 | I would like to introduce the Lovely Lindsay Swinford of Cameo Photography as our Photographer of the Month for the Month of February. Here is the personal interview that we were blessed with. Thank you Lindsay. :) |
Candie and Michelle: When did you discover you had a love of photography?
Lindsay Swinford: I’m not sure, I know I was very young though. My grandmother was always taking pictures of my sister and I, and sometimes she would let me take pictures with whatever was top of the line. She always had a great camera! She got me my first hot pink kodak1-10 without a flash for Easter one year. I may have been 6-7.
Candie and Michelle: Did you go to school for photography or were you self taught?
Lindsay Swinford: I would love to go to school for it! I am self taught with the help of 2 seasoned photographers that have been wonderful mentors.
Candie and Michelle: It's always nice to have good support from people who have traveled down the same path. How many years have you been in photography?
Lindsay Swinford:Professionally , just under a year. However I have been taking pictures since I was a child and really enjoyed it as a teenager. I was on the Yearbook Staff in High School, and our School Newspaper in High School and College.
Candie and Michelle: What’s the first picture you ever remember taking?
Lindsay Swinford:I remember taking pictures with my little 1-10 of my grandmothers flowers, my cats and my sister. You could only take pictures outside with it.
Candie and Michelle: I remember those cameras. I enjoyed taking pictures myself. How do you balance family life and your photography business?
Lindsay Swinford: It is definitely a balancing act! We are a blended family of 6! Sometimes my kids are my greatest models or not. I do have a very supportive husband who is always there to lend a hand when I do leave the house for a few hours to do a shoot or session. I am so lucky!
Candie and Michelle: It's always wonderful to have support from a loving family. How do you like living in Rome, Ga.?
Lindsay Swinford: Compared to the rural farm town of Gaylesville,AL where I grew up, Rome is the bees knees! I still live in the country but I am a short drive from town. It’s the best of both worlds!
Candie and Michelle: Where is your favorite location in Rome, Ga to do your photo shoots?
Lindsay Swinford: Rome is really rich in history, so there are tons of options. I enjoy Rolater Park (just outside of Rome), our beautiful downtown district and anyplace that is older and nostalgic. Some of my favorite pictures I have taken have been at a 50+ year old gas station near my house. 8.
Candie and Michelle: I agree the downtown district is very beautiful. We will have to check those other places out. Has any other photographers influenced your photography style?
Lindsay Swinford: I could really look at Annie Leibovitz work all day long. I find something different I like every time I look at her photographs. There are several other local photographers work I enjoy as well.
Candie and Michelle: I'm looking forward to checking out her work. What are the biggest challenges you face as a photographer?
Lindsay Swinford: I am still learning more and more about my camera every time I pick it up! I wonder some days if I will ever figure it all out!
Candie and Michelle: LOL. I can relate to that. As the old saying goes, "Practice makes perfect." What is your favorite picture you have ever taken?
Lindsay Swinford: I love pictures of my babies that just sort of happened, that were not even planned! 1. My daughter Amelia and her Great Aunts pony, Corky. Is was sort of like she forgot I was there and was just jabbering(she was 19mo) to the pony, the both just looked at me at the same time and I snapped it! 2. My son Jaxson climbed on a step ladder outside and claimed it “The best day ever” as he laughed and laughed with the blue sky in the back ground! It makes my heart sing!
Candie and Michelle: Awww....those sound like two beautiful candid shots. What is the most memorable photograph you have ever taken?
Lindsay Swinford: When I was about 15 I took a beautiful picture at Little River Canyon in Fort Payne,AL. The waterfall was at a very high swell and the fall foliage was incredible! It won in a 4h photo contest.
Candie and Michelle: I've been there. I bet it really is beautiful that time of year. What is the weirdest photograph you have ever been asked to take?
Lindsay Swinford: I did a wedding last spring at a park named after the cave on site (Cave Spring). This beautiful bride in a beautiful gown wanted to take pictures inside the cave! So in this white gown with 3 people holding it as she walked through ankle deep red mud barefoot we take pictures in this cave. She was incredibly happy with them and I lost a flat!
Candie and Michelle: I bet that was a memorable moment. I'm glad the pictures turned out good and the bride was happy. I wish I could have seen it. What is the one thing/place/person you have always wanted to photograph?
Lindsay Swinford: For a belated honeymoon my husband and I went to Washington D.C. for the 4th of July. I would love to go back with the camera I have now and capture the Washington monument fireworks.
Candie and Michelle: That would be beautiful. Maybe you will get to go back in the future. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started out?
Lindsay Swinford: I have really learned more about posing and lighting in the past year than I ever knew before!
Candie and Michelle: Is there any advice you would want to give to any aspiring photographers?
Lindsay Swinford: The best camera to shoot with is the one you have with you! The camera on your smartphone can do wonders if you don’t have a camera! Don’t let not having a big dollar camera shy you away from something you love!
Candie and Michelle: That is really good advice. Where do you see your photography taking you in the future?
Lindsay Swinford: I would love to just really do more! I hope to add a small indoor studio and lighting to my home this year.
Candie and Michelle: Sounds like a really good goal to shoot for. I hope you get it. Please explain your photography packages for our readers?
Lindsay Swinford: My packages differ with seasonal specials. The most basic and popular one you will see are mini sessions that run around $40 for 30 min and include 9-10 edited images on a disc. These are geared toward seasons and holidays.
Candie and Michelle: If any of our readers are interested in your work what would be the best way to contact you?
