Stephanie Schweitzer
Melissa Richard
Jill McMillan
Welcome New Hello Artists & Pros | May
Katie Shirk
Tell Us About Yourself!
I’m currently living under the heat of the Arizona sun with my husband, three beautiful daughters, and eight chickens. I’ve always had an interest in photography. I love how it captures things differently than what we see with our eye, sometimes in a way that resonates with our feelings and emotions even more so than the real thing. I love adventuring with my kids, and I love of coming home when we’re done. If I’m not doing something with photography, you can find me reading, out for a run, cleaning, cooking, or talking on the phone with my mom.
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
My style is documentary and lifestyle, and can be described as authentic, joyful, fun.
What Inspires You To Create?
I am very driven to document my family and our day to day lives, and I love creatively using my camera and technical knowledge to tell our stories in a compelling way. I’m inspired by things that spark joy. For me that can be anything from a beautiful sky, to the curl in my daughters hair, to a rainy afternoon at home. Most of all it’s the beauty in the small and simple things that I get to witness and be a part of every single day. I love having the ability to capture it forever for myself and for others.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
I have a goal to directly connect with more photographers and create relationships that will improve my work both professionally and artistically. I’m looking for more opportunities to learn and refine my skills, as well as share what I know with others.
Social Media Links
Rachel Johnson
Tell Us About Yourself!
I’m a wife, mom of 5 kids, and have been a pro photographer for 14+ years. I’m born and raised in Utah, and I love where we live and being so close to our big families. Some random facts about me–I have a degree in Social Work that I’ve never used (maybe someday, but I love photography too much right now); I’m allergic to the cold (really! I have to take allergy medicine all winter long or I break out in terrible hives); and I lost over 40 pounds in the last 6 months!
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
I would love to be defined as a fine art photographer, but I don’t feel like I’m to that point yet.
What Inspires You To Create?
I’m so inspired by light. My business name is Luminosity Photography, which means “radiating, shining, well-lit, clear, and illuminated,” I felt that those terms really defined my photography style. But even more beautifully, luminosity also means “enlightened.” I love the idea that photography brings enlightenment, that photography reveals truth. It’s said that photography is “savoring life intensely, every one hundredth second” (Marc Ribound), and I believe that. How beautiful that, as a photographer, I get the chance to slow down enough to revel in tiny fractions of time and really appreciate the truth in those moments. That’s what truly inspires me to create.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
My ultimate goal is to become a Hello Pro. At the beginning of 2021, I was feeling tired and bored of my photography. I decided it was time to really focus on self improvement in my work. My goals included completing a 365 project (still going strong!), taking a photography course each quarter this year, and applying for the Hello Pro/Hello Artist programs. I think being a Hello Artist will help me improve my work more, and give me the chance to connect with other women with the same passion!
Social Media Links
Jen Theis
Tell Us About Yourself!
I’m a momma of 3 littles who are my “why” and inspiration behind my photography. After finally becoming a mom after several years of infertility, I was determined to capture and remember every little detail of their lives. I started my photography journey in 2013 when my first child was born, and have continued to educate and grow my hobby into a business, where I’m hoping to capture the every day moments for other families
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
Vibrant every day childhood storytelling
What Inspires You To Create?
My children and capturing their every day childhood moments.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
To strengthen my voice as a storytelling artist while inspiring and teaching others to strengthen their voice.
Social Media Links
Iris Hu
Tell Us About Yourself!
I’m a documentary and lifestyle photographer based out of Nashville. I love to shoot at new locations so I travel very often and have sessions all around the states. I’m a very laid-back person, so I don’t really care about creating the perfect images. I hope when people see my works they can feel what I feel, rather than see everyone in the perfect outfits, at the breathtaking backdrops. I love light and I love to shoot at any kind of light. I do sessions during the day, I love low light, harsh light, morning light and, golden light, just any kind of light. I love to shoot in the rain, in a foggy day. I love to shoot at unconventional locations for sessions. I love to shoot at client’s houses, so that it’s guaranteed with unique light and environment. I am a 200% introverted person, so creating art out of love is my passion and also my outlet to express myself. I don’t define myself as family or wedding photographers. I love to shoot at any kind of genres even though I know a niche is important for a business perspective. But I just want to shoot wherever there are emotions to capture, stories to tell, and light to play with.
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
Light inspired, Storytelling, Wabi-sabi
What Inspires You To Create?
Telling people’s stories, capturing meaningful memories. I create so that hope people can feel what I feel that time when I took photos.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
I want to be part of this artist’s community. As a hello artist, I hope I have more motivation to create, to do projects, and work on with creative education.
Social Media Links
Christina Roberts
Tell Us About Yourself!
I am constantly inspired by the light and love that surrounds me. I have two little ones, who despite their craziness, are the foundation to my work. They have been the reason for my journey and what continues to push me to do better and grow as a creative. I live in the Bay Area, CA and am surrounded by natural beauty. This combined with my little ones, amazing families, and fellow photographers who constantly allow me to create with them and push myself are what has fostered my love for the photography community. I hope to grow more with Hello Pro and the other amazing artists.
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
Vibrant, Emotive, and Authentic. I strive to capture unique light within the environment and that “spark”within every day moments and connection.
What Inspires You To Create?
Showcasing the seemingly mundane everyday moments as they are to me: love filled, and amazing!
