Okay, I love these two!  You can't not love these two!  The fantastic husband-wife duo of Brett and Julie Birdsong make up Birdsong Photography - and to know them is to love them.  I have to admit, I'm a bit biased - anyone who has the art of sarcasm and humor nailed down, is a-okay in my book.  Add to that the fact that they are incredibly talented, run a successful business and are just genuinely great people - well, you can see why they are DBUI favorites!  

Tell us a little about yourselves:

What is the best thing about working with your spouse?  The hardest

She said: It's easier to give honest, un-edited opinions to your spouse about things than to a random co-worker:

He said: Getting to work with and be around my best friend every day!

The hardest:

She said: You don't ever really get to clock out from business mode to "home life" mode.  We constantly are discussing business related things, intentionally or not.

He said: It's easier for her to give honest, un-edited opinions to me!

Show us your favorite image that you've shot so far this year and tell us what it is about this image that makes it special to you.

She said: It would have to be one of our favorite couples, Dan and Cherrie in St. Petersburg, FL!  I love that no part of this image was posed, and yet looking at it you can see the emotion of the moment, how in love they are with each other.

He said: Amber and Tony, Chicago.  That whole series of photos is still my favorite, but about 5 minutes before this shot was taken, there was blue skies.  Freak rain storm shows up, and good times were had.  Something about 4 soaking wet people in the back of a Chicago taxi that's strangely memorable.

If you could assist any photographer for the day, who would it be and why?

She said: Any photographer that genuinely loves what they do, is excited about their work, and is smart enough to realize you don't have to be a punk just because you're good.

He said: Paul Gero.  A super nice guy, and amazing photographer out of CA.  I've always loved his work.  We're actually getting to hang out with him this summer during our road trip, so I'm way excited about that!

What items (photography related) would you not be able to live without?

She said: a Canon 5d MKII, a good wide angle lens, a pocketful of CF cards and Tylenol on a the wedding day.

He said: My Canon 5d MKII, a Canon 50mm 1.2L lens, and my skulls strap from My Funky Camera.  I can shoot myself ouf of any situation with that combo.

Describe your perfect client/session.

She said:  anyone that has a basic idea of what they're wanting in regards to photography, but is comfortable leaving the creativity up to us, and not try to pose every shot.

He said: Any session where the couple is completely relaxed, and able to be themselves and allows us to be as creative as possible.  Absolutely makes for awesome photos.  Oh, and a trip to In-N-Out Burger afterwards!

What is the best decision you've ever made for your business?

She said: to not limit ourselves to one specific city or state, but to build client relationships all over the U.S. and internationally.

He said: to completely be ourselves, regardless of what everyone else is doing.

We all all see that your personalities are contagious!  What do you do to get your subjects at weddings to open up and enjoy taking fun pictures that you are known for?

She said: Absolutely loving what we do and having confidence in the ideas we come up with, plus getting to know a couple before the wedding helps develop a really comfortable relationship with the couple.  And if they're comfortable with us, they'll relax, have fun, and be themselves.

He said: That's classified.  But I can tell you it comes in a little bottle, and if you mix it with punch...... okay, it actually goes back to being yourself.  I love making people laugh, and the more comfortable someone is around you, the more relaxed they are in front of the camera.

Have you ever had anything go wrong at a wedding?

She said: Thankfully nothing that I can recall.  Knock on wood.

He said: Shayna and Craig's wedding, Atlanta GA.  It's a long story, but evidently if you honked your car horn long enough at this ventue, cows would come up making for fun pictures.  So everyone honked for about 30 minutes and no cows.  Come to think of it, they may have just told us that to see how long we'd stare into a field and honk.

What is one think you like to indulge in?

She said:  Chocolate.  And pedicures.  Hopefully at the same time.

He said: Before a road trip, I'll watch the Travel Channel and Food Network and map out all the best little diners, burger shacks, places you wouldn't know exist otherwise, and we'll hit as many as we can during the trip.  You seriously meet some great people that way and eat incredible food!

What piece of advice do you have to fellow photographers wanting to improve their business?

She said:  Word of mouth always has been, and always will be the best form of advertising.  Always give yoru clients the absolute best customer service and the best product you can give.

