Pearls and Roses: FRIDAY FEATURE // Melinda Snyder Photography

Good Afternoon Friends,

To celebrate Spring and 600 fans, Pearls and Roses is having a giveaway and reopening the blog again! Yep. I have a fresh new look! And I'm in love with the simplicity of it!

And to make it more enjoyable, why not have a Friday Feature?

Please welcome Melinda, of Melinda Snyder Photography!

Her work is both inspirational and beautiful.

I almost squealed when I saw her page and I had to check out more of her images. I am just in awe of her art!

Take a moment to read this small questionnaire. She really gave some amazing answers!

Have a great Friday!

XOXO

~Rose

-♦-

When did you start to pursue photography and why?

I've loved taking pictures since I was a kid and I appreciated the stories that came from old family photos. Photos are my best friend because I have the worst memory known to mankind. I

THE LOVELY MELINDA

forget things easily and I can't stand it when I am unable to recall something, let alone something really important. When I had my first child, I didn't want to FORGET anything. I think I took a picture of him every day. I started a blog for him in place of a scrapbook. My goal was to provide him his own history book of tangible memories that would blow his socks off! (Did you know you can print your blog??) When my daughter was born I took it to the next level. I ditched the point and shoot camera and got my first DSLR. I knew nothing about my new camera, so I researched, asked others for help, and practiced taking photos of my kids ALL the time. Looking back there were so many things I got wrong. So many aspects I didn't understand. But as my knowledge grew and my pictures got better, photography became a huge PASSION for me; my creative outlet. I wanted to share this burst of enthusiasm with others so with major support from my husband, I decided to move forward with photography as a part-time job rather instead of a full-time hobby. I made a logo, started a blog, invested in equipment and set out on a mission. None of this however wouldn't have been possible without the help of my friend Katie. She was the catalyst for the start of my business. To gain an initial client base I offered about 14 free sessions and she kindly offered to promote me on social media. What resulted is something that I never thought was possible. I'm an LLC, I've been in business for several years, and have amazing clients! I'm even hosting my own DSLR workshop in June!

-♦-

Why do you love what you do?

I love being in the photography business because it truly makes me happy. I find myself filled with joy when I am able to tell my client's story with images that speak to their emotions and take their breath away. Being a photographer also allows me to capture my family so that our time together will always be remembered.

What is the most important thing that matters to you in your business?

Hands down, client satisfaction. When my clients send me the "OMG!!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them!!! You totally captured us in such a beautiful way!" texts, I want to jump up and down with delight! I'm so elated that I literally want to pop open a bottle of champagne and celebrate. When they are happy, I am beyond ecstatic!

-♦-

What is some of your favorite photographic equipment to use on your shoots?

I use my Nikon D700 99.9% of the time along with my Nikon 50 mm 1.4. In tight spaces I'll break out my Tamron 24-70 mm 2.8. I recently bought a Nikon F100 because my next goal is to really get a grip on film photography. I've got a Sigma 85 mm 1.4 on that. Oooo, the bokeh! For weddings I'll slap on my 70-200 mm 2.8. It's a monster but it sure does give you great biceps!

-♦-

What's your favorite time of day to shoot in?

Anything during the golden hour rocks, but I actually prefer early morning. I am bright-eyed and bushy tailed and ready to conquer anything. In the summer, the temps are cooler in the AM and my clients are nice and comfy. No sweat!

-♦-

If you were to give another photographer a piece of advice, what would it be?

Be kind and considerate. Network with other like-minded people. Never stop learning and growing. Your ultimate goal is to provide your clients with the best experience possible, yielding the most fabulous images because your clients DESERVE that. Always strive to be better than you are today.