20 on Tuesday: Gina Maxine Oh

Magical.

That’s the word I would use to describe the work of Gina Maxine Oh of Gina Maxine Photography.  I remember the first time I saw her work.  It was an image of one of her ballerinas and it blew me away.  I admired her “from afar” for a long time.  I adore her stylized commercial work.   It’s amazing!  Her use of light and color is just magical.  I have been inspired “up close” this year as I’ve had the opportunity to interact with Gina on the Bloom Forum as well as collaborating with her on our Fifty-Two on Friday project.  Knowing her personally now I must say how down-to-earth and generous and truly kind she is.  Her personal work and images of her own children are simply precious.  Those kids of hers are seriously adorable.  They bring a smile to my face whenever I see images of them.  Gina inspires me to find the joy in the everyday, to have confidence to step outside my box of comfort and try new things, and to study and really learn this art of photography.  As soon as she sent in her interview, I went on Amazon and ordered “the Photographer’s Eye” that she mentions.

Hi Gina,

Where are you from?

I am originally from Southern California. I grew up in Palos Verdes. Yup, I’m an LA gal with a valley girl accent that just will not go away.

Where is home now?

The beautiful Central Coast of California. Just bought a home in Arroyo Grande and will be moving in less than a month!!

Are you formally educated or self-taught in photography?

Self-taught. I will say this, the person who took me to the “next level” is my mentor and friend, Nichole Van. If you are starting out, you need to find a good mentor, someone who will tell you everything, the good and the bad. I also read a lot of books, not just skimmed, but REALLY read them. “The Photographer’s Eye” by Michael Freeman (http://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Eye-Composition-Design-Digital/dp/0240809343) was recommended to me by a wedding photographer and it really changed the way I composed photos. So, Nichole and the book helped me the most.

What led you to pursuing photography as a career?

I can’t say that it’s truly a “career” right now. I realized last year that have 3 kids and running a business was more than I could handle. So, I only take a handful of commercial clients every year. I love the pace of my life now and am very excited to have more time to shoot my own kids! I’m not sure what “led” me… you know the story, had kids, wanted to take better photos than the ones at the mall, hubby buys camera and then it just kind of went from there. I did not have an interest in photography at all before kids, at all. None.

Where do you go for inspiration?

I go to flickr, analyze catalogs, read art history books, stare at my children, go to the beach, go shopping, the usual, I suppose. If all fails, I just stop. I put down the camera and do not think about photography for days, sometimes weeks at a time. Trust me, after a while, you will have ideas going through your head like crazy and you will be DYING to go to a photo shoot.I highly recommend trying this every once in a while.

What do you shoot with?

Nikon D700. My lens collection includes the 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4, 17-35mm f/2.8 and the 60mm f/2.8.

How would you describe your style?

Hmmm… I guess it would be more towards fine art rather than lifestyle, though I dabble in both. I usually go for the ONE money shot rather than trying a series of photos. It’s just how my brain works. That’s why commercial photography is a better fit to me.

If you could be invisible for one day with your camera…

I would follow Sonia Macak of Bohemian Secret (http://bohemiansecret.net/blog/) and just watch her work. She captures emotion in every single frame and in my opinion, is the master of black and white photography.

Talk to me about personal projects. Are they important and what have you done lately?

I feel like personal projects are crucial to expanding your skills as a photographer. I did the photo-a-day for the month of January recently and I made myself focus on black and white photography. I really wanted to improve in this area and taking photos every single day helped me a lot. I am also a part of the 52 week project, which I am sure your readers know all about now.

What you’re still learning…

Believe it or not, I’m still learning about the qualities of light. I am currently reading a book called “Light, Science & Magic” to help me better understand the physics of light.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0240808193/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0240802756&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=03MGQSGJHDCH245XD0C9 Perhaps this is a subject that I will have to tackle for the rest of my life, which is fine… it’s the journey that’s important, right?

What would your ideal session look and feel like?

A child who is 3 or 4, in the fields with NO trees (I want to see the horizon), wearing Eden’s Bouquet clothing (I have to do a plug for my favorite client) at the crack of dawn. I prefer morning light to evening light, it has a different “feel” to it.

If you could photograph another photographer, who would it be?

Kristy Lane, isn’t she just gorgeous? Yes, but more importantly, I feel her kind heart when she encourages me via email. So, it’d be neat to finally talk to her face to face. Oh, and I’d get to go to Texas which seems like a really fun state to visit.

If not shooting where can we find you?

In my car, driving the kids around to piano lesson, swim lesson, school or directing the children’s choir at church.

If you could live anywhere on this awesome planet where would you build your dream home?

Recently, San Luis Obispo was voted the happiest place in the United States, did you hear about that? Well, Arroyo Grande is the city right below it and that is where I live. I would choose to stay exactly where I am. The central coast of California is an unbelievable place to live and I still can’t believe that I get to call this place “home”!

What talent would you most like to have?

Easiest question thus far, to be able to sing. I’m not horrible or anything, but nothing spectacular. My husband bought me a karaoke machine when we first got married and that’s how I live out my dream of being a pop star or an actress in a musical, lol. You all should get one, it relieves a ton of stress.

What are the three words your spouse would use to describe you?

He just said, bright, loving & talkative. Haha, I do kind of talk a lot…

Something that is over rated…

Talent

If you read book, “Talent is Overrated” ( http://geoffcolvin.com/books/talent-overrated/) you’ll understand what I’m talking about. I am from the school of thought that deliberate practice is the key to success, so when I hear people say that a person is talented, I tend to think that s/he has no idea what it takes to be successful at the highest level. When I was in junior high and high school, my mother entered me in every cello competition possible. The competitions were always in the summer and we would have to practice hours and hours, BORING. Yet, I ended up winning quite a few because of the countless hours of practice time. Did I have talent? Who knows, perhaps a tad. However, I believe that practicing had much more to do with it than just talent. Same goes for photography. Read the book, it’s interesting. I’m throwing out a lot of books here today, aren’t I?

Three movies you can watch over and over again?

This is a hard question because I don’t watch a lot of movies. I haven’t gone to a movie theater in 7 years or so. I don’t even know what the price of a movie ticket is. I’ll pass this question because I honestly do not have an answer.

If you could change one thing you did while starting your photography business, what would it be?

I would take a business class. .

What quote best represents you at this moment?

“Do what you can with what you have where you are.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Gina’s work can be found HERE.

Thanks, Gina!!!