He said: The vast majority of brides you will meet have no clue who the top ten wedding photographers are, nor do they care.  The most important photographer in their life is you.  Give them 150%, always go above and beyond, and to them you'll be the best there is.

One thing that is overrated in this industry......?

He said: Arrogance.  No one cares if you're the best photographer in the world if you're an absolute, stuck up jerk.  Talk to other photographers.  Answer questions.  Promote and thank local vendors you like and that work with you.  Make everyone around you feel appreciated, and you'll be far ahead of the rest.

She said: I completely agree and couldn't have said it better.  It's something we talk about a lot.  We're totally committed to not becoming those types of photographers no matter how successful we may become.

How do you market your business?

He said: We used Craigslist a lot during the first year for our destination weddings and now we've started working with several of the wedding blogs, and a couple of magazines.  Word of mouth from our sponsors and vendors we love is the absolute best though!

She said:  We honestly book the majority of our weddings by word of mouth from former clients, vendors, etc.  We're completely blown away by how many people have heard of us in places we've never even been, either through a former client, or a family member that attended a wedding we did.

What is your workflow after a wedding?

He said: Figure out what to do with the pocketfuls of butter mints I swiped!  Back up all images in at least 3 separate locations, import to Lightroom, export to Photoshop, and edit like a mad man.  Photos then go on a DVD to the client, and online to their gallery.

She said: Backup all raw files, upload to Lightroom, delete the non-usable or duplicate images, export to Photoshop, edit, burn to DVD, put up a gallery.  With lots of coffee and Tylenol.

 Check out Brett and Julie on their blog: www.birdsongphotography.com/blogtastic

With a little help from our friends at Flosites we whittled down the many entries you posted on the DBUI Flickr pool for your Best of 2008 images to a small handful. There were so many creative and original images that we found it hard choosing one (and agreeing on one!!) out of the many photos. We really loved so many of the images but the photographer that stood out and that wins a fantastic custom blog from Flosites is.... Anne Ruthmann! We particularly loved her black and white image of the bride standing alone. A simple, beautiful image and a punchy black & white conversion. Well done Anne and many thanks to Flosites!!

When I came upon this awesome girl's funky blog, I knew we needed to have her on the site.  Angelica Glass infuses fun with sass into her photos - and us ladies at Don't Box Us In love us some sass!!

Tell us a little about yourself:

Who is your photography/business mentor?

Kym Skiles of f8 Studio.  She's the most incredible person that I've ever met.  She also knows how to reword all of my e-mails so that brides don't want to kill me.  :)

How did you get your start in photography?

When I was 15, my mom bought me a Fuji P&S film camera for graduation.  I stuck it in my bra and snuck into every concert that I went to, which was a lot at that time.  By 16, I was published in rock magazines.  I shot bands like Silverchair (shut up, yo know they're so good!), Incubus, System of a Down.. and so many others.

Show us your favorite image that you've shot so far this year and tell us what makes it special to you.

I have a new favorite image every single day. So, I just chose something from my latest wedding in Scotland.  Every time I tried to take a photo of the groom's fatehr, he lifted up his kilt and tried to show me his goodies!

What items (photography related) would you not be able to live without?

35mm, 45mm TS, lightstick!

Film or digital?  And how important is post-processing in your final images?

Digital.  Then I spend twelve billion hours trying to make them look like film.  Go figure.

Processing is important, but it isn't over the top. I don't use textures or do any insane retouching.  I'm proud of the fact that my boudoir images have little-to-no retouching.  After shooting,  just color enhance and add grain.

What is the best decision you've ever made for your business?

The best decision I've ever made is to be honest about who I am with my clients.  For so long I tried to shoot weddings like Yervant or Jerry and I would come home with these mediocre replicas and I'd trick out the colors in Photoshop and add some sweet glow.  It was horrible.  Though I'm not one billion percent sure who I want to be as an artist, I think I'm on the right track. I shoot and process the way I want.  The people that get it usually hire me.

Are you a one-woman show, or do you have a team?

As far as production, album design and shooting, I am a one-woman show!  I do have a lighting person/assistant for every wedding that I do.

What is your ideal client/session?

I could say that a funky dress, a neat location and hip couple would make a session ideal, but how rarely do all of those things come together?  The most I ever ask for is a couple that is willing to let their guard down and have fun with me.

