Name:  Kimberly Wylie

Studio:  Kimberly Wylie Photography
Site: www.kimberlywylie.com
Blog: www.kimberlywylie.com/blog

How long have you been a photographer:

7 years...   I left a VERY nice job in finance to start my own business and I can remember the first time I said out loud that I was a professional photographer.  I thought the police were going to come and shine a light on me as someone who was pretending to be something I wasn’t.  It took me awhile to wear that title with ease and better yet, to be able to say it with pride and confidence.  I started out not knowing even what an 8x10 was... crazy to think about that now.  Now photography is part of who I am and I love every minute of it. 

Camera that you use:

 Just switched from the 1Ds Mark II to the 5D Mark II ... Love it!  Go Canon!

Your favorite lens:  

70-200mm 4.0  I had to sell my 2.8 as it was hurting my shoulder (an old swimming injury...).  The 4.0 is a great size lens with fabulous results.

Your favorite photography website:  

Design Aglow.  They have such wonderful products that I have been able to use and incorporate into my marketing pieces, cards, albums and just about everything else at our studio.  I try and take some of the things I have bought and use them in unexpected and creative ways to make them unique to our studio and our brand.  It is such a great resource for ideas, inspiration and education.  Just love it...

Please tell us about your banner image:  

One of my favorite things to do is to start talking to the parents and pretend I am not watching the kids.  This is when you can get some of the more spontaneous moments of a kid being a kid.  I just loved the movement and the flickers of light off the grass in this shot.  The little girl is just precious and she was just having fun so much fun she didn’t even notice me...

What advice would you give to the first time buyers of Forbeyon albums?  

Take advantage of the Studio Sample pricing... The more you show, the more you will sell. Show a range of sizes and options.

How would you describe the products you receive from Forbeyon?  

Perfection is the word that comes to my mind.  I have not had to send one album back, they always arrive on time and are gorgeous from cover to cover.   Every time I get an album and I open it, it feels a bit like Christmas.   It is like looking at my own work for the first time with fresh eyes because the presentation is so gorgeous.  My favorite is the photo metallic paper with the linen texture.

What inspired you to use Forbeyon?  

One of our staff members researched a bunch of album companies and said that this is the one we should use.  She said the product was wonderful and the service was excellent from the first time she called.  She was right about that...

If you could create your ultimate album, what would it look like?  

I just did, submitted it last night in fact!  It is 11 panoramic images full of color.  Every page is dripping with detail, vibrant color and the cutest little kid.  This is a great idea to sell to the client who loves big prints but doesn’t have a ton of wall space.  The impact is HUGE and the design and retouching time is minimal.

As a photographer, what is your most important objective when shooting?   

Capturing the little things that as a parent, I don’t want to forget in my own children.  The smallness of their feet when they are so new, the range of expression of a baby, the funny way they walk, the adoring look they have when they look at their parents.  I want to make sure when the parents see their images, they say “Ohhh that is SOO Bobby!  He makes that face all the time.”  Tears are a great thing in our studio because this means I nailed it and forever that family will always be able to hold on to those memories.

How do you prepare for your sessions?  

I try to always be preparing by looking for new ideas or inspiration.  For instance, I will be watching a movie and completely miss what the actors are saying because I am analyzing a lighting pattern.  My husband loves me during these times when I make him rewind...  When I watch a play, I am looking at the composition of the dancers or I will look at an ad for the use of color and text.  I am a sponge and always trying to think of new ideas from all the things around me...

What do you do during the slower months?  

We used to have slower months.  The past few years, we are lucky and are busy pretty much year round.  I try to use the free time that I do get to update the website, come up with new marketing ideas, refresh samples in the studio and make new contacts in the community.  Sometimes I just try to get some sleep... :)

What is your most embarrassing moment during a session?  

There were 2 women at a session with a baby.  One was clearly the mom and the other, the grandmother?  WRONG... the younger sister.  OOPS, someone please come and remove the shoe from my mouth.  One of my husband’s rules is to never make an assumption.  I wish I had listened to him that day!