An Interview with Amber Jones Photography!
1. If we asked you to photograph one part of yourself, what would it be and why?
Eyes, of course! They don't call them the window to the soul for nothing.
2. If you could photograph any person, dead or alive, who would it be?
If this was a real possibility I would spend way to much time thinking about it. I love strong women and big, magnificent eyes, so maybe Bette Davis?
3. What do you think about the future of the photography industry?
I think photography has become devalued as a profession and as a product, and I think that will continue. It is so easy get a camera that takes clear, well exposed photos, but there is an obvious difference in a snapshot and a professionally done portrait. There are people out there that want that quality of work for the price of a snapshot, and that's not okay. That takes money out of the photographer's pocket and also devalues the perception of their work. It is up to each photographer to maintain the quality of and set the value for his work. There will always be others out their with lower prices, but that just makes me want to continuously improve my photography so that its' quality can speak for itself! On a technical note, I started learning photography with film,and could not be more happy with the digital revolution. I am so excited to see the future innovations in the already awesome cameras being produced.
4. If you could give just one piece of advice to an aspiring photographer, what would it be?
Learn the many skills required to be a good photographer, and don't go into business until you are very confident in those skills. You don't want your newbie work coming back to haunt you. I have heard people say that they are embarrassed to identify themselves as a photographer. This is because there are so many unskilled people out there these days marketing themselves as professional photographers that it has lowered the common perception of the profession. I myself have practiced and studied photography for many years, but have only recently gone into business. Do I know everything there is to know about being a photographer? No, and hopefully I will never stop learning, but I think I am to the point where I can consistently produce images that I and my client can be proud of.
5. Do you think photography can be a learned skill or is there more to it than that? Do you feel an innate talent must be present for success as a photographer?
Photography is a learned skill and success is a relative term. There are photographers who are more technically proficient than I am and have very successful businesses, but their work doesn't succeed for me personally because I just don't admire it. People have different taste! But if you look at the most well known photographers in the world, I think there is something more than the skill that was learned that contributes to their success, and that is their personal vision. When a personal vision hugely appeals to a large number of people, I think that is when the world recognizes "talent".
6. What do you consider a successful portrait?
There are so many ways to capture a person in a photograph, but whatever emotion is presented, or whether you see the eyes or the back of the head, I think what makes it great is when you can't look away, you just have to look a moment longer.
7. How did you discover your style and who you are as a photographer? Are you still making discoveries about yourself and your work?
I have a degree in Fine Art and trained as a painter, so of course my compositions are influenced by that. I have always had a passion for beauty in all forms and am not that interested portraying the ugly side of life. I love to make people look and feel beautiful! Romance and nostalgia are some top themes for me. Of course I learn new things about photography all the time and hope my images keep evolving.
8. How do you stay focused and overcome the doubts and challenges experienced by most everyone in this industry?
Staying focused can be difficult because there are so many things about a photography business to focus on. I don't know if I do it well but I try. As for doubts, I think they are a very healthy thing to have. It really is important to be you own worst critic. If you are having doubts about an image, maybe it just isn't where it needs to be yet and it needs some work to get it there, or maybe sometimes it just needs to be scrapped. Either way, I think doubts can push us to be greater than we are.
9. How do you approach learning the business aspects of photography?
There are so many photographers that share their knowledge online, but it is still hard coming up with a business plan that works for you.10 That's tough, I'm not really sure. Lots of time I see an image and wish I could ask the photographer about the light source. Good lighting is a passion of mine.
10. If you had the opportunity to ask any photographer a question, what and who would you ask?
That's tough, I'm not really sure. Lots of time I see an image and wish I could ask the photographer about the light source. Good lighting is a passion of mine.
Eyes, of course! They don't call them the window to the soul for nothing.
2. If you could photograph any person, dead or alive, who would it be?
If this was a real possibility I would spend way to much time thinking about it. I love strong women and big, magnificent eyes, so maybe Bette Davis?
