Kate Craft Photography | Duluth Photographer

This weeks amazingly  wonderfully talented friend is Clarice Hendel of Orange County, Ca and her work is breathtaking! When I first jumped into photography Clarice was always willing to help and gave some of the best advise in those first few months. She kept me going when I was feeling oh so defeated. She’s the whole package folks a great talent and a great person through and through.

Name: Clarice Hendel
Studio Name: Studio Cee Photography
Location: Orange County, CA

10 Questions
About the image…
1) Why do you love this image?
She just looks so peaceful and content there and I love the contrast of the fur surrounding her little self.

2) What were your settings with this image?
ISO 800, f/2, 1/500ss, 50mm lens

About Photography…
3) What do you love about Photography?
I love the creative freedom that I have when picking up a camera. It really provides endless amounts of opportunity for me to explore new creative ideas. Not only can I photograph newborns but I can also photograph all ages, groups, landscape and macros…it’s endless!

4) What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
I specialize in newborns. When I first ventured into the world of photography it was soley due to an experience that I had with a local newborn photographer that I had hired to photograph my darling son at 8 days old. I was so fascinated by what she was doing. When I saw the final images I was even more captivated and I knew it was something that I needed to explore in the future.

About your life?
5) What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
I love traveling. My husband and I traveled a lot before we had our children and a trip to Kauai was always on our agenda each year and still is as parents something we try to do every year. I also recently took up knitting and I enjoy that a lot.

6) Who or what inspires you?
Oh gosh where do I begin? There are so many photographers that inspire me! But I am also inspired by the creativity I see in magazines, just browsing around etsy but I think nature inspires me to see beauty everywhere.

7)Do you have happy and depressed moments during your creative cycle?
Oh yes. I think it’s just natural to feel that way. There are always ups and downs in life.

8 )A good portrait means ….
Something that evokes emotion or relays a story.

9) What would your ideal day be like?
It would be 1/3 day of accomplishments, 1/3 day with family, 1/3 day for myself.

10) If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
It would definitely be something in the creative field. I am a graphic designer and worked freelance for many years and loved it. I have studied interior design and I love that too. I am also interested in designing a kids clothing line someday. I use to design and sew all my clothing when I was younger.

Please visit Clarice’s Websit at www.studiocee.com and her blog at www.studioceeblog.com to see more of her beautiful work.  And don’t forget to become a fan on facebook at http://www.facebook….33046918?ref=ts!

This week I am featuring the very talented Laura Morita-Yeun. Let me start off by say I love this ladies work. If I could have anyone capture images of my kiddos she is on the top of the list. Laura posses the unique ability to capture kids as they are …fun and quirky. She has also become a good friend over the last year and with ever passing day I realize she just maybe one of the coolest chicks I know.  If you missed installment number one featuring Jen Snyder click here.

Name: Laura Morita-Yeun
Studio Name: Laura Morita Photography
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

10 Questions
About the image…
1) Why do you love this image?
I love this image for a lot of reasons. First, because my son is in it, and I love that boy to pieces. BIG love for that little guy. Secondly, I love the whole concept of it. He was turning five, and I wanted to do a special shoot to commemorate the big occasion. I love the composition and the colors. And lastly, because I’m in it with him, loving him. I am almost always behind the camera, and have very few images of me with my kids. The image evokes a lot of love and excitement for me.

2) What were your settings with this image?
ISO 400, f5, 1/640. I was using my Canon 5d Mark II and my 24-105 f4 lens. My camera is set up on a tripod. I have a remote that I can set to do a 2 second delay, so I can hit the trigger and then have two seconds to hide the remote and strike the pose. That was getting tough, so I had my daughter hold the remote right near the camera and would just tell her when to hit the button. That way, she wasn’t accidentally moving the camera. Worked beautifully!

About Photography…
3) What do you love about Photography?
I love that it captures a moment in time and can convey very strong emotions. I love that it can make you think, make you feel, make you laugh, make you cry. I love the creativity it sparks in me. I love looking through the lens and composing a shot. I love how it has made me appreciate light. If I never picked up a camera again, I would still always have the gift of seeing light in such a miraculous way. I love that.

4) What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
I specialize in child and family portraiture. I love connecting with a child and getting them to trust me and my camera. I love making it a fun experience for the child and family. I take pride in the fact that I am almost always able to connect with a kiddo and get genuine emotions captured. The innocence of childhood is completely beautiful and pure to me. As we age, we lose that wonder, which is such a shame. When I’m working with a child, I get that wonder back. Seeing the eyes through a child and knowing what I need to do to evoke that energy really makes me feel alive.

About your life?
5)What are you still learning?

Um, everything. If you stop learning, then what are you doing?

6) Who or what inspires you?
People who love what they do inspire me. I think when you truly love what you do, it can be noticed. There’s a spring in their step, a twinkle in their eye. I am often inspired by other photographers–those that capture the now. I am especially wowed by those that can capture the innocence of childhood in a fun and different way.

And I am SO inspired by my parents. My mom is a recent cancer survivor and how she has handled herself through it all brings me to tears. I am so proud of the strength she has shown. Even though my parents are divorced, my dad has been there to support her and us kids every step of the way. Words can’t even begin to describe how his dedication makes me feel.

7) Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?

I like a lot of different types of music. I don’t listen to music nearly as much as I used to, and that makes me sad. But some favorites are: Lily Allen, Mazzy Star, Pavement, Beastie Boys, Cowboy Junkies, Neil Young, MIA, Girl in a Coma, Beck, Cake, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, The Beatles, Foo Fighters….

8 ) A good portrait means ….
You captured a little piece of their personality, you evoked an emotion, you get people to stop and stare a little bit longer than they normally would.

9) What is in your camera bag?
Goggles. A whole slew of them. I laughed the other day when I saw a pair of red, blue, and green goggles in there. I’m guessing that’s not the usual stuff? Also, my Canon 5D Mark II camera, 24-70mm lens, 24-105mm lens, 50mm lens, 85 mm lens, CF cards, whistles, smarties, random toys, stickers.

10) If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
I’m a physical therapist, and I really do love my job. I work in a skilled nursing facility and love working with the older population. I love helping improve the quality of someone’s life simply through my hands and through education. It’s a great feeling!

You can see all of Laura’s beautiful work on her Website http://lauramoritaphotography.com, her Blog: http://lauramoritaphotography.com, or her Facebook page  http://www.facebook….ritaPhotography

Go look you won’t regret it for a second!

Next week I will be featuring Name: Kathleen Weibel
of Kathleen Weibel Photography.