Ruby Joon: The Interview Part I

Ruby Joon the Interview — Michelle and Rebecca share what makes them special and provide even more inspiration!

What Inspires them?

MICHELLE:  I am inspired by images of emotion. whether that be laughing, crying, love. i love to look at an image and wonder what that person was actually feeling at the time the photo was taken. i was reminded of my dream of being a professional photographer after falling in love (real love), having children and really letting myself actually feel emotion. couple that with getting to know Stace Chomlack as she was my new husband’s, sisters, best friend… you still following…  and i was totally inspired. Stace’s images have that emotion. that raw passionate love. those moments in a family that can not be redone, or regained. but they can be remembered. So i am inspired i guess by two things. my loves as many as those are and my constant trials and attempts at showing them and accepting them. and by others, other people who capture that, that are comfortable letting go of the perfect posed image to capture a moment.

REBECCA: I have always had a deep appreciation for art in all forms. Not only the art, but the artist. When I read a book, I always start out by flipping to the back cover and looking at the writer. Trying to figure out who they are, and what they look like. I LOVE people who are passionate and that inspires me to nurture my own passion and creativity. Having a partner in business helps that process. I get pumped about a shoot when brainstorming it with Michelle. It’s exciting!

What suggestions they have for those starting out?

MICHELLE:  to practice. to do what feels right. to read and to get 20 different pieces of advice and find the one that fits your style and your comfort level. business is hard and finding the balance of being a good business person and making special exceptions for certain clients is important to me. Learn what your time and expertise is really worth and learn when it’s appropriate to stand your ground and say ‘no’.   for a long time i did a lot for a very small profit margin. my clients were thrilled. i was thrilled. i was learning. experimenting and really just figuring out little things i needed before i dove in.  for me marketing was not important. i always had happy clients. i made sure of it. they always had two friends and so on and so on…. and its continued for me. be proud of your work. ask yourself one question before the product goes out the door…. “would i be satisfied if i hired someone and they delivered this?”

REBECCA: Dump ½ the equipment ‘they’ tell you you’ll need. While lots of it has its place, don’t let it be your art and don’t hide behind it. Take yourself, your camera and a favorite lens and go shoot. Leave the flash, the reflector, the scrim, the lights, the stroboframe at home! Shoot minimally, and once you’re completely comfortable knowing you could still pull off an awesome shoot even if you forgot your kit, and it’s just you with nothing but your camera and a fixed lens, you’re ready.

What is their must have piece of equipment and why?

MICHELLE: wow, hard question. because really it’s not the perfect lens, or camera or…. best actions. its really hard to pinpoint. i think best piece of equipment is… yourself, your brain and your willingness to take criticism and learn and continue to learn. to not get stuck.

REBECCA: Well, if I had nothing else, it would have to be my good old camera and a 50mm lens. It is most definitely must have, above all else! And….what Michelle said. J

How do you approach your time with a couple, get them to relax.

TOGETHER: Geez, it’s hard to say, but I think it’s because WE’RE relaxed. There’s no pressure with our couples at all. And we continuously tell them that. At an engagement session, we have a chance to hang out with few timelines. We talk to them a lot about what this session is about – it’s practice! It’s a chance to relax now, so we’re not showing up at their wedding as strangers. We guide them through the shoot, letting them know what looks good. We give them tips to remember on their wedding day, so when we cue them on that day, they remember what we’re talking about, and adjust accordingly. We truly adore our clients and are excited about taking them out for a shoot – I guess it shows!

What do you think sets you apart from other photographers?

TOGETHER: While there’s definitely things we work on consciously, from a marketing perspective, to set us apart from the other photographers in our area, I think our innate style speaks for itself as being unique. There are obviously trends and fads in what is popular in photography, (textures, boudoir, photo booths to name a few), but whenever that trend pops up, we try to put our own twist on it rather than fitting in to the common mold. We hope it’s working!

What was your “ah-ha” moment?

MICHELLE:  when i didn’t feel threatened by someone copying me/us. (and it is/was happening); when i was excited to help new photographers in the same town i work in. when i was totally comfortable in my own skin. happy to say ” i am a photographer”.  and not feel like a fraud.

REBECCA: I remember one particular point in time, a few years ago, when I said to my friends: ‘I’m a photographer’ and it felt right. I wasn’t comfortable before that point, but now, it rolls smoothly off the tongue! Haha! And with Ruby joon, there was another point when Michelle and I looked at each other, and somewhere, somehow, we’d ‘made it’ and we knew there was no going back. Always learning and growing, but no more doubt and struggle. It was an amazing feeling and I’m so proud of where we’ve come to so fast.

Posted in: Information, Uncategorized

This entry was posted on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 9:27 am and is filed under Information, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.