interview with arlyne vanhook

hello hello, i am back! so as promised i would go deep on the photography issue today, but i have different news! you know how i love interviews and inviting talented people over this place to share their thoughts & experiences about what they do best. and though i know my way through photography, i also know that i have so much to learn and there is still a long way to go. i want to make a living out of my photography and start on with photo sessions, but first i need to gather skills, knowledge and… courage! so in order to learn something about this and to share with you what’s behind the amazing portrait photography we see out there, i have invited three photographers to share their knowledge & experience this week. so what’s the schedule for the week?

monday, 18th july – {arlyne vanhook}

wednesday, 20th july – {christine pobke}

friday, 22nd july – {christina greve}

hello arlyne, how are you? thank you so much for being here today… you have been here {before} and i had to bring you one more time! so, i asked you to be a guest because you are quite a reference in {portrait photography}, can you describe your path until now?
this month 2 years ago, i fell in love with photography! it all begin with a sweet lesson on bokeh from my mother in law! we were at the pool and she shared with me fun techniques that one could do with the right camera and lens… who knew?!! i was hooked with just that one conversation! at the time, i only owned a sony point and shoot and dang it… i could not really create dof, bokeh, or learn to manually use the thing… !! that did not stop me… i began to take pictures, mostly still life and my children. this is where i learned composition.

after several months of having limited use on my camera, i was ready and eager for a better one. nikon or canon? i could not decide… it was a toss up… they are both great cameras! i went with nikon but all my inspiring fellow photographerss are canon users… hmm. i’m very happy with my nikon! so i started taking lots of portraits of my children then ventured out in purchasing editing software! i was one of those “mom photographerss” who loved (!!) to edit. yeah it was more editing then pure photography…! this is the beginning of my journey. it’s only been 2 years… i’m constantly learning, changing, growing, and being inspired by so many photographers. it’s a wonderful blessing and honor!

why do you choose to be a photographer, focusing on portrait?
i truly feel like i did not choose to be a photographer (ahaha!) it totally fell on my lap… it was never a desire or dream. discovering that i loved it so much… the logical move was… people… to capture the essence of a person. when i peak into the camera i set out to find the gaze or the body language that would touch deeply into the viewers soul. i might have high aspirations but really… photography would be worthless to me if it did not move you in some way.

i remember talking with you before doing your first wedding! what do you consider to be the secrets for a beautiful and charming wedding day, concerning the photography part?
i would say knowing how light/exposure will play into effect at what ever venue you are covering plays a big part in your images and making them beautiful! once i have nailed that down, i’m able to capture every detail the proper way. photography is about light… you may have the most beautiful person, scenery, or object but if the exposure is off then you have nothing that is beautiful and charming. i can make a pear look pretty stunning with how i work with lighting and exposure!

what inspires you to make your work, what drives you to create the images you create?
people inspire me… i love them, all shapes and colors! i love to move people either through photography, singing, a smile, or a word of encouragement. i think we all, deep inside of us, desire this and wish to do the same but most importantly, i wish to show them a glimpse of who god is in all of us. he is my driving force! if i’m not touching lives through photography or what ever creative force that i may use then i see this journey pointless.

the most beautiful place to host a photo session is… 
this is hard… hhhmmm… wherever there is perfect light… preferably in italy, germany, some place exotic!

now, talking about a more technical point of view, tell me… what equipment do you use?
i use a nikon d700, love my prime lenses, strobing gear, natural light, 70-200mm 2.8, 24-70mm 2.8, nikon d300s and i threw away my kit lens!

what do you carry in your bag for photo sessions?
i carry my camera nikon d700, 85mm, 24-70mm, SB900, gary fong, strobing gear… sometimes, batteries, compact cards, sweat towel, lens towel cleaner… and extra critters… i know theres some in there… my bag is all over the place.

what do you consider to be a challenge on a photo session and how do you face that challenge?
some challenges during a shoot may be… 1) lighting, you gotta know how to work with it… you have to understand exposure! 2) interacting with people you have never met till the day of the session. getting to know them and making them feel comfortable with you… be who you are and be confident! i face the challenge by knowing this where i’m supposed to be at this time at this moment and being me (!)!

what editing program do you use?
i use all adobe products!

can you describe your services and what do they include?
well, i have it all in a document that i share with my customers, but i do portraits with families or just someone alone, newborns and weddings. of course that with weddings, engagement sessions come along!

oh i loved these answers! mainly because now i am feeling the need (way more than i was before!) to improve certain skills, go outside and manage to learn my way with light. living in such a bright city as this one is not an easy task to photographers, because everything is so bright and shiny. well, arlyne is a nikon woman, but i am really glad she accepted this challenge. and by the way, i had never heard of gary fong and now i know what it is, so thank you for teaching me even more than expected! i am also a fan of adobe products, and they make the editing part so much fun! but i only use photoshop & lightroom, never checked on elements. if you are willing to know more about arlyne’s work, you can jump to her {website} and like her on {facebook}! and i will see you next wednesday with another interview, this time with {christine pobke}.

image 1: the vanhooks by sara renee
images 2-7: arlyne vanhook