keeping it real

I started shooting professionally when I was twenty. Besides being young, I was a girl woman in an industry which was dominated by men in high-water khaki pants, incessantly comparing their lens sizes. Our way of dealing with it, was to exclude ourselves. We never joined the organizations, or cared about awards and accolades. In our mind, it was reward enough not to be around people who were patronizing us. Like the time, I literally got patted on the head by a balding competitor. He said, "Don't worry, you'll get there". And I thought, "If 'there' is where you are, I'm fine where I am". Fast forward thirteen years to a different world. I don't know what happened, but today's most successful photographers are inclusive and real. And it totally shows up in their work. It's as if the pretentiousness of the eighties and early nineties tired people out, and created a whole new breed of photographers who just wanted to document real moments. It seriously rocks!

So I thought it would just be nice to raise a virtual internet glass to all the photogs out there who are keeping it real. Here are a few of my personal favorites...(besides all the Shutter Sisters of course)

Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser

Nick Onken

Jesh DeRox

Anna Kuperberg

Kate Mefford

Tara Whitney

Davina Fear

Amelia Lyon

The Whitebox Girls

Melissa Jill

Millie Holloman

Oh, there are so many, many more. What about you? Who are your favorite peeps?

Comments

[Ruth]

My favourite is Charlotte Geary. http://www.charlottegeary.com/ she blogs about her shoots over at http://charlottegeary.livejournal.com. And every time I read her entries I cannot help but wish she was in Singapore (where I am).

[heidi]

Love these links!

My personal favorite is Susie Hamidi. My husband and I were lucky enough to snag her for our wedding and the images are incredible.

http://www.susiehamidi.com/

I also love just about anything Alicia Paulson posts at Posie Gets Cozy. So sweet!

http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/

[Hay]

I really enjoy Farrah Braniff's work, and am inspired by her charity work.
http://farrahblog.squarespace.com/my-photo-life/

I totally love Sally Mann, no one keeps it more real than her, and all on film!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Mann

And then Australian photographer Barb Uil, amazing talent.
http://www.jinkyart.com.au/

[Temmy]

I can't remember how I stumbled upon her work, but I really enjoy Kathleen Connally's work. And she's sort of local to me. :)

http://www.durhamtownship.com/

[Tanya]

In addition to the folks already mentioned, I love Leigh Miller, the photographer who shot our wedding.

http://www.leighmillerphotography.com/

I also enjoy looking at Michele M. Waite's photos.

http://www.michelemwaite.com/

[Lawyer Mama]

I really love Amy Sandoval, a local photographer I discovered through blogging and then hired to shoot our family.

http://amysandoval.typepad.com/photography/

[Susan]

My favorites are Robyn of Buttons and Bows:
http://www.buttonsandbowsphotography.com/

and Christine of:
http://christinetremoulet.com/

I have more - but they are my most frequent visits

[carrie]

I am going to have to check out all of those links... I love that picture, her smile is infectious.

[Kal Barteski]

One of my MOST favourite peeps is this radical photographer/spirit/woman named Maile Wilson.

;)

[maya]

Becker & Jessica Claire! I ALWAYS read their blogs. Jessica Claire was the first photographer I saw that made me think I want to do THAT (even though I'm a long, long way from that). I'm also looking forward to what's going to happen with the [b] school. Becker's daily videos have given me lots of good info already.

http://www.beckersblog.com/
http://www.thebschoolblog.com/
http://jessicaclaire.net/

[amy]

i used to shoot video for a small, local, cable tv station. all the other cameramen where, well, men, big guys who'd been in the business for 10, 15, 20 even 30 years. and then there was me, fresh out of college, a girl, a quarter of the size of all of them. some of them were kind and even helpful, willing to explain, to teach me, sometimes to stand behind me and cover my back so i wouldn't get trampled and smashed in the mob. Others didn't care, were patronizing, and often rude. i am so glad i stood my ground, though i guess they just felt threatened. thank you for your inspiring thoughts, i am glad i wasn't the only one to feel like that!

