| December 16, 2013 |

SPOTLIGHT FOR

INSPIRATION Our Weekly [fa] Photography Spotlight for

Inspiration is all about talent, inspiration, success, camaraderie and collaboration. Artistic success

and appreciation is built upon networks of like-minded people and our team of artists here will inspire you for days.

If you have not taken the time to peruse our membership list, I think you will be shocked to see who you are rubbing elbows with. Some of the most amazing up and coming artists in the industry and they are all a part of this team! Each

week we sit down with one of them and find out about them, what they are doing,

what keeps them motivated and pull from them inspiration for us all. We will be covering

artists at every level and every style. There is no requirement for this spotlight except a passion for your craft. Read on… network, be inspired and shoot your dreams!

GINA MILLER

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Gina Miller Fine Art Photographer

This week, our fearless leader, Rocio, got to sit down with our [fa] Photography Executive Board Member, Education Coordinator and Fine Art Photographer, Gina Miller. Gina’s

energy and self-motivation to work toward her goals by digging in and figuring it out is exactly opposite of what you learn in “school”. But she has proven that experience IS the best teacher.

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Rocio: Gina, what first got you interested in picking up a camera and when?

Gina: Well, other than just taking images of my family, I started getting serious about photography after my father had passed away in 2005. I was interested in documenting things at the time and loved how a camera felt in my hands. It wasn’t until April of 2009,

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when I purchased my first DSLR, a Pentax K-7 (that I really got into it). I knew that if I read, studied and practiced hard, I’d be able to create some wonderful images.

Rocio: Are you self-taught?

Gina: Yes, very much so. The last two years have been creativeLIVE classes. Other than

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that, just reading and practicing all the time.

Rocio: What type of photography do you do?

Gina: There are times I will photograph everything because I still want to learn things. Portraits are a big part of what I do, though.

Rocio: What genres do you specialize in?

Gina: I would say, after the last 2 years, that my love falls with contemporary glamour portraits and fine art photography. Those are my true genres.

Rocio: How long have you been doing each genre?

Gina: I started taking portraits back in 2009, but these differ from the portraits I might take today. The fine art photography has only been since the summer of 2013.

Rocio: Why do you say that

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the portraits that you took back then differ from the ones you take today?

Gina: My beginning days with a DSLR and taking portraits was totally different than now because I didn’t know what I was doing… as far as posing people and

working my camera like I should. We all start out somewhere though; so for me to look at my beginning work and work today, you can just see a change.

Rocio: Do you make a living with photography?

Gina: I am trying to make a living with my photography. It’s been a long process of learning not only to take a great photograph but to learn the business part of it all. I am determined to make it work for my family though. I feel like photography and creating art is all I really know how to do.

Rocio: Do you have another full or part time job? Or is photography your main

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concentration?

Gina: Photography is my only job, that and being a wife and mother to 4 daughters.

Rocio: What advice would you give to photographers who are just starting out about the business part of it?

Gina: My advice is to soak up as much knowledge as you can about what it takes to run a business. This includes taking as many creativeLIVE courses as you possibly can. It is one of the best resources around for creatives.

Rocio: Is this advice just for the portrait side or for fine art as well?

Gina: This is for both!

Rocio: How did you get started into fine art?

Gina: Well, a few years

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back, while on my computer, I had run across some images. I’m not even sure what I was searching for at the time but I had seen some surreal images and my mouth dropped open in awe. They were really beautiful. I’m not even sure who created them but that was the first time that the fine art made its way into my life. After that, I would have not dreamt it was possible for me to create anything like that until I saw Brooke Shaden on creativeLIVE. I soaked up every minute of that 3 day class. Then, was happy to hear that Jennifer Hudson would also be teaching her fine art class. I watched that as well. So,

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because of those wonderful ladies and creativeLIVE, that’s how I got started.

Rocio: What is your favorite part of the process when creating a fine art portrait?

Gina: That’s a hard question because I love every part of the process. I love taking the photograph(s) then turning them into something more in Photoshop.

Rocio: Why?

Gina: The Photoshop part because I like to see where I can take an image… to where it would be considered art, more than just a photograph. The photography part itself

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because I was inspired by something to do so.

Rocio: Can you tell us a little more about your process?

Gina: My process starts out with being inspired by something. That could be a song, movie, book, quote, or something in my own life. Once the image is taken, I bring it into Photoshop. If it’s a composite of some sort, I do that part first before doing any coloring toning, etc. to that image.

Rocio: Do you plan images ahead of time and if so, how do you plan them?

Gina: Yes! I write as much down as possible, which includes a sketch much of the time. It helps me before I

take an image so I know where I’m going with it. I usually picture it out already in my head then start planning accordingly. Everything from what my model will wear, to the location, etc. Sometimes, any extra shots I take that I really love will also get some sort of treatment done to it. It’s like a bonus!

Rocio: When did you start using Photoshop and how did you learn it?

Gina: I’ve been messing around with Photoshop and the like, such as Paint Shop Pro, from the very early versions of them. I started out making “dolls” - if anyone knows what I am talking about-and pixel art. Then, went into creating graphics for craft

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businesses between 1998 & 2000, just after my last daughter was born and we had our first computer. Back then, there weren’t as many tutorials out there as there are today; so, I just played and learned on my own as I went.

Rocio: Would you say that Photoshop has helped your style develop and evolve or would that have happened even without PS?

Gina: I think it has helped because without it, I would not be able to use curves, which is the process I use the most on my images.

Rocio: Tell me more about your style and how did you develop it?

Gina: My style for my fine art, I think, varies a little bit. I like a couple of different looks that I am normally going after. I think it depends on what my image is about and how it speaks to me as an art piece but for the most part, I do love the painterly look...a little fairytale type look. I just developed it over time as I was finding my niche in photography. Sometimes I feel my style is still evolving.

Rocio: What do

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you hope to accomplish with your fine art work?

Gina: I want to learn more and get better with each passing day. I want to have a successful website and blog with a good following of people who can relate to what I put out there to look at. I’m not much of a writer and sure wish I was but if I can tell a story with an image, where it touches someone’s heart and soul, then that would make me happy.

Rocio: What is your goal or your dream?

Gina: One goal is to inspire others, but I would also love to have my images in a gallery one day perhaps. Maybe create a book and have a successful business doing what I love doing...creating.

Rocio: In regards to fine art

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photography, where do you see yourself in five years?

Gina: With a full frame camera in hand, maybe teaching a person or two about creating an image that means something to them. Creating some real master pieces and being a successful entrepreneur.

Rocio: Just for fun, what is your favorite PS tool and why?

Gina: I would say curves, to give my image the tone I’m going for...also dodge and burn are my friends.

Rocio: If you could give any advice to the members of our group, what would it be?

Gina: Keep practicing and have a clear goal in mind of what you want the final image to look like when you go out to take that photograph. Planning things out well could make all the difference in the world.

A Gift of inspiration for you… With each F.A.P Spotlight look for a link to a tutorial, texture, preset,

tip or stock image!

Gina’s gift of inspiration are several wonderful textures. Look for the in the stock folder under albums on the [fa] photography team facebook page or download

them from dropbox.com with this link!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j31f2p9fiitleii/fineartfables_textures.zip

Gina’s 411… Fine Art Fables: www.fineartfables.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginamariaphotography

G+ :https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GinaMillerginamariaphotography/posts/p/pub

[fa] Photography Spotlight for Inspiration: Gina Miller December 16, 2013