If you haven’t already had the opportunity to see their work, allow us to introduce you to Bobbi & Mike. A husband and wife team of photographers, who infuse their love of photography and life into each and every photo they capture! Read on as they share how they began, what inspires them, and what they see as the main ingredient to their success. And, for those of you who are thinking about taking your love of photography to the pro level, they’ll share some business advice just for you, too! Enjoy…
Tell us about Bobbi & Mike. How did you two meet? Where is home?
We met our freshman year of college – someone kept showing up at the enlarger next to the other in photo class. Bobbi worked in graphic design and marketing and Mike was a pilot until they volunteered to take senior photos – Bobbi was the color guard coach for a high school marching band. We were asked to shoot a wedding and less than a year later we had to quit our full time jobs to keep up with the work!
How would you describe your style?
Our style, first and foremost is laid back and real. Once we make someone comfortable, we’re able to capture who someone really is – like how you are in your living room when no one’s watching.
What type of camera do you shoot with? What is your favorite lens?
Currently we shoot with 5dmkii’s. Though…Canon needs to up its game with the auto-focus on the 5dmkiii. If not, we might be selling our precious 35 1.4L’s and switching to Nikon.
How important is Photoshop, Lightroom, or Camera RAW in editing your final images?
Lightroom is where it’s at! It’s the right tool for handling large groups of images. Photoshop is used as needed.
What is your favorite or most used Photoshop tool, plug-in, action set?
Not telling. Really…we use a lot of different things and it changes gradually over time.
What photography item have you had your eye on lately?
Can’t say we’d turn down a 200 2.0L if one happened to show up on our door step…
What has been your most memorable shoot, and why?
Easily our best friends’ birth story last year. Enough said!
How do you make your clients feel relaxed in front of your camera?
We swear like sailors. Well, sometimes. We’re ourselves first to show people it’s OK to be themselves. The first step though…is to make people relaxed when talking to them about the shoot before it even happens!
What is the most challenging thing about photographing professionally?
For us, it’s finding balance in our lives with our work. When you work as a full time husband and wife team, it can consume you – sometimes you have nothing else to talk about at the end of the day.
Where would be your dream destination photo shoot, and why?
Wherever people aren’t self-conscious and don’t have silly insecurities that keep them from being themselves.
Is there a website and/or blog you visit often for ideas and inspiration?
Our creative selves are the sum of our inputs…while some inspiration does come in that manner, we find it everywhere. When we walk down the street or drive to the grocery, we’re often brainstorming, “what would I do here? And here?”
What was the last workshop or seminar you attended, and why?
Cliff Mautner. Always looking for a fresh perspective!
How important has having a killer website been for your business?
Very.
What would you say has been the main ingredient to your success, besides good old hard work?
Really, actually caring about the people we photograph.
What advice would you give an amateur photographer wanting to jump into the professional realm?
Be conservative…I’d recommend more “wading” into the professional realm. Don’t be overly idealistic and quit a good job earlier than you should that provides financial stability in your life – ESPECIALLY if you have children. Just make sure you’re in a position to ride out some financial uncertainty without placing a huge burden of stress on yourself.
Also, placing yourself in a financially tenuous position can begin to force you into making decisions that are penny wise but pound foolish (nitpicking clients about things like a $2 fee to get into a park, etc). Nickel and diming people is a great way to ruin any rapport you’ve established.
What is something you’re still learning about?
While we’re always learning about every aspect of photography – I think what we’ve focused on lately is balancing work and personal life.
What in your life or business has brought you the most happiness?
Once you figure out how to work for yourself, being self-employed can give you an enormous amount of freedom. While we still work long hours, at least they’re our hours. We can see each other whenever we want!
Tell us about The Bobbi Shop. What was it that inspired you to start designing and selling templates?
InDesign templates were just a huge time saver for us. Bobbi has a strong background in graphic design, and we thought surely, anything that can allow photographers to spend less time in front of a computer and more time with their families would be well received by the photography community.
Do you have any workshops or speaking engagements planned?
We’ll be speaking at the St. Louis Shot Party this summer and the HER conference this fall. We may hold a few more workshops late this fall. Maybe mid-November or so.
What is your favorite escape from professional life?
Going anywhere there’s not cell reception.
We want to send out a HUGE thank you to Bobbi & Mike for sharing their talent and beautiful photos with us this week! Show them some love…click on over to their online hangouts and be sure to tell them Love that Shot sent you!…
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