I would like to introduce "The Jovial Joy Phillips of Joy Lyn Photography" as our Photographer of the Month for the Month of September. Here is the personal interview that we were blessed with. Thank you Joy. :)
Candie and Michelle: When did you discover you had a love for photography?
Joy Phillips: When I was 7 or so, I was given a hot pink, 110 film camera. I spent all of my allowance on film and developing for that camera! I graduated to my Dads old Minolta in my teens, and finally bought my first Nikon with high school graduation money.
Candie and Michelle: :) Did you go to school for photography or were you self taught?
Joy Phillips: I have been self taught over the years.
Candie and Michelle: Kuddos. Your pictures are beautiful. :) How many years have you been doing it?
Joy Phillips: Officially, 12 years.
Candie and Michelle: What’s the first picture you ever remember taking?
Joy Phillips: Growing up in the mountains of California, I was obsessed with wild sweet peas. I remember spending rolls and rolls of film on photographing those.
Candie and Michelle: What a sweet memory. How do you balance family life and your photography business?
Joy Phillips: I keep strict business hours. I work 9-5 and as soon as my husband is home for the day, I shut things down and focus on our time together. Even if it means leaving a mountain of work undone. I’ve had to learn that while my clients are very important to me, so is my life with my husband and making the most of each day we have together.
Candie and Michelle: :) How do you like living in Yorkville, Illinois?
Joy Phillips: I spent quite a few years growing up here, then got married and moved away (I was a Southern girl for a few years!). We recently moved back, and I am loving that I live near several of my siblings. I love how laid back life is in Yorkville. We have 3 acres, which I like to call our quiet slice of the world.
Candie and Michelle: Sounds heavenly. Where is your favorite location in Yorkville to do your photo shoots at?
Joy Phillips: Not in Yorkville actually, although it is right across the field from my house...A venue called Emerson Creek Pottery and Tearoom. I love using their barn and property for as a beautiful backdrop for my photos.
Candie and Michelle: You do have beautiful backgrounds in your pictures. Have any other photographers influenced your photography style?
Joy Phillips: Yes, I adore Jasmine Star. She has had a great influence on my style and how I approach client relationships. Zach and Jody Gray have also had a big influence on how I operate my business.
Candie and Michelle: We will have to check them out. :) What are the biggest challenges you face as a photographer?
Joy Phillips: Staying fresh and current in an ever changing industry. It seems like trends come and go, and while I don’t want to go with the latest trends, I strive to stay classic and simple in my photography. I want my images to be seen as elegant in 100 years. Not as if they followed the latest trend of the decade.
Candie and Michelle: :) What’s your favorite picture you have ever taken?
Joy Phillips: My favorite image is always from my latest wedding. I can’t say that I have just one over the years. I am always excited about the moment that has just passed and I have captured.
Candie and Michelle: Awww. What is the weirdest photograph you have ever been asked to take?
Joy Phillips: Most recently a bride asked that I recreate a pose of her groom and his Dad. When the groom was 5, he and his Dad attended a black tie event. They took a photo of them wearing their bow ties, tux shirt and not much else. I was asked to recreate that photo as the groom was getting ready for the wedding day. Thank goodness they decided to wear boxers!
Candie and Michelle: LOL. What is the one thing/place/person you have always wanted to photograph?
Joy Phillips: I have been very fortunate in my career to have photographed quite a few destination weddings. Hawaii, New Zealand, Mexico, California, Florida, Colorado, Oregon... But I have always wanted to do a shoot in Paris. One day.
Candie and Michelle: WOW. You got an amazing list there. I want to visit Paris too. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started out?
Joy Phillips: I wish someone would have told me that attending more workshops was a must! Not for the training necessarily (although great info can be learned at workshops!), but to network with other great professionals. I really regret not networking early on in my career. I feel like I missed out on a lot of great connections by not investing in workshops.
Candie and Michelle: Great advice! Is there any advice you would want to give to aspiring photographers?
Joy Phillips: Network, Network, Network. Social media, in person, second shooting.... Do all of it! And maintain relationships with other photographers. Also, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. They happen. You learn and move on from them.
Candie and Michelle: Also amazing advice. Where do you see your photography taking you in the future?
Joy Phillips: I would love to take on more destination weddings per year. I also would like to continue to build my newborn photography business.
Candie and Michelle: I hope we can help with that. :) Please explain your photography packages for our readers?
Joy Phillips: I include a certain number of hours for wedding day coverage, a complimentary engagement session (a must for getting to know couples!), and digital files. Those items are the base of every package. I feel that it is important to get to know my clients, make sure their day is well documented, but I also want them to have the freedom to have their images and be able to share them.
Candie and Michelle: If anyone of our readers are interested in your work what would be the best way to contact you?
