An Interview:Kamin Williams

To try and add a little extra spice to the blog, I wanted to experiment with guest blogging. My first interview is with none other than my sweet friend, Kamin Williams. Kamin's work can be seen in Southern Lady, Taste of the South & Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade to name a few. Kamin is such an inspiration not only as a photographer and friend but with her daily walk with the Lord.

Head on over to her blog here to check out my answers to the following questions and more of K's work!

1. What is the most challenging thing about a shoot?

I would say the most challenging thing about a shoot would be the weather and the location. The weather is completely out of your control but its probably the most important. I usually have lots of quiet time with God the day before!! The location is the fun part, figuring out where to start. Sometimes I get so lost in the area that I just decide to shoot everywhere. I usually end up taking way more photographs than I originally meant to take. Also working around things that aren't so pleasant is another struggle.


2. Who/What influences your work?

This question requires two answers. The first would be focused toward my personal work which is mostly children and weddings. And I think life most influences that aspect of my work. Peoples lives influences their look and movements and emotions and those things in turn influence my photographs of them. I want them be alive in the images. To see themselves like they truly are. The second part would regard my daily professional work which is much different. Editorial work is making moments from nothing. Taking props and flowers and china and food and creating a story from it. My influences are Donna Hay, Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit... etc. I could go on and on. This light and feel of these are so gorgeous to look at they make you want to look through the pages over and over again. I strive to create something as wonderful.


3. How did you get started?

I started taking photographs early on as a child. And then in high school we had a semester of basic photography and there my teacher encouraged me to continue. I was asked to do our school year book the years after that, but it wasn't until college in my very first intro photography class that I fell in love. It was so wonderful to capture life as it happened and keep it forever. After college I worked at a portrait studio (where I met Carmen!!) for awhile. That was crazy but definitely not a long term situation thank goodness. I managed to snag an editorial photography position in late 2007 as a staff photographer for a magazine publisher in Birmingham and have loved every minute of it. I still do child photography and weddings most weekends and its like a vacation. Getting to do photography in so many different facets is challenging and wonderful all same.


4. If you could shoot anyone who would it be? and why?

This is an easy one...Annie Leibovitz. I love love love her. She is an amazing photographer. Her portrait work is unbelievable and how amazing to photograph the world acclaimed Portrait Photographer!


5. Current equipment lust?

The Canon 5d Mark III and Creative Suite 4!!! Oh and the 24mm Tilt-Shift Canon lens.