Interview with Heidi from Me As A Mother

My friend Heidi is the wife to her hot hunk of a man and mother to 3 adorable girls with magic hair. She also has an undetermined but rather large number of dogs yet doesn't come across as a "dog person" whatsoever.

I love Heidi for her quick wit, her amazing photographs, and the fact that she'll back me up if I'm in a disagreement with my husband, (or anybody else for that matter).

Heidi blogs at Me As A Mother and I guarantee if you head on over there and say hi you will not regret it.

I sat down with Heidi recently and interviewed her for this feature. And by "sat down" I mean I emailed her some questions to which she replied and emailed me back. Enjoy!





How did you get started with photography?

My parents bought me my first camera when I was about 8. It was this awesome Kodak Instamatic. I took a lot of pictures of my friends playing and of my sister practicing her clarinet. I really loved it, but when you're 8 it's not like you can bank roll this kind of hobby on your own and I had busy parents, who despite my completely rational requests, wouldn't drop what they were doing to run to the one-hour photo place on a daily basis. So I picked it back up again seriously in high school and majored in fine arts photography in college.

 

What kind of camera(s) do you use?

I have had my Nikon D200 for 5 years and use it every day. I also have a little Canon PowerShot SD 400 that I bought six years ago when my oldest daughter was born and I use it a lot.

What's your dream camera?

Ooooh, this one, this one: Nikon D3s. I would seriously give this camera its own pillow so it could sleep between my husband and me and I would carry it everywhere in its own Baby Bjorn situation.

Do you have any desire to go "pro"?

I have thought about it, and still think about it every once in a while, but ultimately I am worried that turning my passion into a business would kill the joy for me. Sometimes all I have keeping me sane at the end of the day (did I mention that I have three daughters?) is my photography; I do it because I love it more than anything else, and staying up until 2 in morning editing shots because I HAVE to kind of makes me feel claustrophobic.

What's your favorite subject matter?

I love photographing people. Candid portraits are my favorite; capturing moments that seem so ordinary. I could photograph my daughters all day every day and never get tired of it because when I see those pictures I see the best part of being alive.



What's your favorite photo you've ever taken?

This is such a good question! And a tough one. But I have to go with the image that immediately popped into my head when I read it. It's this picture of Anabelle when she was 2. I love everything about it.

Do you have a favorite daughter?

Hahahahaha! Yes.

Do you have any pet peeves?

I HATE it when people don't think to orient their camera vertically to shoot a portrait. It drives me bananas. Also, when my husband leaves the fingernail clippers in random spots and I can't find them. That makes me want to punch walls.

Can you leave us with one photography tip?

Know your equipment, whether it's a top-of-the-line DSLR, a point and shoot or your phone. That way you will never miss a moment because you are fumbling around with dials and buttons. Shoot everyday.