Welcome, Dina Marie! {Dina Marie Photography}

I can't tell you how excited I am to introduce you to Dina Marie this morning.  If I was asked to name the person who most inspired and encouraged me in my photography career, it would be Dina - hands down.

I met Dina through my cousin's wife, Stephanie, who sent me a link to Dina's website.  I was so moved by her work that I felt compelled to contact her.  I can't remember exactly what message I left in her comment box, but what I do remember is that she cared enough to take the time to respond.  And she didn't stop there!  She's spent hours on the phone answering my questions.  Her input sparked my passion for photography and gave me the courage to pursue my dreams. 

More than that, the way I conduct myself on this blog is largely due to what Dina has poured into my life.  Because she, and others like her, have given of themselves so unselfishly to me, it is my passion that my blog do the same for you.  My hope is that you learn something new, that you grow (both personally and creatively), and that you are inspired each time you visit.  I may not have all the answers to your questions, but at least I know where to find them!  

Which brings me to today's interview with Dina.

As I mentioned earlier, this past week I polled several of my photographer friends to see what questions they had for Dina.  There were so many questions that Dina and I decided to break the interview up into "bits and pieces".  Today's post will focus on getting to know Dina better.  We'll throw in one or two technical questions today, but will save the bulk of them for later posts.

Please join me in welcoming (from the sunny state of California) Dina Marie from Dina Marie Originals.

(The following interview will be in Question an Answer format.)

Tammy Labuda: When did you first know you wanted to be a professional photographer? How did you get started?  Tell us your story.

Dina Marie: My story...I was working for my father and felt unfulfilled. I got my first camera (sony mavica - lol) about 8 years ago and after having my daughter the "itch" became apparent to me.  It had everything to do with photographing my daughter and feeling in touch with my childhood through her.  I started to really "feel" for the first time in my life.  I mean, I felt this passion and it was undeniable. 

I started out having a friend in Balboa Beach do a photo party for me where I offered sessions for $25 ($25 for 25 shots -- something like that).  I told her if she booked 8 people, she would get a free session and prints.  To this day, she is one of my biggest referrers.  

I have a strong marketing/advertising background so I ran a couple ads knowing that it would take at least 6 months before name recognition. Too many times people get frustrated advertising and not getting calls right away.  If the ad is good and you run it in a good magazine, a 6 month run is really necessary.  

I had postcards made and a small website built.  I look back now and think they looked terrible but then it seemed good and it was a natural start to progress.  Every address collected went into a data base that my husband managed.  I gave cards out everywhere and offered up a lot of free shooting. 

I used every session to learn a new technique. I printed photos out and wrote settings down on them.  I joined forums and looked carefully at techniques of others.  I knew my style had to be my own so I tried mostly to concentrate on how certain looks (depth of field, etc) were achieved. 

A really important part to my "story" is my husband.  He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 15 years ago and his progression was not looking good.  This career choice was the biggest blessing for our family.  I was able to be home to care for him and work more at my own pace. This really allowed me to "express" emotionally too. Photography became an emotional outpouring for me.

Tammy Labuda:  That emotion really shows in your work, Dina.  It's what draws me back to your site so often.  I think we can get so busy in this industry that we often forget to take the time to dig deep into ourselves and allow that to show through in our work.  Thank you for the reminder.

I want to talk to you more next time about your husband and the various charities you support.  It is inspiring to see how you create something beautiful out of some very challenging situations.  The image below is a perfect example.  Why does this image speak so deeply to you?

Dina Marie: This is my current favorite image.  It is of a girl close to me.  She is my neighbor and is going through so much with parents that are divorcing and a family of 6.  She has opened up to me so many times and we have become really close to the kids through it all.  I feel like I went through so many of the same emotions as a child. Between the chosen perspective, shooting in black and white mode and low light, the photograph makes me identify with a time in my childhood.  I never expressed some of those emotions out loud so just shooting it was like therapy.

Tammy Labuda: That's what I love about you and your work.  The honesty.  The lighting in this image is perhaps my favorite.  It really adds to the emotion - very powerful!

Speaking of family, How do you work to protect yours?  I find that this business demands so much of my time.  How do you balance being a mom, a homemaker, a wife, and a business woman?

Dina Marie: I don't do it well to be honest.  It is one of my many flaws. But I will say this: It took awhile to recognize when to STOP WORKING because I work from home.  I try to schedule my days and calendar very carefully.  I merge both calendars so when I am committing to a client, my family does not get slighted. Just keep a good calendar and don't lose sight of the people who really truly matter.  I don't feel like I can say much more here because I always feel like I am not doing it right!