What is one thing you like to indulge in?

Dance parties.

What piece of advice do you have for fellow photographers wanting to improve their business?

Look elsewhere for inspiration.  If you look at wedding photography blogs every day, things would get so stale.  I think this is part of the reason why trends/fads happen so quickly.  If someone tries something new one day, 300 people are doing it the next day.  Wedding photography can be influenced by every day things.  Pay attention to your surroundings.  

Also, never ask anyone if they are the grandma!  I'll never make that mistake again!  :)

One thing that is overrated in this industry....?

The idea that every couple, every shoot, every wedding is amazing and perfect and wonderful and dazzling and the best ever.  If I see another tweet or blog post about how someone just shot THE MOST AMAZING couple ever, I think I will die.  I think clients see through that crap.

Oh, and the overuse of yellow toned images.  

Check out Angelica's work:

www.angelicaglass.com

angelicaglass.bigfolioblog.com

You can also follow Angelica on Twitter: www.twitter.com/angelicaglass

Natasha and Deon du Preez are a dynamic wife-husband duo in South Africa, and their imaginative wedding photos have earned them recognition throughout the photography community, including being recognized as Nikon- approved photographers.

Tell us a little bit about yourselves:

What is the Best thing about working with your spouse?  The hardest?

I cannot imagine us not working together.  We each know exactly what to do and what is expected by one another at at wedding.  We don't get in each other's way and we have our own very unique style when we capture a wedding.  We are both focused on the best possible end product for our customers, so the best image, no matter who took it gets chosen for the album.  We never argue about whose image gets selected.  We are each other's biggest competition and fans; we push each other's boundaries.  Although we work under my name, we have both received awards for our images.  To work with the love of your life as well as your best friend, at a job you both just love - what more can one ask for?!

I have to say that the hardest thing to work with your spouse from home would have to be that we never stop working; there are just no office hours.  Every year we have the same New Year's resolution where we say that we are going to stop working at 21h00 every night (9:00 p.m.), but...... it's June already and we have not kept to this resolution.

How important is post-processing in your final images?

Very important!  I love to play around with some presets and actions, but I also love to put my own stamp of aproval on each photo being displayed on my webstie and in the client's album.  I will play with post-processing to suit every couple's style and personality.  I absolutely hate to do the same on every wedding so therefore you would not find me doijng exactly the same thing week after wekk.  I would however, not add anything that was not at the weddign, so if a bride wanted to get married at the beach but she had to get married in the bushveld, there is no way that I would put them on a beach background!  I would just enhance the photo to give it the WOW factor.  There is a fine line to post-process and still having the photo look natural.  That is what I aim for.

Show us your favorite image that you've shot so far this year and tell us what it is about this image that makes it special to you.

It is so hard to choose just one as there are quite a few that are special to us.  This one, though, is very special.  Thjis dog is like the couple's baby in the house.  They got married on their farm and the dog was part of the wedding.  He wanted to walk with them throughout the photo session; he has such a special bond with them.  I abosolutely loved this one where he was running towards the groom who stood behind me.  

What items (photography related) would you not be able to live without?

My Nikon D3!  I fell in love with this camera from the first time I used it.  The images are so clean when they come out of the camera.  We used to be Canon fanatics, but now we are Nikon freaks!  I don't think I will ever change back to Canon (nothing against them, but the Nikon is just so much more user friendly and the service we get from Nikon SA is just superb!)

We know that you are Nikon Approved Photographers.  What Nikon pieces are your workhorse/s during weddings?

Deon and I both have a D3 and a D700.  We have the following lenses: 24-70mm f/2.8; 70-200mm f/2.8;  and fisheye 16mm f/2.8.  We want to invest in some prime lenses in the near future.

What is the best decision you've ever made for your business?

We wanted to keep it small in order for our quality receipe to work.  We've had numerous people asking to shoot with us in order for them to actually shoot under our name, but that is something we will not even consider.  We also decided to never split up and do separate weddings on a weekend.  We try to keep it to 4 weddings per month.  I want to be full of ideas and fresh for each wedding and I found that when we are overbooked, I feel like I am rushing through weddings just to get them done.

