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Skype Interview with Krysta Metcalf

I just want to talk a little bit about Krista before we bring around. I think she's waiting and waiting in the wings on her scape call, as you can see, really fun photography. Her approach is quite somewhere in mind that she really works hard with her clients, styling locations, that type of thing. She has a couple other little things that she does that we were talking about. That's really cute. And I love and will have her talk about that during her interview to give you a couple more ideas on how to bring the styling and the look that you want to your to your photo shoots. Um, yeah, just to kind of flip through. You can see she's she uses the props, and she uses, uh, the use of color and things like that, very similar to what we've been talking about. Um, her works just absolutely gorgeous. But she also plays with She does, ah, wanderlust actions, which you'll see she plays with color not only in her photo like within the clothes, but you'll see. She also does these beautiful overlay...

s that use that same that help you under, you know, bring the I to the color and that feel that she's going for. But, um, yeah, I'm just really excited to have Christie here just because I find her work so absolutely beautiful and inspiring. So let's bring run. And these are her. Oh, how are you Here? I'm great. How are you? I am good. I'm gonna flip around just a little bit so I can see you better. I don't know that I'm looking at you. And I looked. It makes me feel like I'm talking Teoh. Let's chat. So I was just kind of talking about everyone here, how we have such similar style, but how you have a couple of tips and tricks up your sleeve. The you use with your clients help bring your your your themes in your ideas and help incorporate them into the photo shoots beyond just talking about it before, before you show up. And we talked a little bit. I showed him some of your images, so we talked a little bit about your actions and how we've been talking a lot about color this morning and how I use color in my photos. And I was showing how you even use it in your actions to bring, you know, the I to the place in the photo that people want to see and all that kind of fun stuff. So maybe you just start off telling us a little bit about you and your style and how he approach, I would definitely say, Overall, it's a bit ethereal and dream like, and I like every session to be an experience and not just show up and shoot. So I really work with my clients beforehand to see what kind of style there looking bored. They want a natural setting to they want urban to they wanted at home. Session within their homeland is their own style, so I can kind of get a feel for how I can start inspiration board for them. And then I always like, pull bits and pieces from things they've told me. They put them into an inspiration board, and I send it over just to kind of get an idea. If it's something that they like, I've had people say No, that's not really us, and so I kind of go in a different direction. I've had people say, Oh my gosh, I love it And then I always tell my clients when you show up to your session to bring a suitcase full of extras so I might put clothing options and inspiration boards. But then I have them bring accessory. These dresses, pants, button downs, whatever it is in their suitcase. And I bring my own suitcase and then we kind of pull and me kind of piecemeal together. These looks and, um, the Inspiration Board is a nice starting point, but once you get humans, human connection in there always kind of takes a life of its own. So it's kind of fun and see the whole process from beginning to end from its inspiration board. And then you give it your clients and you've got this beautiful vision at the end. That's kind of come to life. So that's kind of how I play with my clients to get these dreams like ethereal session, do you? So you had said, sometimes you'll show them these inspiration words like, Oh, that's not Is it normal that you bring the concept to your client? Or is it do they bring it to you sometimes, like, how does that? How does that work? Ah, lot of my clients come from client referrals. So a lot of times they know what look they want, but they don't necessarily know what they want their session to be. So they'll say. I thought so in. So session. I want that. And then I kind of dig a little deeper and say, Well, what did you like about that? Did you like the way they were? Style? Did you like the location? Did you like the light? Did you like the props? Like, What did you like about that? That we component your own session. I don't want to give them a copycat session, but I wanted to bits and pieces from what they like and make sure that it's a session that they feel comfortable with images hanging in their home afterwards. So we kind of take bits and pieces from the questionnaire on just from their overall Silom kind of mash it together. There's that question. Eric, talk to Jenny Solar yesterday and she's talking about her question and I've been talking about my questioner. I'm telling you because it kind of lets you get to know the client beforehand. Yeah, grab pieces from it and It kind of helps me. You know that the barber, what the session's gonna be. So Yeah. So how in, like, what's your process in setting up this you like, Do you? I know you show up with, like, clothes and stuff like that, but are you? Do you let them kind of take the lead once you're there, Do you tell him like how you want them pose? How you want them to be, like how How do you work it once, once you about happen half since we get there. I just spent a good, like, 10 minutes just getting to know them, asking personal questions what they did that day, playing with the kids, kind of breaking down those walls a little bit to get everybody comfortable. I usually take If it's a family session, I'll usually take like the dad and