>>> nicoleshilliday, People Photo Challenge #9 winner

ivarivar Registered Users Posts: 8,395 Major grins
edited July 26, 2010 in People
nicoleshilliday won the people photo challenge #9: Background Investigation. I asked her to answer a few questions:



WHO ARE YOU? Hi! :waves I’m Nicole; a Mom, Wife and Photographer (in that order). My little boy Liam is my world, but besides him I enjoy documenting life behind the camera, the color green, blogging, Macs, Mexican food, and traveling.

I am a stay at home mom and a wedding/lifestyle photographer that enjoys her job. We live in Northern VA, but I have also spent years in West Chester, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ and Troy, NY. Most days Liam and I hang out with other Moms and kids. We enjoy visiting DC museums, the National Zoo, the mall, pool (this heat is awful) and area playgrounds.

I am currently expecting my second child due in February and hope I can still do my photography work with two little ones taking over the house.
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my son


WHEN DID YOU JOIN DGRIN? WHICH FORUM(S) DO YOU FREQUENT MOST? I joined Dgrin back in 2007 but took a break for a while. I posted here and there, but am just getting back into it. Dgrin has taught me more over the past few years then I can remember. Just looking at other peoples work inspires me to keep shooting and trying new ideas. I mostly frequent the wedding and people forums the most, but I love looking at the Journey stories and drooling!
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HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY? DID YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOGRAPHY TRAINING? My love for photography started when I was very little. My parents always said I had an eye for taking photos and our family vacations were my inspiration. We traveled all over the United States to different National Parks. We were never ones to go to the same place twice. My first photography class was in Yosemite when I was 10. My stepfather and I did a morning photography tour of the valley. He bought me a SLR before that trip and started teaching me the basics (its funny now he asks me for advice).

In high school I had photography class all 4 years and learned how to develop my own black and white film and how to use the projectors. We thought about building a studio in our basement, but digital was taking off, so we put that on hold (good thing we did).
I wanted to major in photography in College, and still wish I did. I took a few classes here and there but nothing very inspirational.
I got my first Digital SLR out of college, the Nikon D80 and started shooting everything; ya know, now that it was digital. I learned a ton on that camera. I have upgraded a few times since then, especially after started my business.

Shilliday Photography was started in 2007. I did my first wedding for free and got referrals based on that. Now I am shooting about 20 weddings a year. Crazy!
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WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU HAVE/USE? My main camera is the Nikon D3, and I have a D300 and D80. My fav lens is the 24-70 2.8.
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WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE THING/SUBJECT/PLACE TO PHOTOGRAPH? I really love shooting weddings, but I would like to get more into Children's Photography. And who wouldn't love photographing the cutest little boy ever!
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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PHOTO? This is a hard one...I don’t think I have ever narrowed it down before.

My favorite work related photo is probably the first wedding I shot in DC. It has the bride and groom on the left and the Washington Monument on the right at dusk. We went behind the gates on this one and were basically escorted out by the park rangers. Who knew you needed a permit to shoot at the monuments. But I got the shot!

My favorite non work related photo was taken on the way to the grand canyon. It was actually taken with a point and shoot at the time (we don't hike with the heavy equipment). The road between the San Fransisco Peeks and the Grand Canyon had absolutely no on on it! I made the hubby get out of the car and stand in the middle of the road and do a little dance. We have it blown up and framed in the house.
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Fav professional photo

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Fav non professional photo


WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE SOMEONE HAS GIVEN YOU PHOTOGRAPHY WISE? If you are going on a professional shoot, storyboard your day. Do a little research before getting there. Know a few key spots!
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WHAT'S THE ONE THING/ADVICE THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE OTHER'S? Learn how to do a good black and white!
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WHO/WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES IN PHOTOGRAPHY? As a child I did a book report on Ansel Adams. He has always been a fav of mine.
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SO WHAT ABOUT YOUR WINNING ENTRY? The winning entry was taken in Ireland last May. My husband, inlaws, my son and I spent a week on the south western coast. This particular shot was taken on the Aran Island at the Dun Aonghasa fort. It was about a mile hike up to the fort but the view was worth every step. My husband is a little of a dare devil and sat down right on the edge of the cliff and demanded that I take his photo. I did a few different versions but liked the short focus one the best. I did a little more PS work for the contest by adding a small amount of polarizing filter and lightening up the hubby a bit. If you want to read more about our trip to Ireland trip click here.


I am currently redoing my website, but more of my professional work can be found here. And the most important, my personal blog is here.

Cheers and happy shooting,

Nicole

PS. Please everyone, enter in the next challenge...you made this one to easy on me!
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Comments? questions? post them here!

For more info on the people photo challenges, go here. Why not participate yourself?!?!

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