So Erin and I were chosen to be artist of the month for Wassup magazine.
which is a local magazine that can be found in bars and restaurants.
we even got to do an interview. We felt pretty famous.
so here is our interview and some photos of this month's issue with us in it...
How and when did you get started in photography?
It was different for both of us. Erin was always around photography because she has family members who are photographers but she didn't take a formal class for it until it was her major in college. Alicia had a canon ae1 that her dad gave her and took photo classes in high school and was hooked the first time she saw a print in the developer.
What was the most interesting photo shoot you have ever done?
We have some really fun photo shoots as far shooting a bride in the snow, and the hot hunky hairdressers but we think every wedding is interesting because everyone has a different love story and we never stop getting surprised by our clients.
What inspires you?
Alicia says Jack white. Erin says Hanson. but outside of those two probably Mary Ellen Mark for her documentary work, Erin and I are interested in real moments. It's hard to tell what is real and what is fabricated in Photoshop these days and we are really big believers that Reality is extraordinary and that the people we photograph are interesting on their own without us having to add to them. We look for those moments when we photograph, where people are themselves and we aren't posing them or making them into what we want.
If you had to pick one insect to eat, what would it be? we say a grub. we hear they are slimy yet satisfying
What is the most interesting place that you have photographed? Erin got to photograph outside on the second platform of the sears (willis) tower. Alicia went to Russia and photographed in an orphanage.
What cartoon character best describes your personality? Alicia's would be scat from Ice age because she is a hot mess most of the time and Erin has to wrangle her. And Erin would be Manny from Ice age because she is the ring leader and she makes me be the poop checker.
If you were a rapper, what would you call yourself? Erin would be E-diddy because I tease her about going by so many names. She has her Photography name- Erin Lynn, Her maiden name and her married name and I never know which one she is going to use.
What is the worst thing you have ever eaten or drank? Alicia says an Irish car bomb. I instantly puked. Erin says sushi- but she's insane.
What was the worst experience you had during a photo shoot? Erin got into a car accident on the way to a reception one time- she hit the videographer. That kind of sucked because she had to sit there and eat dinner with him afterwards. Awkward!
Is there any advice you would like to give to a new photographer starting out?
shoot all of the time. work as a freelance for a lot of different companies so you get a feel for a lot of different styles. And take classes. In the digital age it's easy to think your photos are amazing because you have 25 friends on face book commenting and saying they like it, but getting constructive criticism from people who are in the field and know their stuff is the only way you will grow as a photographer and the only way you will be challenged to see your work critically .
If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be? Alicia wants a Llama and Erin has the best dog in the world, Wrigley, She's a bullmation and she's so ugly she's cute.
If you could photograph any person, dead or alive, who would it be? Alicia says Dolly Parton. Its a actually a lifelong goal of mine. Erin says Marilyn Monroe, how could you not want to photograph her? she's just got everything you could want in a model.
How do you feel about today’s editing programs? I think they are tools and it depends on how you use them. I think they should be used to enhance what you already have not make up for what you don't have in an image. If you can't have a great image out of camera you need to look at why you have so much post-processing. Photoshop is a whole other art form and we respect it for that but Photoshop isn't photography. That's why there are graphic design artists. Erin and I are interested in the photograph itself, not the actions you can run over them.
If you had to add an extra limb to your body what would it be and where? Erin would have an extra arm so she could hold another camera, Alicia wants another mouth so she can eat more.
If you were a fortune cookie, what would you say? we would say "Life is like photography, you develop from the negatives."
If you were in a circus, what would be your staring act? Alicia would tightrope walk, because she has freakishly awesome Balance. Erin would be the Lion tamer because she always takes a situation that could potentially be disastrous and makes something interesting happen.