Tammy Labuda:  Those are good tips, Dina.  I think the hardest part about setting up a calendar is sticking to it.  We could all stand to improve in that area.  I'm pretty certain you are not alone.  You are right though, work comes and goes, but our family is what brings the greatest joy.

And, speaking of JOY...no one captures it quite like you, Dina!  Talk about identifying with your inner child!  These are fabulous.

You have to admit, these two images show how perfectly Dina connects with her inner child during her photo sessions, don't they?  Wouldn't you just love to spend a day with Dina watching her in action - during and after the session?  I know I would.

While that may not be possible, Dina did offer some great advice in her answers to a few technical questions from my fellow photographer friends.  I'll post a few of those today.  We'll save the rest for another post.

Margaret asks: Where do you find your inspiration, for your portraits and for your original artwork?

Dina Marie: Although I love to study other photographer's work, I find my biggest inspiration comes from way down deep inside and is usually based on my inner child.  I find my favorite shots are thought provoking and on the darker side at times.  Reaching deep is what it's all about.  I believe much of our photography should be in a sense, "self portraits".

Courtney asks:  How do you finance your business?  I get this question alot and it seems to really shed light on how people can get started, especially in today's economy.

Dina Marie: Hmm.... This question is so individual.  In the beginning, it was just taking risks and for the most part, spending money we didn't have!!  Now it generates an amazing income so long as it stays steady. There are a lot of factors here.  I am not sure I can properly answer the question.  I purchased equipment slowly and have never had a business line of credit.

Kelly Asks: My biggest frustration is that my pictures never come out as clear, crisp, and with as much dimension as (good) photographers I follow.  They are in focus, but not as crisp.  What tips can you provide for taking sharper pictures?

Dina Marie: There are several factors involved.  I was told long ago to use a depth of field calculator to determine the proper hyperfocal distance. We should all be aware that the optics of lenses have never changed.  Have your eyes glazed over yet? $$@!!*%

Listen, the main causes for lack of sharpness are:

poor focus
camera shake
subject movement
dirty equipment.

Here are some rules to use as guides:
1. Hold your camera well - if you need to, support yourself up against a wall, tree or anything.  If not, just try not to drink too much coffee and grip it with both hands! (i know, i know -- basic!)

2. Shutter speed:  try to select a shutter speed with a denominator that is larger that the focal length of the lens. For example, a lens that is 50 mm in length, don't shoot any slower than 1/60th of a second. For a 100mm lens shoot at 1/125th of a second or faster.

3. Aperture: I love shooting at 2.8 for single subjects but must realize that for groups, unless you are trying to get "artsy", shoot at f/4 and higher.  The larger the number, the more area in focus.

4. iso: 400 is a standard commonly used iso. If you choose a larger iso, you'll be able to use a faster shutter speed and a smaller aperture.  My suggestion here would be to take the same subject (even in your backyard) and shoot it at all different settings to experiment.

5. Focus: the most obvious of all -- watch your focus points in your camera.

6. Using good lenses:  I can not emphasize this one enough.  If you know the basics above, you will notice a massive difference when you have good quality lenses. You must not compromise when you lens shop.  I bought only brand name lenses (for my Canon) with the exception of one Sigma wide angle.  I noticed a huge jump in the clarity for me when I started investing in better glass.

Thank you, Dina!  It was such a pleasure to share you with my readers! I'll leave you all with one final image - a Dina Marie Original.

Isn't this image gorgeous?  If only I could capture light the way she does!  

Here's just a taste of the topics to be covered in my next installment of Dina's interview:

What's in your camera bag?

How do you deal with harsh mid-day sun?

Do you have any tips for getting toddlers and young children to cooperate for the camera?

What's your favorite lens?  Why?

How do you affectively market a client/referral base?

Do you have any tips on pricing structures?

What's the average length of time you spend on a session?

If you have enjoyed today's interview with Dina Marie, be sure to leave her a comment at the end of this post.  

To see more of Dina's work and to read her inspirational blog, stop by and visit her website.  While you're there, be sure to explore her other site within her website, www.dinamarieoriginals.com.  It contains special collections and personal work that Dina is currently working on for various galleries.  

Thank you for visiting with us today!  I will be posting more of my interview with Dina in weeks to come, so stop by often and spread the word.