Rebel XSi/450D/Kiss X2 is now my back-up. It came with an 18-55mm IS lens that won't work on my 1D.

I have a 50mm that I adore. It is the lens that's usually on my camera. I shoot everything with it. Portraits, flowers, landscapes, everything. Love it. It works on both cameras!

I also have a 70-300mm that now seems much heavier on this bigger body. Such a great lens! Love the colour and clarity I get with it. Also works with both cameras. :D Good planning there, right?

I would love to have:

EF 35m f/1.4L USM

TS-E 45mm f/2.8

EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

What's your favorite editing software?

Aperture. Hands down it's Aperture. In this last release so much was improved that I now use everything so much less. Photoshop is now rarely opened. Which I love because it makes the whole processing part quicker, simpler and more beautiful.

Favorite Food:

Ice cream! Ha. I love all food. Seriously. SO many memories of family meals and connecting with people. Love it. Lately I've been loving green beans with garlic and olive oil with chicken and a salad. Delicious! Ask me again in a few days and I'll have a different dish, no doubt. My grandmother's cooking is what inspired a love of food and the association of it with loved ones. Her food was the best tasting I've ever had. I wish I'd had more time with her.

Favorite Color:

Brown. Every shade of it. Except maybe one. He he.

A few of your favorite things:

My son's roaring belly laugh. My husband holding my foot. Getting a shot of a tiny expression on someone's face that immediately takes me back to that moment, that moves me. Flowers. Books. Apples. Bananas. Mangoes.

What or who inspires you?

The amazing gift of being a mother to my son inspires me. As does this incredible planet we get to call home. People who wear their hearts on their sleeves and don't apologize for it. Art, movement, love, wonder and curiosity also inspire me.

Name something you just have to have everyday:

Chocolate. Just a taste.

Tea. Preferably two cups of ceylon to start the day off or this lovely green tea that my friend got me from Korea.

A photograph of my son taken that day

A walk

Tell us all about your journey into the world of photography. When did you realize that this is what you wanted to do and why.

I remember asking my parents to let me take pictures with their camera when we were on vacation when I was quite young. Eight or so. I just loved taking them, and loved looking at them, wondering about what I could and couldn't see in the frame. Then when I was off to boarding school at sixteen, I decided to get my own camera. It was such an exciting day!! It wasn't until my Aunt Carole suggested it in 2003 that I even considered the idea of doing it professionally. She was so encouraging and I am grateful to her. I love it. I've been shooting almost every day for the last few years and before that shot only a little less!

If you already have a photography business please tell us about it, type of photography you do, how long you have been doing it, etc...

I left my day job to pursue a photography business full time in March 2008. After shooting a wedding in Long Beach, three months later I came home to discover that I was pregnant! It was shocking and glorious and life changing. It's been an incredible, challenging and beautiful time. I've been shooting weddings and portraits, then during my pregnancy I found that I could only really handle more portrait work... which I love. Since my son is older, I am starting to get back into shooting weddings.

Who is your favorite photographer that you follow and why?

There are a lot of photographers that I admire and learn from for reasons as wildly learning more about business and learning more about artistry. From an artistic perspective I think that Image is Found and Jeff Newsom are consistently original and create jaw dropping stuff. I also find that Steve McCurry, Silvana Di Franco, Jonathan Canlas, Sean Flanigan and Sarah Rhoads invariably have work that has me vascillating between utter wonder and a curiosity about how they created the image. There are many more that I follow and pay attention to, but I'm starting to fall asleep now so I'll have to save those for some other time.

Besides photography, what else do you do , i.e. work, domestic engineer, volunteer?

Caring for my son is my other full time job.

What are some of your other hobbies and/or things that you like to do besides photography?

Haven't had much time for them lately but I also love arts and crafts- painting, sewing, drawing, knitting etc.

Do you have any other businesses that you are incorporating and/or combining in your photography business or that is separate other than photography?

Not yet. But I'd love to do more album designing. I want to get people's photographs out of harddrives and into books where people will look at and enjoy them.

If there is one thing in the world that you would like to change, what would that be and why?

Compassion. I think more of it would let us all get along better. We'd also be more creative in solving problems because we would consider the impact of our actions not only on the world around us but also the possible future impact.

Name three things you would like to do before you die:

Travel more

Publish a book

Be happy and show/express my love daily to those around me (including myself)

List three goals you would like to accomplish in 2010:

Get my photographs published in a print/online publication

Eat out a maximum of once every two weeks

Streamline my workflow

Please tell us about the photos you are submitting and why they are your favorites.

This is a recent favorite of my son. I photograph him with at least one of my cameras once a day. He is an absolute joy to capture and I am so glad that I have this incredible record of his growth! He's ridiculously gorgeous and ever-changing.

I love portraiture. It's so interesting to look at people and try to put yourself in their shoes whilst imagining what they might be going through. This is my friend Sierra who is fierce, beautiful, authentic and brave!

These were growing beside the pavement (what folks here call sidewalk) and they just took my breath away with their simplicity and glorious beauty. This planet is incredibly gorgeous and there's so much to see and enjoy. It blows my mind. I love this reminder that beauty is something inherent in everywhere, and also that it can occur anywhere. Even beside a street in a huge metropolis!