Joy Phillips: My website! www.joylynphotography.com or info@joylynphotography.com
I would like to introduce "The Jovial Joy Phillips of Joy Lyn Photography" as our Photographer of the Month for the Month of September. Here is the personal interview that we were blessed with. Thank you Joy. :)
Candie and Michelle: When did you discover you had a love for photography?
Joy Phillips: When I was 7 or so, I was given a hot pink, 110 film camera. I spent all of my allowance on film and developing for that camera! I graduated to my Dads old Minolta in my teens, and finally bought my first Nikon with high school graduation money.
Candie and Michelle: :) Did you go to school for photography or were you self taught?
Joy Phillips: I have been self taught over the years.
Candie and Michelle: Kuddos. Your pictures are beautiful. :) How many years have you been doing it?
Joy Phillips: Officially, 12 years.
Candie and Michelle: What’s the first picture you ever remember taking?
Joy Phillips: Growing up in the mountains of California, I was obsessed with wild sweet peas. I remember spending rolls and rolls of film on photographing those.
Candie and Michelle: What a sweet memory. How do you balance family life and your photography business?
Joy Phillips: I keep strict business hours. I work 9-5 and as soon as my husband is home for the day, I shut things down and focus on our time together. Even if it means leaving a mountain of work undone. I’ve had to learn that while my clients are very important to me, so is my life with my husband and making the most of each day we have together.
Candie and Michelle: :) How do you like living in Yorkville, Illinois?
Joy Phillips: I spent quite a few years growing up here, then got married and moved away (I was a Southern girl for a few years!). We recently moved back, and I am loving that I live near several of my siblings. I love how laid back life is in Yorkville. We have 3 acres, which I like to call our quiet slice of the world.
Candie and Michelle: Sounds heavenly. Where is your favorite location in Yorkville to do your photo shoots at?
Joy Phillips: Not in Yorkville actually, although it is right across the field from my house...A venue called Emerson Creek Pottery and Tearoom. I love using their barn and property for as a beautiful backdrop for my photos.
Candie and Michelle: You do have beautiful backgrounds in your pictures. Have any other photographers influenced your photography style?
Joy Phillips: Yes, I adore Jasmine Star. She has had a great influence on my style and how I approach client relationships. Zach and Jody Gray have also had a big influence on how I operate my business.
Candie and Michelle: We will have to check them out. :) What are the biggest challenges you face as a photographer?
Joy Phillips: Staying fresh and current in an ever changing industry. It seems like trends come and go, and while I don’t want to go with the latest trends, I strive to stay classic and simple in my photography. I want my images to be seen as elegant in 100 years. Not as if they followed the latest trend of the decade.
Candie and Michelle: :) What’s your favorite picture you have ever taken?
Joy Phillips: My favorite image is always from my latest wedding. I can’t say that I have just one over the years. I am always excited about the moment that has just passed and I have captured.
Candie and Michelle: Awww. What is the weirdest photograph you have ever been asked to take?
Joy Phillips: Most recently a bride asked that I recreate a pose of her groom and his Dad. When the groom was 5, he and his Dad attended a black tie event. They took a photo of them wearing their bow ties, tux shirt and not much else. I was asked to recreate that photo as the groom was getting ready for the wedding day. Thank goodness they decided to wear boxers!
Candie and Michelle: LOL. What is the one thing/place/person you have always wanted to photograph?
Joy Phillips: I have been very fortunate in my career to have photographed quite a few destination weddings. Hawaii, New Zealand, Mexico, California, Florida, Colorado, Oregon... But I have always wanted to do a shoot in Paris. One day.
Candie and Michelle: WOW. You got an amazing list there. I want to visit Paris too. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started out?
Joy Phillips: I wish someone would have told me that attending more workshops was a must! Not for the training necessarily (although great info can be learned at workshops!), but to network with other great professionals. I really regret not networking early on in my career. I feel like I missed out on a lot of great connections by not investing in workshops.
Candie and Michelle: Great advice! Is there any advice you would want to give to aspiring photographers?
Joy Phillips: Network, Network, Network. Social media, in person, second shooting.... Do all of it! And maintain relationships with other photographers. Also, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. They happen. You learn and move on from them.
Candie and Michelle: Also amazing advice. Where do you see your photography taking you in the future?
Joy Phillips: I would love to take on more destination weddings per year. I also would like to continue to build my newborn photography business.
Candie and Michelle: I hope we can help with that. :) Please explain your photography packages for our readers?
Joy Phillips: I include a certain number of hours for wedding day coverage, a complimentary engagement session (a must for getting to know couples!), and digital files. Those items are the base of every package. I feel that it is important to get to know my clients, make sure their day is well documented, but I also want them to have the freedom to have their images and be able to share them.
Candie and Michelle: If anyone of our readers are interested in your work what would be the best way to contact you?
Joy Phillips: My website! www.joylynphotography.com or info@joylynphotography.com
Thank you so much Joy for taking the time to sit down with us. We feel blessed to be featuring you this month. :)
-Candie & Michelle
-Candie & Michelle
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