Another sound decision was investing in redesigning our website.  We get such good feedback!

And then... changing from Canon to Nikon...... there are no words!

What do you think the biggest differences are between American wedding photographers and those you see in South Africa where you live?

I don't really think there is, or should be, any difference between photographers living and working in SA and America or for that matter all over the world.  It boils down to being passionate about your photography, thinking out of the box, and getting that WOW image.  Most important of all is to capture the true essence of a wedding; it should not matter whether you are from SA or America.  We can surely learn and be inspired by one another.

What is the farthest location you've traveled to for a photography assignment?

Last November, we went to Swakopmund in Namibia for a beautiful wedding.  We loved it as it was so nice to have a change of  scenery.  We had 3 days to photograph this couple all over the show and we could have stayed another 3!

What is one thing you like to indulge in?

Working such long hours, I would love to visit a Spa more regularly.  At the moment, I don't think once every 14 months is enough!

What piece of advice do you have to fellow photographers wanting to improve their businesses?

Firstly and definately, the most important thing in my eyes is that they ahve to have a passion for the job.  Photographing weddings is a huge responsibility, there is never a "take 2" if you did not get the shot.  You have to listen to your client to know exactly what is important to them on their day and you have to observe throughout the day.  You have to like working with people and you have to keep cool in the organized chaos that you find at all weddings.  Always stay true to your style and yourself, don't try to imitate someone else as this is what first got you the couple's attention when they booked you.  Identify and develop your own style.  A professional image, attitude and dress code is critical.  Be humble and never think you have reached a point where there is no room for improvement.  Strive to be the best you can be at every single wedding.

You can find Natasha and Deon on Facebook.  You can visit their website at: www.tphoto.ca.za  

Thank you Natasha and Deon!!

It's a little strange because despite being a British photographer, I seem to know more American photographers than I do Brits so I'm always more than happy to be introduced to and to feature a few more photographers from the UK and I have the pleasure to do so today - ok, so maybe she's a Finnish photographer living in the UK! Although never having met Marianne Taylor, she comes across in her interview as very passionate about photography and you need look no further than the very first images in her porfolio to know she's very good at what she's passionate about! One thing that stood out for me is that Marianne has a great talent at capturing beautiful light as shown in her selection of images which accompany her interview.

Website: http://www.mariannetaylorphotography.co.uk/

Tell us about yourself...
Photography has always been a part of my life. I’ve been looking at the world through a camera since I was 11 years old, so in those terms I’ve been a photographer for more than 20 years. Photography has always been a highly personal thing to me and that’s why, apart from a short spell making graduation photos and photographing some weddings as a sideline of my graphic design company in the late 90’s, I have for the longest of time resisted doing photography for money. I have photographed daily throughout my life and my personal work has been featured all over the world, and for a long time that was enough for me. There is a sweet freedom about being able to create on completely your own terms and express only your personal ideas. However, in the autumn of 2008, after 10+ years in the design industry, I was asked to photograph a wedding. And I absolutely loved it. It was one of those moments where something just clicks into place. The wedding industry has moved on a lot in the 10 years since I’d done weddings before, and entirely different things are appreciated now. Whereas before it was all about the formals, now there’s a place for creative reportage. I do my best work when I act as an observer, creating images that tell the story of the day. And since I’ve been a magazine designer for so long, thinking about pictures in editorial terms comes pretty naturally to me. While I’m shooting I’m constantly thinking about how I would lay out the finished book to the best effect, and compose my pictures accordingly.

I currently work from my home in west London. Most of my weddings take place in central London and most of my clients so far are the artistic type, looking for something more contemporary and different from the norm.

How do you keep yourself motivated & your photography fresh?
Everything around us is inspiring. When looking through a camera even the smallest or mundane details can become something magical. My clients inspire me. I get a genuine kick out of being able to get a glimpse into all these different lives. Each client is different and getting to know them gives me new ideas. I do look at a lot of photography and design for inspiration, looking at pretty things is what makes life worth living in my opinion! I try not to look at other photographer’s work right before I have a shoot though, so that my brain wouldn’t attempt to directly copy anything I’ve just seen.

