Rebekah Westover's photography captures life's joy. When I look at her photos it makes me want to join in those photographed because it looks like so much fun! Isn't that what photography is all about? Capturing the joys of life forever... Welcome Rebekah as she gives us tips on photography while also sharing what inspires her to create well...
Tell us a little about yourself?
I am a photographer in Orem, Utah. Just turned 30 years old this year!! I have a sweet husband, and two beautiful children (a girl and a boy). We have a family dog named Sienna. I feel like I am living the "American Dream." Our life is blessed.
How long have you been a photographer? What made you become a photographer?
When I was 18 I received my first slr as a graduation present from my parents. This is when I really started exploring photography. Upon college graduation I started shooting with a medium format camera. My first paid photo gig was 7 years ago. The last 4 years I have really pushed my business hard. It's been an amazing experience. I have the best job in the world.
What inspires you in your everyday life?
I get asked this a lot. This is so hard to answer. Because sometimes I don't feel inspired at ALL! Sometimes inspiration just comes and you don't even have to try to find it. It's everywhere. But other times it's just NOT there for you and you really have to SEARCH for it. It's SO important to stay inspired so you can keep improving. And so you don't produce garbage photos. Just last night I watched the DVD "What Remains" which is a documentary about the photographer Sally Mann. This was hugely inspiring and has left me feeling like I want to work on creating photos that are TRULY beautiful and meaningful. I think it's good to be inspired by this type of work. Classic, beautiful, and timeless imagery.
What advice can you give our readers about looking through the lens in a new way?
This is not only advice to others, but this is also advice to myself. I have TRIED seeing things differently when i look through a lens....but in all honesty I see things the way I see things. I don't know how much I can change my vision. I can't photograph things like anyone else....because we ALL see things differently. I DO know that I can change how I connect with what I am photographing. Feel it more. Love it more. Be more a part of it. I am tired of shooting and then looking at the back of my camera....shooting, chimping, shooting, chimping. I feel like I have been missing SO much of photography by focusing too much on the final outcome of a photo. I have been missing the connection of people. Their love. Their relationship. I have been working extremely hard to be more in the moment and connecting to what or whom I am photographing. This inspires me SO MUCH. This is the best way to do things differently and create photos that are lovely AND mean something. Focus on feeling more connected to your photographs. Put a bit of your soul into them. Don't just focus on they way they "look".
Most of our readers are papercrafters and wish they could take better photographs. Can you give them advice? What can they do to capture that memorable photograph?
-Turn off your flash
-Shoot outdoors more
-Frame things before you click the shutter
-Slow down, think about what you want to create, and enjoy the photo process. It's not a race. It's better to have 1 GREAT photo then 50 mediocre photos.
Visit Rebekah Westover Photography at the website or blog. You can also follow Rebekah's genius on Facebook!
Create Well: Focus on feeling more connected to your photographs. Put a bit of your soul into them. Don't just focus on they way they "look".
