Professional Photographer Interview: Kiley Lloyd Of Shawnee, OK
Q: Can you recall the first photo you took that made you go WOW!?
A: Yes I remember the first time I said wow was a picture of a catholic church with the sun the the left in the corner I was just amazed that I took a great photo
Q: Do you have any formal training regarding photography?
A: Just a little. I have interned for a photographer and also worked at Sears portrait studio for a couple months. In the fall I am attending school for photography.
Q: Do you like to talk about yourself or your pictures? If yes, about what aspects of photography? If no, why?
A: Yes I do. I like to talk about my style and what sets me apart from other photographers in my area.
Q: When did you decide to become a photographer?
A: I decided to become a photographer about five years ago when I was about 14
Q: What does photography mean to you?
A: Photography means being able to catch life in a single moment. It means I can bring emotion to someone with a single image.
Q: How do you feel about cropping?
A: I think cropping is fine there is nothing wrong with it. All photographers make mistakes and need a little help sometimes. I just don’t like when someone goes overboard and crops all there photos.
Q: Where is your favorite place to live and work as a photographer in the World and why?
A: I’m young and the only place I have lived in and worked in is Oklahoma, so I haven’t had a chance to get out there and explore but when I find my favorite place I’ll let you know.
Q: Define the word “beauty”!
A: Beauty is what someone sees as lovely or eye catching
Q: What is your most favorite and least favorite word in photography or life? How do they make you feel?
A: My favorite word would have to be amazing it makes me feel great when someone calls my work that.
My least favorite is whatever people use to bad mouth photographers who use photoshop. These days there is lots of editing in pictures not all though and you can’t put someone down just because they use it.
Q: How does your personality change when you look through the camera?
A: Without my camera I’m the most shy person on the planet but when I look through the camera I feel like I can go and talk to anyone
Q: How do you feel about missed shots which cannot be recreated?
A: I get aggravated and think I know if I was focusing a little more I could have got that shot.
Q: Ever concerned about failure?
A: All the time
Q: Who are your influences?
A: Music photography
Q: What is your favorite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you?
A: Mine would have to be a band picture I took
Q: What are the biggest personal or professional challenges you face on a daily basis?
A: Lighting because I only use natural light or someone not wearing something flattering and they end up looking bad in the photos
Q: What has been the single biggest obstacle against growing as a photographer in whole?
A: Getting run over by clients
Q: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
A: Bands
Q: Tell your funniest, scariest, most bizarre, most touching story from a photo shoot!
A: The craziest one would have to be when I was shooting a band and they pulled me on top of a roof just to get a good shot. I was afraid I was going to fall off the roof.
Q: Have you ever thought about or actually stopped doing photography? What were the circumstances?
A: I have thought about stopping because I seem to keep getting ran over by clients but I have a hard time saying no to people because I’m to nice
Q: Do you ever have photographer’s block and if yes how do you deal with it?
A: Yes when it comes to be creative I just have to think about it and look up ideas
Q: What types of assignments are you attracted most?
A: Concerts and band shoots
Q: Describe what black and white photography means to you?
A: It means simpler times when there was no color photography
Q: Do you think of yourself as an artist and what do you think of the word artist?
A: Yes I do and the word artist mans creating something for other people to enjoy
Q: How do you describe your photographic style?
A: My style is edgy and new
Q: What has been the most surprising or most predictable reaction to your photographs?
A: The most suprising would be when my picture ended up in the newspaper but sadly did not get credit for it.
Q: Tell a little secret about yourself that no-one knows …
A: I listen to country music sometimes
Q: What would you have done differently during your photography career so far and could this be an advice to others?
A: Not to let people run over me and put my foot down when it comes to prices
Q: What are your thoughts on the paparazzi and their effects on photographers and photography?
A: They make some photographers seem like bad people like we are all out there to just get the next shot of a star for money
Q: How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it?
A: I believe it is alright to manipulate photos and I use it often but not to every photo
Connect with Kiley via her Facebook and Flickr pages.
