Today’s interview is with Shari Zellers of Shari Zellers Photography.
*Describe your photography style:
It’s hard to know what one’s style is until someone tells you! I’ve been told my style is “natural” and fun with emotional imagery – I like that.
*What is a must read or must see?
Oh, for us photographers, definitely must read “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It” by Michael E. Gerber. Can’t say I’ve done everything in the book I need to do but it definitely opened my eyes up! Must see? I constantly watch creative media to see what’s happening out there artistically – movies, tv, commercials.
*What are your work hours?
Way too many. Working on curtailing that to have a life. Refer to “must read” above! ;o)
*What is your favorite thing about Pictage?
It’s been said before but I’ll say it again, the community and the forums! Wow, what an amazing group of people I’m honored to be a part of! But I have to give a shout out to the whole concept of Pictage as an outsourcing…er, source. I wouldn’t be in business today if it weren’t for all the things they do to keep me looking good.
*What lens could you not live without?
24-70 2.8 My workhorse.
*How long have you been a photographer?
Since I was 7. But it took almost 20 years for me to figure it out! I got my first camera for my 7th birthday and a camera went everywhere with me from that moment on. I started shooting professionally while in college in ’96. Weddings came along in ’99.
*What was your very first job?
At 16, I reluctantly got a job developing B&W film in a mini-lab for $3.50 an hour. I worked in labs for 16 more years.
*Most listened to song on your ipod?
Just a jumble of 80’s music – everything from Bowie, Duran, to Rush.
*What is a goal for 2008?
To better serve my clients (= faster turnarounds). Growth is a good thing but not when it slows down getting the products to the clients!
*What is one thing we don’t know about you?
A lot of folks don’t know I was born hard of hearing and wear hearing aids. I think growing up and having to rely on my vision to understand the world around me (reading lips, body language, environmental cues) is what makes me so visually acute and why I love photography.
*Who inspires you?
So many photographers on this forum and those I’ve been introduced to by way of Pictage: Carloz Baez, Robert Evans.
*What blog do you stalk?
David Jay‘s – the boy never sleeps!
*If you had a tagline, what would it be?
My most over-used word is apparently “surreal”.
*Any words of wisdom to share…
Whatever you do, have fun. Life is too short to not have fun!
Thanks so much Shari!!