Finally, here's one of my favorite wedding pictures. This was after the main ceremony and before the reception when the bride and groom were relaxing upstairs and receiving the occasional personal guest. It was just a sweet and restful time before the hubbub of the reception and they were both so relaxed and glowing that it was easy to shoot them!

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Thank you Ajira for this wonderful interview!  It was so great to learn more about you and I was so thrilled and happy for you that you WON that camera!  Your son is absolutely adorable!  I wish you much luck and success with your business.  xoxo

Meet Michelle. . .

 Michelle Rose Slape

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever. It remembers little things long after you have forgotten everything.”  Aaron Siskind

Location: Fairfield, CA

DOB: July 11

Animals: 200 an Indian Ringneck, Danger Cookie the leopard gecko, and Lexus a 3 month old Miniature Schnauzer puppy – disclaimer: my older son named the first two J

Facebook: MRS Photography (fan page name)

Twitter: MRSphotog

Blog:  http://www.mrsphotography.blogspot.com/

Website:  MRS Photography

Email: MRS@MRS-Photography.com

What's in your bag? (if you are building your bag, what do you desire for your bag?)

Canon 40D, 50 mm 1.8, 85 mm 1.8 and 28-135 mm 3.5

What's your favorite editing software? Most definitely, Lightroom

Favorite Food:  Mexican and Italian

Favorite Color: Pink

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

A few of your favorite things:

Coffee, Oprah, Scrapbooking, Photography, Traveling, Reading

What inspires you?

My children and the desire to give them the fulfilled childhood that I had.

Name something you just have to have every day:

My Blackberry! I feel so disconnected without it.

Tell us all about your journey into the world of photography. When did you realize that this is what you wanted to do and why.

I never wanted to be a photographer. I just loved taking pictures because I was a “memory preserver”. I have albums and albums full of pictures of all the places I’ve lived and the friends I’ve made along the way. I can remember exactly what was happening in each image. I wanted that same thing for my children. For them to have a memory of their childhood.

When my first son was born, I took pictures of him almost every day (6 years later he is beyond tired of taking pictures J). It was no different when my 2nd son was born 3 years later. Only this time I had the Refuse to Say Cheese DVD set and knew more techniques for storytelling. That made a HUGE difference in the way I took pictures of my children. Friends began to notice the difference too and started asking me to take pictures of their children.

My accidental photography business started in 2008. J Then it took about a year hiatus when I moved from San Diego to Northern California. After taking the Confidence workshop last June, I rediscovered the passion I had for photography and got my jumpstart again.

If you already have a photography business please tell us the name of your business, type of photography you do, how long you have been doing it, website address and blog information.

MRS Photography began in January 2008. I enjoy doing natural light, casual photography. Last year I took any session I was asked to do. J This year, I have a different mission. My desire is to become a specialist in photographing children and adults with Down Syndrome. http://www.mrs-photography.com/

Who is your favorite photographer that you follow and why?

I have two – Me Ra Koh and Carey Schumacher of Barefoot Memories. I was introduced to casual photography when Carey was first starting her business and she took pictures of kids in our playgroup. I loved that my son looked so natural in front of the camera instead of the “constipated” look in front of a studio camera. J I began following her work religiously and she in turn introduced me to Me Ra’s work. What I love most about Me Ra is her ability to relate to us. Even at her level, she shares the sames fears and hesitations that those of us starting out feel and most impressively, she shares them openly.

Besides photography, what else do you do , i.e. work, domestic engineer, volunteer?

I have the most fulfilling, yet hardest working job I have ever had in my life – full-time mom. I miss working in an office environment, but wouldn’t trade this for the world.

What are some of your other hobbies and/or things that you like to do besides photography?

I am an avid scrapbooker, or should I say collector (my craft room is LOADED with products that I don’t want to use because they are too cute J). Reading relaxes me so I try to do that frequently.

If there is one thing in the world that you would like to change, what would that be and why?

In my best Miss America response J – In my life there is nothing that I would want to change. Everything that has happened to me, good or bad, happened for a reason. I honestly believe that within all the “bad” there were lessons to be learned and because of that I would not change anything.

Name three things you would like to do before you die?

1) Visit every country in the world
2) Watch my children grow old and enjoy their life with their own children and grandchildren
3) Get caught up on scrapbooking!!! J

List three goals you would like to accomplish in 2010:

1) Establish myself as the go-to photographer for children and adults with Down Syndrome in Northern California
2) Lead my business without fear (is it just me or do any of you fear success as well?)
3) Learn better time management and not feel guilty for spending time on my business

Please tell us about the photos you are submitting and why they are your favorites.

This is the picture that I took right after watching Me Ra’s Refuse to Say Cheese DVD. I had received so many compliments on it that it is the one that made me decide to make the transition from mommarazzi to starting a business.

This image is from Me Ra’s workshop and I just love how the dad’s hand looks so safe

around the baby’s head. Without seeing the dad’s face you can still sense

his adoration and protection for his baby.

 I just love that they were sharing a “moment’.

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Thank you Michelle for sharing and letting us get to know you better! 

I think it is so commendable that you want to specialize in

Down Syndrome Photography and wish you the best of luck!

Be sure to become a fan of Michelle on FB and follow her blog and leave some comment love!