3. What do you think about the future of the photography industry?
I think photography has become devalued as a profession and as a product, and I think that will continue. It is so easy get a camera that takes clear, well exposed photos, but there is an obvious difference in a snapshot and a professionally done portrait. There are people out there that want that quality of work for the price of a snapshot, and that's not okay. That takes money out of the photographer's pocket and also devalues the perception of their work. It is up to each photographer to maintain the quality of and set the value for his work. There will always be others out their with lower prices, but that just makes me want to continuously improve my photography so that its' quality can speak for itself! On a technical note, I started learning photography with film,and could not be more happy with the digital revolution. I am so excited to see the future innovations in the already awesome cameras being produced.
4. If you could give just one piece of advice to an aspiring photographer, what would it be?
Learn the many skills required to be a good photographer, and don't go into business until you are very confident in those skills. You don't want your newbie work coming back to haunt you. I have heard people say that they are embarrassed to identify themselves as a photographer. This is because there are so many unskilled people out there these days marketing themselves as professional photographers that it has lowered the common perception of the profession. I myself have practiced and studied photography for many years, but have only recently gone into business. Do I know everything there is to know about being a photographer? No, and hopefully I will never stop learning, but I think I am to the point where I can consistently produce images that I and my client can be proud of.
5. Do you think photography can be a learned skill or is there more to it than that? Do you feel an innate talent must be present for success as a photographer?
Photography is a learned skill and success is a relative term. There are photographers who are more technically proficient than I am and have very successful businesses, but their work doesn't succeed for me personally because I just don't admire it. People have different taste! But if you look at the most well known photographers in the world, I think there is something more than the skill that was learned that contributes to their success, and that is their personal vision. When a personal vision hugely appeals to a large number of people, I think that is when the world recognizes "talent".
6. What do you consider a successful portrait?
There are so many ways to capture a person in a photograph, but whatever emotion is presented, or whether you see the eyes or the back of the head, I think what makes it great is when you can't look away, you just have to look a moment longer.
7. How did you discover your style and who you are as a photographer? Are you still making discoveries about yourself and your work?
I have a degree in Fine Art and trained as a painter, so of course my compositions are influenced by that. I have always had a passion for beauty in all forms and am not that interested portraying the ugly side of life. I love to make people look and feel beautiful! Romance and nostalgia are some top themes for me. Of course I learn new things about photography all the time and hope my images keep evolving.
8. How do you stay focused and overcome the doubts and challenges experienced by most everyone in this industry?
Staying focused can be difficult because there are so many things about a photography business to focus on. I don't know if I do it well but I try. As for doubts, I think they are a very healthy thing to have. It really is important to be you own worst critic. If you are having doubts about an image, maybe it just isn't where it needs to be yet and it needs some work to get it there, or maybe sometimes it just needs to be scrapped. Either way, I think doubts can push us to be greater than we are.
9. How do you approach learning the business aspects of photography?
There are so many photographers that share their knowledge online, but it is still hard coming up with a business plan that works for you.10 That's tough, I'm not really sure. Lots of time I see an image and wish I could ask the photographer about the light source. Good lighting is a passion of mine.
10. If you had the opportunity to ask any photographer a question, what and who would you ask?
That's tough, I'm not really sure. Lots of time I see an image and wish I could ask the photographer about the light source. Good lighting is a passion of mine.
Thank you for sharing Amber!
Find Amber Jones Portraiture on Facebook.
Find Amber Jones Portraiture on the Web.
Join us on the 1st and 15th of each month (and sometimes in between) for more artist and session features!
Interested in joining us as a Featured Artist or Featured Session? Click here to find out more!
Find Amber Jones Portraiture on Facebook.
Find Amber Jones Portraiture on the Web.
Join us on the 1st and 15th of each month (and sometimes in between) for more artist and session features!
Interested in joining us as a Featured Artist or Featured Session? Click here to find out more!