Q&A With Michael Miller Of Denim To Lace Custom Glamour Photography
January 25, 2009
Illinois based glamour photographer Michael Miller of Denim To Lace Custom Glamour Photography was kind enough to fill out this photographer self interview questions which is a feature of my FREE Fashion Industry Directory.
Q: Do you like to talk about yourself or your pictures? If yes, about what aspects of photography? If no, why?
A: Love to talk “shop”…not so much about myself. I’m not really that interesting.
Q: How would you describe your attention span?
A: A tad bit better than a 5 year old.
Q: When did you decide to become a photographer?
A: 1972
Q: What does photography mean to you?
A: Creation.
Q: Can you recall the first photo you took that made you go WOW!?
A: Yes. A Red Rose I placed in a snow-covered Fir tree
Q: Do you have any formal training regarding photography?
A: Seminars.
Q: How technical is your photography?
A: I understand all technical aspects of photography and I like trying new things.
Q: How do you feel about cropping?
A: Fine. We can’t always shoot the exact composition we’d like to.
Q: Where is your favorite place to live and work as a photographer in the World and why?
A: United States. There is so much to photograph.
Q: Define the word “beauty”!
A: Inner…Caring, good ethics, and optimistic. Outer…Everyone is beautiful in their own way.
Q: What is your most favorite and least favorite word in photography or life? How do they make you feel?
A: Best…Creativity. Least…Can’t.
Q: How does your personality change when you look through the camera?
A: It doesn’t.
Q: How do you feel about missed shots which cannot be recreated?
A: Darn it!!!
Q: Ever concerned about failure?
A: Sometimes. Mostly, I do my best and know I’ve done my best.
Q: Who are your influences?
A: Adept photographers.
Q: What is your favorite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you?
A: I have no favorites. I love seeing all creativity.
Q: Describe a day in your personal or professional life.
A: Working in the office, shooting, and marketing.
Q: What are the biggest personal or professional challenges you face on a daily basis?
A: Acquiring new assignments.
Q: What has been the single biggest obstacle against growing as a photographer in whole?
A: Convincing the public there’s a difference between “professional” photography and “Soccer Mom” pictures.
Q: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
A: People and old barns and buildings.
Q: Tell your funniest, scariest, most bizarre, most touching story from a photoshoot!
A: I’m an affiliate photographer for the nowilaymedowntosleep.org and I was asked to photograph a 10 year old girl who was in a death coma from smoke inhalation. I knew when I was finished photographing her, they were going to take her off life-support.
Q: Have you ever thought about or actually stopped doing photography? What were the circumstances?
A: No. It’s my life and full-time career.
Q: Do you ever have photographer’s block and if yes how do you deal with it?
A: If I get a block, I choose a subject and do a theme on it.
Q: What types of assignments are you attracted most?
A: Photographing for a cause.
Q: Describe what black and white photography means to you?
A: Dramatic.
Q: Do you think of yourself as an artist and what do you think of the word artist?
A: I like to think of myself as “artistic” not as an artist.
Q: How do you describe your photographic style?
A: Hopefully, as original and artistic.
Q: What has been the most surprising or most predictable reaction to your photographs?
A: When told, “I never knew I could look so good!”
Q: Tell a little secret about yourself that no-one knows …
A: I have none.
Q: Who or what would you love to shoot that you haven’t already?
A: Would love to do a series on the aged and time-worn faces of senior citizens.
Q: What would you have done differently during your photography career so far and could this be an advice to others?
A: I would have liked to have promoted my niche (Glamour) sooner.
Q: What are your thoughts on the paparazzi and their effects on photographers and photography?
A: I don’t think photographs should be taken against someone’s wishes or be the cause of any hurtful events. However, isn’t a wedding photographer a paparazzi of a sort?
Q: How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it?
A: It’s fine if that’s what you want to do. I “enhance” my work…not manipulate it.
Q: What other thoughts would you like to share?
A: Photography is a tough business and there’s a lot more to it than just taking photos.
Self interview questions are also available for other fashion industry professionals, visit my Makeup Artist Interview and Hair Stylist Interview pages and use the contact form to submit the answers.