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
Connecting with other creatives, continuing to build on my experience and skills, and learn and thrive among other like minded people.
Social Media Links
Melissa Jeras
Tell Us About Yourself!
I grew up in Maryland with two awesome parents and lively twin older brothers. I moved to Arizona in 2001 to transfer to Arizona State University (by way of University of Georgia), and I have been in the beautiful Sonoran Desert ever since. I met my husband Tomislav in 2005, married him in 2008 and our 3 awesome kids now ages 11, 9, and 4 started coming soon after.
Like I mentioned before my first love in life was swimming. I was a competitive swimmer from the age of 6 all the way to my retirement after college. I was lucky enough to be a part of the Division 1 NCAA National Championship team at University of Georgia in 2000 and went to the Olympic Trials the same year. I still love swimming today and find it so rejuvenating for my soul!
I studied art in college, and although I did take some photography courses, my focus was on sculpture and ceramics. I still dabbled in sculpture after college but once I had kids, I put all of that on the back burner. Time was obviously an issue, but because I was cleaning up so many kid messes, I just couldn’t deal with adding to the mess by making art. I needed a cleaner creative outlet (and now I had these cute subjects to document ) so I picked up my camera and found my happy place there.
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
Like most photographers, I’m inspired by movement, color, and light. My heart really lies in shooting documentary style portraits of our own family, and capturing our every day moments in a fun and beautiful way. I love to capture the colorful energy that children exude in their every day lives.
What Inspires You To Create?
I studied art in college and the desire to create has always been strong in me no matter what the medium. I love to notice the beauty in the details of my every day and make them my own. These days of course, my biggest inspiration is my family. What better inspiration is there than the people you love most? I am a former NCAA division 1 swimmer and still swim regularly today, so my love of the water runs deep. That relationship with the water shows up often in my work in the obvious underwater photos, but also in the form of motion and the different “emotions” water can portray. I think I also draw on a lot of my hobbies and curiosities to indirectly inspire my work. Music, books, animals, plants, hiking and mountain biking, so many things shape my point of view. My photography is constantly evolving simply because I love trying new things. There are so many genres that I’ve tried and loved. From documentary, portraiture, film, underwater, macro, the list goes on and I’m sure that list will continue to grow.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
I would like to continue to grow as an artist and further refine my craft. I would love to be a part of this talented group of artists not only for inspiration and community, but I would love to help others grow as so many have helped me.
Social Media Links
Jocelyn Velush
Tell Us About Yourself!
I’m a 33 yr old mom to an absolutely energetic and sweet 2yr old mama’s boy. I have worked full time in HR in Corporate America for the past 12 years but know my calling is to do something more creative. In addition to photography, I paint, write poetry, design patterns, do calligraphy, and am constantly pursuing creative passions. I like to say my hobby is having hobbies 🙂 I live in the Boston, MA area, but love to travel and explore new places, though I can definitely be a homebody and consider myself an extroverted introvert.
How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?
Vibrant, expressive, colorful, modern romantic, playful
What Inspires You To Create?
I create because it makes me feel alive. I love to capture small moments of beauty, and am inspired by nature, travel, movement and color. I also love capturing my son’s experiences and taking self portraits to learn more about myself.
What goals are you hoping to achieve as a Hello Artist?
Become part of a community of like-minded creatives, continuously improve my photography and learn new techniques, put my work out there more with a goal of launching fine art prints, continue to develop my creative voice, storytelling ability and post-processing (composites, incorporating other art forms), see myself as an expert and help others who are passionate about photography.
Social Media Links
Jo Martindale
What goals are you hoping to achieve as Hello Pro?
I have been taught and cheered on by so many people through my photography journey and I am excited about the prospect of being able to pay that knowledge and support forward. I would love teach/write courses and also provide mentorship to individuals. I’m also looking forward to continuing to stretch myself and keep learning by being a part of this community and the projects.
In what ways are you involved in the Hello Storyteller community?
I am an active participant in the hello creative projects. I am a member of one of the engagement groups and also support the promotion if upcoming HS courses etc. I have joined the clubhouse team and look forward to both supporting and contributing to clubhouse chats. I engage with the Facebook group and regularly participate in a number of HS loops in Instagram. I have also supported people with their applications for Hello Artist.
Social Media Links
Allison Corrine Davis
What goals are you hoping to achieve as Hello Pro?
There are so many things I hope to achieve as a Hello Pro, though the immediate one that comes to mind is building fulfilling and rewarding long term relationships with other creatives. I hope to achieve that by creating and participating in opportunities to learn and grow together, supporting and being supported, inspiring and being inspired, holding each other accountable, and by collaborating with like minded photographers, particularly in situations where we challenge ourselves (i.e. trying new techniques, genres, themes, etc.) I also hope to enhance my skills as a mentor and educator, advance my career as an educator, and explore new avenues to develop my creativity and craft.I strongly believe that life is a continuum of learning, bettering, and improving – and the ability to do that in the company of others who feel likewise, is a reward like no other.
In what ways are you involved in the Hello Storyteller community?
I’ve contributed to the Hell Storyteller Blog, Member Library, and done Social Media Takeovers. I’ve also contributed to the monthly projects, regularly comment and post in the facebook groups, follow the HS IG tags and regularly comment and like posts using them, and participate in the slack group. I’m also in loops with other HS community members, though the loops aren’t facilitated by HS.
Social Media Links
