Friday, January 11, 2008

PHotographer of the month!! - Christy Murray

January's PHotographer of the Month is Christy Murray. Christy has raised $850 dollars so far for PH and she has no plans for stopping anytime soon! Thanks so much for everything Christy!

1) What inspires you most when you're shooting?
A combination of things, I suppose. My clients, the locations, the light… I work 100% on location, so whether I am shooting a wedding or a portrait session the location is always different, the light is always changing, my clients are always moving around. All of these things keep me on my toes and my creative gears spinning away. If I HAVE to pick just one thing – it would be the people I work with. My clients are a fantastic group of people – fun, loving, expressive, adventurous. I am constantly looking for new ways to showcase each client’s uniqueness and personality – I find that constant challenge inspiring.

2) How did you get into photography?
In college I participated in a program called Semester at Sea. I spent 4 months circumnavigating the globe, stopping at various ports, learning about different places and different people. I was studying Anthropology at the time, but found that I was a much more effective storyteller when I used my camera instead of my journal. The seed was planted. Over the next few years I started taking courses part-time at the Maine College of Art and later at Boston University while I was working. My family and friends were extremely supportive – they were among my first clients! Word of mouth took it from there…


3) What advice would you give to a photog just starting out?
I have only been doing photography full time for a few years – so be warned that this isn’t sage advice! With that said, I would tell them to try as many types of photography as they can. When I went back to school to study photography I thought I wanted to shoot catalog work in a studio – that was my dream. Then I started assisting a food photographer… I was bored out of my mind. I found stylizing a green bean for hours torturous – I needed fast pace, I needed variety. I never thought I would end up shooting weddings – but here I am and I love every minute of it!

4) If you had to start all over, what would you do differently? the same?
Different – I would have taken more business courses in college. I am grateful that I have an accountant with unending patience!

The same – I am glad that I was willing to take risks and try new things. My career path is much like the path of a migrating butterfly. In short bits and spurts it probably didn’t look like I have had much direction – but I ended up just where I needed to be.

5) What other photographers inspire you? Do you stalk any blogs?
This may sound corny – but here it goes … - every photographer inspires me. Regardless of experience or training each and every one sees the world through differently – I love that!

6) How do you organize your shoots for PH? How do you promote them?
I literally found out about PH the day before I started promoting it! I enjoy giving back to the community – when I got wind of what Mary and Justin were spearheading I knew I had to be a part of it. I threw together a small promo and emailed it out to my list of clients and friends. I had three bookings by the end of the week – and word of mouth took it from there. My clients did most of the promoting from there by passing it along to their friends and family.

7) How did you get your clients excited about PH?
My clients who participated LOVED the idea that their portrait session fee was going directly to Habitat. I even had a few who wanted to give more! I plan on doing a few more promotions spaced throughout this coming year. To keep interest high I am only going to offer the PH fundraiser during certain parts of the year. Tying it into the holiday season this year worked out well, so I think I’ll give that a try next year as well.