Abi Coop
Melissa Richard
Kristen Ryan
Welcome New Hello Artists | August
Welcome New Hello Artists | August
Jen Frase
Tell Us About Yourself!
I’m a photographer, a writer, a mom to pre-teen twins, and a wife to a very tolerant husband. I love photography and have studied it for a long time and it is part of my day, every single day. I love to learn, as evidenced by my two Masters degrees! School is simply the best – I have a passion for learning and teaching, and being a part of a community that fosters this.
I’m also a smart ass. I love being sarcastic and I’m certainly known among my friends as the “funny one”. Making people laugh is something I’m inspired by – humor is so incredibly important. I try to incorporate humor in everything I do, whether it’s photography, writing dumb Instagram captions, being with my friends, parenting or climbing on top of my husband when he’s trying to work and showing him my best human blanket impression.
As I mention above, teaching is a dream of mine and having a sense of humor would be an extremely valuable asset for a teacher to have. Don’t you remember having that one teacher in school who was funny? They would make learning fun. Humor makes you listen, brings you in, connects you with others and most importantly, humor lets you have fun. All of these things are so important in teaching. I bring my humor everywhere I go, and it would certainly be a part of my style as a Hello Artist.
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
I’m inspired by the small, beautiful details of life around me. My creative style is clean and crisp, and usually light and bright. I’ve been told I have an editorial aesthetic! I often use soothing colors paired with beautiful light, and mostly showcase food, things and places I encounter everyday. I love to make joyful, aesthetically pleasing photos that are fun to look at and showcase how I see the world around me.
What Inspires You To Create?
“The everyday” inspires me to create. I’m rarely drawn to a fabulous landscape or even a touching moment within a family. I love to photograph the unexpected, the everyday details and things around me. I love noticing beautiful colors or textures, a compelling slice of light, a quirky moment or a colorful cocktail I’m enjoying with friends. These are the things I love to photograph. I wholeheartedly believe that storytelling does not have to include people or families or weddings – the details I love to photograph tell the story around me, my life, my vision and the beauty I see every day. Also perhaps important to note is that I feel this type of photography isn’t always well represented and I hope this would allow me to offer something unique as a Hello Artist.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
First and foremost, I would love to improve my craft! If I teach or mentor or write, my photography skill will always be a critical part of my work. I truly believe we never stop learning or improving.
My other goal is to teach. Teaching photography has been a dream of mine for a long time – in fact, because this was a goal of mine, I spent six years earning my MFA degree in photography from the Academy of Art University. One of the main outcomes of pursuing a degree like this is to have the ability to teach at the University level. However, I’d love to teach more hands-on: mentoring, workshops, etc – rather than at a college level, which is the route many MFA graduates take. I love working with people and coaching. Not only do I think I’m good at explaining things, but I’m also easy to get along with and have a knack for connecting with people. I think I’d be a great fit for your brand!
Finally, I’m also a writer! I’ve written a novel and my MFA thesis project was a photography book, combining my photography and my writing. I had a blog with loyal followers for many years and I miss writing and connecting with people that way. I think creating curriculum or writing for a blog or even Instagram would be a challenging and rewarding part of being a Hello Artist.
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Krista Cox
Tell Us About Yourself!
I am a hobbyist photographer, currently the mama of 3 kids (with 1 more arriving imminently!). I am an attorney by day, but love my evening and weekend hobbies of photography, hiking and cooking. Pre-pandemic, I enjoyed traveling with my family and have been to over 40 countries across all continents with the exception of Antartica (one day!).
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
My creative style is vibrant, playful, and authentic. I am typically drawn to bold colors and playful scenes. I love capturing fun authentic moments and reactions, including preserving the little details.
What Inspires You To Create?
Like many moms, having children inspired me to adopt my husband’s DSLR and learn photography. While I started just wanting to capture the day to day moments of my children, in the last year I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from lifestyle and fine art images posted in the Hello Storyteller FB group. I’ve become very interested in playing with color and finding light/shadows. My deepest inspiration still comes from my children, though, and I love capturing their reactions — whether purely documentary, as a collaboration with my creative middle children, or their authentic play with scenes that I might set up.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
I hope to continue to learn and grow as an artist. The Hello Storyteller community has pushed me to be much more creative than I thought I ever could! For years I shot purely documentary with many snapshots of my children. In the last year, the Hello Storyteller community (and, in particular, the amazing courses I’ve taken and helpful feedback from mentors, pros and artists) has helped me understand the photos I am most drawn to and how to create them. The community has pushed me to be inspired by others and also to find my own inner creativity. I hope to continue to get outside of my comfort zone and find excitement in creating photos that I want on my wall.
Social Media Links
Abi Coop
Tell Us About Yourself!
I live in Cardiff, Wales in the UK with my husband and 2 daughters, aged 8 and 5. I work as a freelance crossword writer and proofreader for a puzzle magazine. I’ve always enjoyed taking photos but started learning how to come off auto mode 2 years ago and the hobby has grown ever since. Through the pandemic I really struggled mentally so found it theraputic to focus on something I could control; to stop, notice and appreciate all the intricate details in the beautiful world around us (or right on our doorstep when we couldn’t go anywhere!). Aside from photography I love to read books, explore new places and relax with a coffee or a glass of red wine depending on the time of day and how challenging my children have been!
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
My style is pretty, ethereal and full of colour. I love to use light and blur to add to the sense of mystery.
What Inspires You To Create?
I’m inspired by the beautiful world around us. I am drawn to pretty colours, textures and light. I love to capture my children out enjoying nature or at home doing the activities we love; my youngest in particular is very fond of baking. I like to be creative in what I shoot, and also how. Beyond just different perspectives and compositions I love to detach my lens and use freelensing and reverse freelensing to find just a slice of focus in my images leaving the rest in a dreamy blur.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
In addition to continuing my own photography journey and working towards my goal of selling prints, I would love to help others on theirs. Through the opportunities becoming a Hello Artist offers, such as writing for the blog, I would especially love to share my passion for freelensing and inspire others to try the technique.
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Ruth Anne Holloway
Tell Us About Yourself!
I’m a wife and homeschooling mama to seven (six of whom are boys). We live in the inner city New England. Other than taking out my camera, I enjoy sitting down with a good book, preferably on a quiet afternoon, in a nice pocket of sunshine with a mug of hot coffee by my side (it’s a dream I dream everyday!)
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
Dreamy, dark, and moody
What Inspires You To Create?
I’m inspired to create by light, water, shadows, reflections. Finding hidden or unusual vantage points that surprise the viewer.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
I would love to continue my growth as a photographer, to keep learning. One day I hope to be able to pass on my love of photography to others.
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Rebecca Congleton
Tell Us About Yourself!
I am a folk singer and fashion enthusiast. I take on client work in between being a worship leader and missionary. I’m married with a 20 year old son and 17 year old daughter. I was a professional newspaper journalist for 8 years before becoming a missionary and touring recording artist.
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
My style is an enchanting, eye candy, daydream. I would say the heart of my style is fine art without pretension.
What Inspires You To Create?
Color, light, feminine beauty, unconventional approaches, freedom.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
I simply want to continue to grow and help others reach their full potential, as well. I am more interested in relationships than competition or acknowledgment. I want to see my own work progress and advance, while encouraging others in their goals.
Social Media Links