Lindsay Swinford: I have several albums available to view on my facebook page! Please like, share, and message me there! www.facebook.com/makeacameo
Thank you so much Lindsay for taking the time to sit down with us. We feel blessed to be featuring you this month. :)
-Candie & Michelle
Lindsay Swinford: I’m not sure, I know I was very young though. My grandmother was always taking pictures of my sister and I, and sometimes she would let me take pictures with whatever was top of the line. She always had a great camera! She got me my first hot pink kodak1-10 without a flash for Easter one year. I may have been 6-7.
Candie and Michelle: Did you go to school for photography or were you self taught?
Lindsay Swinford: I would love to go to school for it! I am self taught with the help of 2 seasoned photographers that have been wonderful mentors.
Candie and Michelle: It's always nice to have good support from people who have traveled down the same path. How many years have you been in photography?
Lindsay Swinford:Professionally , just under a year. However I have been taking pictures since I was a child and really enjoyed it as a teenager. I was on the Yearbook Staff in High School, and our School Newspaper in High School and College.
Candie and Michelle: What’s the first picture you ever remember taking?
Lindsay Swinford:I remember taking pictures with my little 1-10 of my grandmothers flowers, my cats and my sister. You could only take pictures outside with it.
Candie and Michelle: I remember those cameras. I enjoyed taking pictures myself. How do you balance family life and your photography business?
Lindsay Swinford: It is definitely a balancing act! We are a blended family of 6! Sometimes my kids are my greatest models or not. I do have a very supportive husband who is always there to lend a hand when I do leave the house for a few hours to do a shoot or session. I am so lucky!
Candie and Michelle: It's always wonderful to have support from a loving family. How do you like living in Rome, Ga.?
Lindsay Swinford: Compared to the rural farm town of Gaylesville,AL where I grew up, Rome is the bees knees! I still live in the country but I am a short drive from town. It’s the best of both worlds!
Candie and Michelle: Where is your favorite location in Rome, Ga to do your photo shoots?
Lindsay Swinford: Rome is really rich in history, so there are tons of options. I enjoy Rolater Park (just outside of Rome), our beautiful downtown district and anyplace that is older and nostalgic. Some of my favorite pictures I have taken have been at a 50+ year old gas station near my house. 8.
Candie and Michelle: I agree the downtown district is very beautiful. We will have to check those other places out. Has any other photographers influenced your photography style?
Lindsay Swinford: I could really look at Annie Leibovitz work all day long. I find something different I like every time I look at her photographs. There are several other local photographers work I enjoy as well.
Candie and Michelle: I'm looking forward to checking out her work. What are the biggest challenges you face as a photographer?
Lindsay Swinford: I am still learning more and more about my camera every time I pick it up! I wonder some days if I will ever figure it all out!
Candie and Michelle: LOL. I can relate to that. As the old saying goes, "Practice makes perfect." What is your favorite picture you have ever taken?
Lindsay Swinford: I love pictures of my babies that just sort of happened, that were not even planned! 1. My daughter Amelia and her Great Aunts pony, Corky. Is was sort of like she forgot I was there and was just jabbering(she was 19mo) to the pony, the both just looked at me at the same time and I snapped it! 2. My son Jaxson climbed on a step ladder outside and claimed it “The best day ever” as he laughed and laughed with the blue sky in the back ground! It makes my heart sing!
Candie and Michelle: Awww....those sound like two beautiful candid shots. What is the most memorable photograph you have ever taken?
Lindsay Swinford: When I was about 15 I took a beautiful picture at Little River Canyon in Fort Payne,AL. The waterfall was at a very high swell and the fall foliage was incredible! It won in a 4h photo contest.
Candie and Michelle: I've been there. I bet it really is beautiful that time of year. What is the weirdest photograph you have ever been asked to take?
Lindsay Swinford: I did a wedding last spring at a park named after the cave on site (Cave Spring). This beautiful bride in a beautiful gown wanted to take pictures inside the cave! So in this white gown with 3 people holding it as she walked through ankle deep red mud barefoot we take pictures in this cave. She was incredibly happy with them and I lost a flat!
Candie and Michelle: I bet that was a memorable moment. I'm glad the pictures turned out good and the bride was happy. I wish I could have seen it. What is the one thing/place/person you have always wanted to photograph?
Lindsay Swinford: For a belated honeymoon my husband and I went to Washington D.C. for the 4th of July. I would love to go back with the camera I have now and capture the Washington monument fireworks.
Candie and Michelle: That would be beautiful. Maybe you will get to go back in the future. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started out?
Lindsay Swinford: I have really learned more about posing and lighting in the past year than I ever knew before!
Candie and Michelle: Is there any advice you would want to give to any aspiring photographers?
Lindsay Swinford: The best camera to shoot with is the one you have with you! The camera on your smartphone can do wonders if you don’t have a camera! Don’t let not having a big dollar camera shy you away from something you love!
Candie and Michelle: That is really good advice. Where do you see your photography taking you in the future?
Lindsay Swinford: I would love to just really do more! I hope to add a small indoor studio and lighting to my home this year.
Candie and Michelle: Sounds like a really good goal to shoot for. I hope you get it. Please explain your photography packages for our readers?
Lindsay Swinford: My packages differ with seasonal specials. The most basic and popular one you will see are mini sessions that run around $40 for 30 min and include 9-10 edited images on a disc. These are geared toward seasons and holidays.
Candie and Michelle: If any of our readers are interested in your work what would be the best way to contact you?
Lindsay Swinford: I have several albums available to view on my facebook page! Please like, share, and message me there! www.facebook.com/makeacameo
Thank you so much Lindsay for taking the time to sit down with us. We feel blessed to be featuring you this month. :)
-Candie & Michelle
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