[Paige Balcer]

Maile, thank God the times have changed. I will only post one of my favorites (although I have many) so as not to overwhelm.

http://www.leigh-taylor.com

[Danielle]

A friend referred me to Stevie Trischmann about a year and a half ago and we absolutely fell in love with her! We live in the Metro DC/Annapolis area, but she's been known to travel.

She is amazing with children and can pull their little personalities right through the camera. She's modern, fun, professional and adorable. A people person with a camera and an eye for what makes clients happy.

My boys love her, and, when looking at proofs after a session, get upset that "Ms. Stevie" isn't in the pictures too!!

I'm just glad that family portrait photography has evolved and we don't have to go to stuffy studios with artificial smiles and uncomfortable clothes... I love today's creativity and relaxed nature. It's so authentic.

http://www.hocusfocusart.com/#
http://www.hocusfocusphoto.blogspot.com/

[gem]

my sister is my favourite photographer!

www.centricphotography.com

[gem]

er...sorry, here's the link: http://www.centricphotography.com/

[tracey]

maile, that photo is stunning! i can't wait to click around for some serious inspiration. YOU are on the top of my favorite photogs list, btw. (is that cheating?) : )

[Melissa B]

I have so many that I have found lately. I will post the one that is from my area. I'm hoping one day to meet her.

http://rpetersphotography.squarespace.com/

[Lynette]

I have to check www.merakohblog.com every day... so inspiring and full of information! Thanks for ALL of these great links, now I know what I'm going to be doing during nap time (the kids), getting inspired!

[megan]

thanks for all these great links -- i've bookmarked a bunch so that i can go back and get inspiration!

[Deann B.]

I love the image is found (nate & jaclyn) and Jesh De Rox, but also swoon over Jose Villa's work. The fact that he still uses film exclusively is awesome. www.josevillaphoto.com

[Stephanie]

Millie Holloman is also one of my favorites! She is amazingly talented at capturing each families uniqueness and also catching "the happy" in all her shots. I totally wish I lived near her...she seems so genuine, real, and positive and it shows in all her photos. If you need to shake a bad mood, go to Millie's site.

[Ginger]

Lucky thirteen.

[divrchk]

I'm loving Nicole Van http://www.nicholev.com/

[Stacy]

I will have to check out those links.

I like Audrey Woulard for kids - she has a light, but colorful style (she's done some shoots for Pottery Barn Kids).

http://www.audreywoulardblog.com/

I ditto Jessica Claire's work. Her weddings are amazing.

Indie Art is fab, too, as already mentioned.

I also like Peta Mazey's work: http://petamazey.typepad.com/photoblog/

One of my personal favorites for more artistic vision is Ajaton Joki:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maiasuvi/ (I envy her ability to get her daughter to be so cooperative!)

[Arlene]

Keeping it real brings to mind one name at the top of my list: Elsa Dorfman. http://elsa.photo.net/

[Farrah Braniff]

I second the Kaisers! I also love Sheryl Neilds (no website yet but you can google her work). She is a friend of mine who does amazing celebrity portraits. I love Robert Frank, Walker Evans, Eugene Atget, Annie Leibovitz, George Lange, Michael Grecco...so many from so many times and places.

[melody]

Love this lady's eye and work...

http://www.durhamtownship.com/index.html

[Lisl Sukachevin]

Well you already listed my favorites: Nate Kaiser, Anna Kuperberg, and Tara Whitney! I was thrilled to see the Whitebox girls on your list as they did a family session with us the day before you posted this! I love (professional) photos that "keep it real" and capture who families really are and the relationships. I can't wait to see what the Whitebox girls "saw" in our family!

[erin]

what a beautiful picture.

i love jonathan canlas.

canlasphotography.blogspot.com

a film man.

the real deal ... love his stuff.

[Lilia]

I'm a huge fan of Tara and Jinky (had the immense privilege of meeting Jinky recently and she is the sweetest, humblest soul ever!)...another one of my favorites is Jen at http://www.shesawthings.com

[Melissa Jill :)]

Awww...MAILE! I'm totally feeling the hug. Thanks :).

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