Which one of the hundreds of jobs that is involved in the career of photography do you most enjoy, and why?  Which is your least favorite, and why?
I might at times complain about being tired or too busy since I still have a day job as a designer as well, but when I’m taking pictures I’m completely content, it’s worth it all to be in that zone. So looking through the viewfinder and pressing the shutter is hands down the best part about being a photographer. My least favourite parts are all the mundane admin jobs that come with running your own business.

Show us your favorite image that you’ve shot so far this year & tell us what it is about this image that makes it special to you.
I love the sea. My favourite images this year have been a little series I took in Dorset at the start of the year. They remind me of the calming effect that the sea has on me.

Tell us one thing we should know about you and one thing your client should know about you.
I genuinely enjoy what I do and think that shows in my work.

Do you make time to photograph any personal work? If so, what do you photograph and show us an example or two.
I try to! At the moment I have a few ongoing projects, like the Duality project about women’s different roles, which you can see in my personal portfolio at http://mnoo.com and a Flickr project called 365 Bokeh. I also have ideas for new projects in my head, which I’m hoping to find time to execute at some point. Summer is pretty hectic for me though, so bigger new projects will have to wait until the autumn. Outside of projects I try to find time to photograph all the small details I see around me and in nature, and of course whenever I get the chance, the sea. In the summer I try to take my Holga out for at least a few spins as well.

What makes you different from other local photographers?
I think my style is very different to the majority of wedding photography in the UK at the moment. While I take my photos mostly in a photojournalistic way, I’d like to think that the end product I provide is more creative.

Have you attended any seminars/workshops recently and, if so, which one did you find most useful? If not, is there a particular one you would like to attend?
No time at the moment I’m afraid!

Name one website or blog you regularly visit.
Just one! My Google Reader is pretty maxed out on daily basis, with everything from photography to design and technology – seems impossible to mention just one. If I were to narrow it down to just wedding inspiration, my favourite blog would probably have to be http://www.stylemepretty.com/

Mac or Pc? Canon or Nikon? Photoshop or Lightroom? Most used lens? Flash or natural light? Favorite action set?
I use Canon equipment for my professional work. For my photography workflow I mostly use Lightroom and Photoshop on a PC. I use natural light as much as I can, but sometimes the conditions require the use of some fill flash. When I use (always off camera) flash I try to use it in a more creative way, taking inspiration from my more dramatic studio work.

If there was one person you could photograph, living or dead, who would it be and why?
I really tried to think of an answer for this question, but nothing came. I don’t think I’ve ever had someone specific in mind that I would aspire to photograph. I enjoy photographing every day people and finding their beauty and showing it to them.

What would your perfect photo assignment be?
I just recently booked my perfect assignment! I’ve been in love with the rugged coastline of Cornwall for the longest of time and try to go down there at least once a year. After my last trip I blogged some of the pictures I took of the cliffs down in Cornwall, and threw it out there that if anyone was getting married in Cornwall, I would so be up for photographing a wedding there. A short while back I got contacted by a bride who’d seen that blog entry and asked whether I really meant it. When I heard her describe her Cornwall wedding as ‘wellies-meets-Wang’ I thought I’d died and gone to heave! A gig couldn’t really get much more perfect than that for me – a gorgeous wedding, the sea and Cornwall! It just goes to show that if you put it out there, good things might happen.

With so much exposure to everyone else's current work up (thanks to the world of blogging and facebook) how do you let yourself be inspired but still keep your work yours without feeling like your are just copying what someone else is doing?
I think I answered this in an earlier question. I try not to look at other’s work just before a shoot. But also, when I’m taking pictures there’s pretty much just the moment and me there, I don’t really think of anything else then. I’m sure there’s nothing that could be classified as entirely original in the world, there are so many of us and so many influences spanning decades of human history, that it would be impossible to re-invent the wheel every time you pick up the camera. But just as long as you’re true to how you see the world, you will put your own stamp on it.


If we needed to hire a photographer, why should we choose you?
What makes any photograph more than just a technical act of recording, is a sympathetic point of view. When you can see a story in the elements of the shot, or a genuine moment in the faces of the subjects, the photograph becomes something greater than just the sum of its parts. If that’s what you want from your photographs, you should hire me.

Website: http://www.mariannetaylorphotography.co.uk/