Check out the new site/blog at www.megborders.com

Great question. I never shoot on a private property unless I have permission from the land owner or know someone who has permission. I have gotten in the habit of marching myself up to people’s doors and asking them. It took a lot of guts the first time, but comes pretty easily now. Most land owners find it complimentary that I think their field or orchard would be the perfect backdrop for  photos. I also use a lot of public land i.e parks, nature reserves etc…

Safety first is my motto. My worst fear is some farmer chasing me down in front of my client with a pitchfork. How embarrassing and absolutely unprofessional.

Jamie ask, at what age did you become interested in the art of photography?

I have always loved beautiful imagery, but never considered it as a career. I went to college to study social work and had dreams of becoming a children’s social worker and changing the system for the better (I am a big dreamer, I know). I still have that aspiration and hope to be able to advocate on behalf of children in the foster care system one day.

I actually fell into photography. I like to say it found me. It was a passion that was uncovered through a series of events in my life. I can’t imagine doing anything different right now. Creating art and telling stories through images is something that makes my heart swell with joy. I am so blessed to be doing what I love for a living.

Chris asks, what is your biggest word of advice for photographers just starting out?

I have lots of advice, but if I had to pick one thing, it would be to shoot what makes your heart sing. Don’t compare to others and try and be someone else. Do what’s in your heart and stay true to you.

I spot meter almost always and expose for my subject’s skin. Typically, I will get up close to my subject’s face, meter off their skin, and start shooting. I have to re-do this for each different lighting situation we walk into during our shoot.

AlisaMarie asks: I know you are a natural light photographer but I was wondering if you ever use flash or have a speedlight or anything? Also, what settings (including ISO) do you usually use to get such a beautiful, airy, light picture? I want to just do natural light, but the winters in alaska make it really hard.

Great question! I actually have never used a speedlight or any kind of fill-flash for a session. I like to keep my ISO at 200 or below if I can get away with it.  However, when forced to shoot on a dark and dreary day, I am not afraid to crank that ISO up. My D700 can handle low light situations very well when I need her to. I heart her.

Lighting is incredibly important to how my photos turn out and instead of “making do” I typically will reschedule the session for a better lit day if its not too inconvenient for my client. I know my clients are hiring me for a certain look and I explain to them that in certain weather situations, we will not be able to achieve that look (I can’t fake the sun, nor would I want to, I like to keep things as natural as possible).  They are always prepped for a reschedule if the weather turns on us. I do live in an area that claims we get sun 300 days out of the year, so that does help!

You also need to note that you can do some amazing things with flash and off camera lighting. I have seen some stunning work that makes me drool. You just have to find your style and what works for you and go for it.

Natalie asks: I was wondering what if any database you use to keep your customers information or details?

I have tried many different studio management software programs and have found out, for me, keeping it simple has been the best thing. I use my Address Book on my Mac to store all client information as well as a written copy in their client file. I just got the new Design Aglow Studio Essential Studio Workflow Assistant and LOVE it. It has helped me take my business organization to a whole new level!!

Nancy asks: I am new to photoshop, what do you recommend?

I highly recommend some online classes (or local if you can find them). Creative Live has some amazing classes and tools regarding photoshop.

That’s it for this week. Email me at megan@photographybymeg.net and title your message FAQ to get your question featured in next weeks post! Thanks beautiful friends! Have an amazing weekend.

Lots more to see including custom press printed cards, a brand new line of painted wood distressed frames, and stunning wall galleries.

Sifting through the piles of resumes was so much harder than I thought it was going to be. The passion and excitement in the applicant’s cover letters made me want to choose them all!  However, this time I had to choose just one.  Through a long and tedious process I weeded out the top applicants and I just kept going back to one.

Her credentials are amazing, her passion for photography- beautiful, and most of all she possesses every quality I need in an intern. Please meet the lovely, beautiful, and my new intern: Donell Koppenaal.

I sent her a little interview to help you all get to know her a little better.

First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself:

Hello!  My name is Donell (pronounced Don-L) but most everyone calls me D (feel free!).  I’m 27, my zodiac sign is Cancer (which means I’m basically a homebody who loves the water), was born at Kadlec, raised in Richland (maiden name is Gana for fellow Tri-Citians who might know
my folks), graduated from RHS in 2001, went off to UW where I graduated with a degree in liberal arts, met a boy, got married, started a career, moved to Alabama, and recently came back to Richland to be near family and friends.  That’s my life in a nutshell. ?  I’ve always had a love for photography and, within the past two years, worked very hard to become comfortable with my equipment and abilities (I currently work with a Canon EOS 50D but am dying to see what Nikon can do). It’s only been within the past year that I’ve seriously thought about opening my own business someday and started educating myself about everything it involves.  (So much easier said than done!) I feel as if I have a solid photography foundation but nothing more and was thrilled at Meg’s opportunity. My main goals from this internship are to not only see what it takes to run a home-based photography business but also discover my own style, become consistent/comfortable with my work, and meet other people who share my passion. I don’t want to copy anyone else, most certainly don’t want to learn the editing style of someone else and want to enter the photography world with grace and etiquette – a person’s photography is a very personal thing and photographers work very hard to establish their businesses.  The last thing I want to do is waltz in undermining another’s efforts!  I simply want to further discover my own personal style and grow as a photographer.  And I’ll be honest, if I can learn to not be so afraid of manual mode on my camera – I’d be thrilled.

Name your favorite:

Movie:  Love Actually!
Food: Banana Pudding
(discovered it while living in Alabama and it’s amazing!)

If you could give the world one piece of advice, what would it be?

Practice love, compassion, and forgiveness on a daily basis and don’t forget to help others! Imagine what this world would be like if more people opened their minds, exercised a little empathy and offered assistance using the resources available to them.

If you could only see black and white except for one color, what color would you choose to see?

Blue!  I have a love affair with water and can’t imagine not being able to appreciate the ocean… or the sky for that matter!

If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be?

This is going to sound strange. I would want a room full of fireproof file cabinets that hold thousands of index cards.  Each index card would have a memory from my life written on it so that my entire life was written down and at my fingertips.  I’m very nostalgic and love taking trips down memory lane.  ?

If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass on to your children, what would it be?

Integrity.  Although I definitely want a loving, calm, compassionate child… integrity is most important to me. Bringing a child into this world that lives each day with honesty, moral purpose, and positive virtues (not to mention contributes something constructive to this world) is something my husband and I take seriously.  We have intentionally waited to start our family until we know without a doubt that the examples we set as parents will ensure our child possesses the qualities we find most valuable.  We did a lot of growing in our 20s and had a little selfishness to get out of our system!  I’m proud we recognized that early on.

What is one of your favorite quotes?

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
-Buddha

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