the kids, and we'll do like the family photos first. That way, the day I can kind of step out of the picture and then I can do the kids next, and so we can kind of play and have fun without having any crazy energy hanging over the session. Complain of times. Dads don't want to be there or, um that is kind of wanna hang back. So I'll do it Imposed images in the very beginning. And then I kind of just let the kids play and I just play along with them. You know, we dio I always tell kids we're going on an adventure, so being a very Forrester might be going to a big castle made of chocolate or whatever it is, Andi just kind of have a place session, and I always just stamping shots as they go along. So we do some pose, and we just do some interaction to get a good mix for the gallery. So you just kind of go with the flow. You don't have like, a shoot list that you're don't I? Yes, but I think I was always in my head being like okay, but I get the shot. Got to get this shot. I've got to get this shot and it was just more stressful for me. I work much better when I can kind of just, like, step back, relax and just have fun. And that's just like how I like to shoot so and it was different for everybody but I just like to have fun when I'm shooting. So yeah, well, I think even if you do have a shoot lists following the lead like you said, waiting for the right moment to get that shot and not having it in your head that like I have shots one through 10 and exactly 345 like just like you said, playing and going and going with the going with the flow in that way. So But that said, What's what's your like, what's what do you starting for this, like, What's your end result? We have talked a little bit about yesterday. Like me. My thing is just having fun. And, yeah, I want to get great images with the end of the day. Maybe it's like being utilized What kids love me like that's like my idea of success If I hear how much the kids loved me. I know when I'm in the same boat with you, like I want to feel fulfilled is an artist. I want to walk away from a session like that was a really great session. I feel really good about it. But at the same time, first and foremost I want my flying. Like I said before having experience, I don't ever want it to be like a show up in shoot session where they kind of like, I want them to think, Oh my gosh, like that was awesome. We had so much fun like, we want to do it again. You want to come back next year? Onda at the end of the session that the kid is asking me to go to Starbucks or get a birthday invitation like gold? We've won. The best is when you get the hand drawn. Thank you cards later. Oh, exactly. That's my favorite. Yeah, I want to go back just a little bit. You had mentioned that you have them bring a suitcase of clothes, but you've also talked about suitcase sessions. Do you wanna share what that is? Because I think it's a cute little term and kind of fun, like, especially for families that don't know exactly what they're supposed to dio to get ready for a photo shoot toe like offer that suitcase session. I think it's it's It's a very inviting type shoot. So, yeah, it's basically just like a bit of a minute session and it's kind of along the same guidelines as I do for a full session. But I just have them bring their suitcase full of clothes in a nice style. So a lot of times clients will know, like what color they want or what setting they want, but they don't know how to style necessarily. They know what look they want. So they come and I just kind of dig through their suitcases and I put together looks for them. And then they've got this beautiful, stylized session at the end, and it doesn't cost them an arm and a leg to go out and buy things that they saw him. Inspiration, or they can use what they have. But we kind of like put a little twist on it so they may not have styled their pieces like that before. And then it's a completely different look for them. It's still dream like whimsical session, I think another one way for them to kind of get the vision. But it doesn't necessarily have to be, you know, playing all these extensive clothes from the inspiration where they can do it, you know, with what they already have. Yeah, I mean, I love what I love about that is it's still completely them, like you don't have to worry that you're styling. I'm not to look like it's kind of like those home improvement shows where they like, just rearrange your own doing that design I to it. And you're like, Wait a second. I didn't ever think of that. Yeah, absolutely. Love that. What do you do, though? If your clients don't really care about white clothing and style, is there still ways that you put your mark on the photo are like, What other important aspects besides take clothes out of the picture? What what is basically just like, you know, human connection, I think, especially in this day and age where everybody is so focused on technology. I just want to be relatable to my clients, and I want to spend time with them breaking down walls to make them comfortable, and it doesn't necessarily always have to be about the style or the clothes or the props. I just shot a little girl and she was dressed in a black guitar and cut offs from Target, but we had the best time, and it was just because we took everything else away. She was standing against a brick wall, but it was some of the most beautiful images I think I've shot just because her mom kind of step back. And I just kind of connected back and forth with her, so it doesn't necessarily mean it always has to be this beautiful style I session. But if you can relate to your clients and have fun with them, I think that means more than anything. Definitely. Yeah. Now I totally agree. And, um, if you want to talk about your actions, well, I love how, Like when I first saw your actions that I got, I got to test them. I was the lucky one to see him before other people. But it was funny to me when I thought I was