Bay Area Photographer | 20 on Tuesday | Amy Lucy

Have you missed 20 on Tuesdays? I have!  All I can say is:  Summer.  Moving. Moving.  And more moving.  There are lots of changes going on with me as well as these interviews,  so I can’t guarantee you’ll see 20 on Tuesdays on a regular basis, but I have been dying to feature today’s photographer ever since she agreed to the feature.

Last February I attended the Bloom Workshop in Dallas with a group of amazing fellow photographers.  I got to meet several friends I only knew online and a few photographers I hadn’t met before at all.  Amy Lucy of Amy Lucy Photography was one of the new friends I met that weekend.  I remember being in the studio sharing my method of metering with a few ladies.  One of these was Amy.  She came up to me asking to show her how I meter.  I thought perhaps she was a beginner and didn’t know how to meter for the skin so I took her step by step through the process.  She listened attentively and thanked me when I was done.  It wasn’t until I went home that week and looked at her blog that I knew she was far from beginner.  I was completely blown away by the amazing talent this girl exudes through her work.  Her work is the kind that I can look at all day long.  It’s clean, beautiful, sincere, honest, natural, and true.  Funny, because those are all words I would use to describe Amy.  She is kind and sweet and the epitome of goodness.  And I am thrilled to share her here on my blog!

Hi, Amy!

 

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota and now reside just outside the Minneapolis area in Hudson, Wisconsin.
Tell us a little about your beautiful family.

Oh, where to start! I could go on and on. I am so blessed! I have three children who give my life meaning and purpose. My son just celebrated his sixth birthday. He’s the child everyone dreams about – he’s sweet, kind, and joyful. My twin daughters are four, and they are full of life. They were born very premature, and are now healthy, strong, amazing little humans.  I have a super supportive husband who provides for our family, which allows me to stay home with our children and pursue photography.

Are you formally educated or self-taught in photography?

I learned everything I could from library books before I ever bought a DSLR. I understood so much about photography and shooting in manual before I ever picked up my camera. I have participated in online and in-person photography workshops, including Bloom and Finding the Light. Lots of practice is what has gotten me where I am.

I know you are the mom of young kids.  With all that you have going on at home, how do you balance work and family life?

Balance is always a struggle for me and most moms, I’m sure. I have to remind myself everyday to live in the present and spend quality time with my family. The kids are growing up so quickly and are changing right before my eyes. I don’t want to miss a minute of it, so I always put them first. I accept a limited number of clients each month so I can devote a lot of attention to each one. This also ensures that I have enough time for my first full-time job (being Mom!) and my personal photography projects.

When you’re in a rut, what inspires you?

Anything and everything. An uplifting quote, a great book, a simple word, a silly song, a hand-written note, a gorgeous landscape, cool finds from antique and estate sales, a special client, an expression, a soft breeze… Really, anything.
Talk to me about personal projects.  Are they important and what have you done lately?

I believe personal projects are not only important, but they are paramount to my success. I have pages and pages of projects that I hope to accomplish. I have plenty of ambition, my only limit is time! I am currently about half way through a 52-week project with a group of women from The Bloom Forum. I’m just beginning another project with 9 phenomenal photographers called 10 on 10, where we capture our day as it unfolds. I also recently started an ongoing project called Love Letters, which is just for me and my own soul. It’s simply images of and letters to my children, and I’ve wanted to do it for a long time.

What would your ideal photo session look like?

This is a tough one! No matter what I am shooting, be it a sweet, sleepy newborn, playful siblings at home, or a family in a field at sunset, there is always one thing that is so important: emotion. I want people to look at my images and feel something. That is my goal every time I pick up my camera. But if I were to dream up my own perfect session, it would be include a huge open field with blooming wildflowers, golden hour light that would last for about 3 hours, and my own three little ones who are fed, well-rested, and ready to laugh, be silly, and have fun.
If you could be invisible for one day with your camera…

I have always wanted to travel to orphanages in developing countries and capture the lives of the precious children who live there. Some of those children do not have many, if any, photos taken of them. I think it would be so special to photograph them and give them the prints. If I’m really lucky, maybe someday that will come true.

Name one person that you’d love to take a portrait of? And why?

I would love to photograph my father’s mother. She died when my dad was just a baby, and he has no memories of her at all. What I know of her is limited because her parents and only sister have passed away. My grandmother is mysterious to me but also wonderful at the same time. I have many photos of her from when she was a baby until she died at age 21, and I can just tell she was a very special person.

One of my favorite things about you is your crisp, clean, and dreamy photography.  Do you do much in post processing?

This question makes me laugh, because yes, I do spend a lot of time in post processing. But most of that time is spent playing around and trying different things. Playing in Photoshop after a session is a little reward I give myself. I play and play and usually settle on a relatively clean look in the end.

What’s in your camera bag?

Nikon D90, Nikon 50 1.4G, Sigma 30 1.4, Nikon 105 2.8 Macro
What have been your three best photography investments so far?

1)      My trusty D90, of course, since it’s been with me since the beginning and is still going strong!

2)      Any and all photography and Photoshop training.

3)      And probably the most important investment has been the two online forums I participate in (ClickinMoms and The Bloom Forum). I have learned a lot there, but more importantly I have met some of the most fantastic, inspiring people I could ever imagine. I am beyond honored to call them my friends. They are always there to support me, celebrate my successes, listen to my latest lofty ideas, and make me smile.

If not a photographer what would you have been?

My graduate degree is in Environmental Health Science and that was my career before I had children. But I always knew I wanted to be home with my children and am so blessed to be able to do just that.

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

A completely secluded 100-acre parcel of land on a Pacific island, surrounded by the clear blue ocean and lots of lush vegetation.

What talent would you most like to have?

I wish I were one of those people who only needs 5 hours of sleep a night. I’ve always needed my 8 hours, but wouldn’t it be so cool to have an extra 3 hours a day and not be tired?!
What are the three words your spouse would use to describe you?

Compassionate, sincere, intelligent.

Something that is over rated…

Rushing around trying to do and acquire too much while forgetting to cherish and enjoy the gifts we have at this moment.
Your favorite movie of all time?

Hmmm….that’s tough! I’m not a huge movie fan. I’ve probably watched Dirty Dancing more than any other movie in my life so I’ll stick with that one.

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

When starting out and having so much to learn, it is easy to get caught up in the feeling of inadequacy when looking at the work of seasoned pros. I constantly reminded myself that photography is a journey, not a race to a finish line. It’s all about enjoying the time you spend on photography, not instantly becoming a talented, accomplished, and popular photographer. I want to continue to grow, learn, and evolve over time and, of course, savor every moment of this long journey. So I would give this advice to newcomers: work hard, spend lots of time learning, and enjoy all the small and simple successes along the way.
What quote best represents you at this moment?
“Miracles, in the sense of phenomena we cannot explain, surround us on every hand: life itself is the miracle of miracles.” George Bernard Shaw

 

Thank you, Wendy, for featuring me on your wonderful blog. You have always blown me away with your talent, but when I met you in person I realized you were so much more than your beautiful images. You’re a devoted mother to four very incredible people, a sensational friend, and a woman who exudes grace and kindness. I’m so fortunate to know you.

Seriously?!?  Could she be any sweeter?  That just made my day.  Amy, I’m a huge fan and know you will continue to enjoy success not only in photography but in life.

Amy’s work can be found HERE.