like, Oh, yeah, they're so Krista. Even though you have never used infections before, right? So maybe touch a little bit on how even that you brought into, like, how to make, like I wondering in my head like, how did I think they were? So you Is it like the colors you picked? Is it, um So do you wanna touch just a little bit on how you have used those toe. Sure, yeah, created that called wanderlust actions. And, um, as I said before, my whole vibe kind of like a dream like whimsical cereal vibe. And I wanted something in the images that would portray that, And I don't necessarily follow the rules when it comes to photography. When I do my processing, it's not clear cut straight forward. It's about a lot of like different tones and colors, almost like you'd be flipping through, you know, like a Bohemian catalogue magazine or looking at an old vinyl cover that's pretty and grainy and hazy. I took different pieces from all that and kind of put it together in this action set and something I'm really proud of. And I think it hopefully people will like it, and we'll give them the same dream like quality to their images. But in their own twist, well, yeah, because they look different if you're putting him on different people style images? Exactly exactly. Yeah, And then also we could talk a little bit about We're gonna do a workshop together in October October. That's coming up fast. I know. Yeah. So we haven't really touched on dreamer after we get done with you. Sometime later in the segment, we were actually gonna flip through a little bit of dreamer out. I was gonna show whether it just be through hard, hard copy holding it up, but show one of your sessions in it. But that's kind of like where we started, even though it wasn't collaborating on the same shoots. Kind of started hitting our stride of, like talking about what should be in and what kind of things. That and realizing, like how similar our styles are beyond. Like looking at are images. Other images? I don't think, actually. Are that similar dialogue like a child, but yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, but our take on it so Yeah. So I'm just really excited to tell people that I get I get to work with you and we're going to dio um, like 2. days. We'll have stylist. How? The room there to Teoh. Bring another take Teoh how to stop. Because her styles even yet again different than ours. It's gonna be fun to have Heather there, I think because you, you know, she's worked, um, with baby kins and Family Fun mag, And she's been a little text commercial. And she was recently featured on the people blogged with a shoot that she styled. So that one, I think it would be really cool to have Heather there. I'm like you said, adding a different perspective to both you and I, and I'm anxious to see how it all comes together. The three of us collaborating, Super excited. I think it's going to be good. So we have will throw up the links once we shut down from you, Um, where they can find you. Krista metcalf dot com and the wanderlust actions dot com Um, and we are dreamers dot com. Hey, Krista. Welcome, Teoh Creativelive. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. Oh, thank you so much. So one of a couple questions for yet One is how long is a typical session for you. This is from Caitlyn Marie photography. I'm still trying to find a good length of time, but I find after an hour people are restless. Yeah, you know, my many sessions, they go about 45 minutes. My full sessions are one or two hours, but again I always prep my clients. So if I know kids are gonna be involved, bring snacks. Spring toys bring a blanket so it will take a little break. We can do that at the two hour mark, your kind of pushing it. And honestly, you kind of have a plan together. You should be able to finish with an hour and 1/2. It just depends on you know, the kids that they had naps, that they're in good moods, all that kind of stuff. There's different factors that plan cool. And this is a question from, uh, from hum. How do you keep the spirit of shooting kids as kids during the shoot and not 10 to use a get, you know, going to adult poses? We just play honestly. Like if anybody watched me shoot Children, they would probably think I'm crazy because I kind of like, get down on their level. And I'm always like, you know, like with babies. I'm shaking keys and I'm making noises and singing and dancing, and with older kids, you know, we're having, like, dance party. Then I'll bring an IPod and play music, and so it's just getting on their level, you know, having fun with them and making it not so, like, tense and stressed out. You know, just let him have fun and be kids. I mean, that's what you're trying to capture. The wonder of childhood. So cool. Thank you. And we ask this of Shannon. And so we'll ask you as well. What's your super secret trick for dealing with the kid that just doesn't want to be photographed? You know what? There's always a reason they don't want to be photographed. It might be that they're tired or that they're hungry or they want to be playing video games or whatever it is. But let the other kids go first or let the parents go first, or I'll have a parent stand next to a child. Say, I wonder who's gonna pose better for me. It's going to be Mommy's. They're going to be you. You've got to do something. Play game. There's something to loosen them up, and if they're still not interacting with you, just give him a break. Let them go. Sit out for a little bit with them, want you shoot other people to see that it's not a huge deal. and I kind of bring him back in. But there's always a way. You just have toe kept a break through those walls. Great. Okay, We're good from up here. Are we good? Any And Chris to get back to her beautiful babies. You keep blocking Crosby's head with your thing. I know my mom has a baby film. Like, give me an hour and we're good. Thank you. So my two guys such a great opportunity here. You. I have a good day.