This week’s Featured Photographer is:
Kelly Jacobo
Kelly Jacobi Photography
kellys.web@gmail.com
Website/Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/kellyjacobiphotography
Areas you Serve:
Concord/Charlotte, NC
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I am a wife to a wonderful man and mom to three rowdy boys. I love music, and a variety of it. I would love if life were like a movie and had some great song playing in the background that totally fit each situation. I am usually singing way too loud to music in the car or scooping my little guys up and dancing around the kitchen to whatever song we have playing while I cook or clean. I love coffee and the rain. I love being outside with my guys, we take a lot of hikes and try to find new adventures as often as possible.
How did you get started in photography?
I was exposed to photography, well really documenting, really young. My dad was really great about documenting our lives, he always had a video camera in hand. And it wasn’t just for birthdays and Christmas, it was just the everyday. My parent’s house is filled with VHS and beta tapes (ha, anyone remember those?!). There is also photo albums filled with the same kind of everyday moments. Even as a kid, I used to love to page through them again and again. In high school my dad let me use his Canon AE-1 (film). I have hundreds of photos of daily life and friends and family. But I knew nothing about photography, just how to load the film and click the shutter. Even after my first son was born, I just kept clicking with no realization I could be doing more. It wasn’t until a friend asked me to take some maternity photos for her almost 3 years ago that I realized I have no idea what I was doing, and that photography could be something so much more for me. I jumped in head first into every workshop, article, and tutorial I could get my hands on. I found in photography I could still document my everyday life but in a beautiful way that allowed me to have a voice when words fail me.
What do you shoot?
I mostly shoot my boys and our everyday. I’m into my second 365 project which has me picking up my camera everyday and finding new beauty and interesting ways to shoot our lives. I’ve also started a new personal project “Ordinary Life // Extraordinary Light”. I just wanted to focus on the light that moves and changes all around me with no human subjects.
Who or what inspires you?
I’m inspired by nature and light, by shapes and patterns. I’m inspired by the details that make our life uniquely ours. I’m inspired by my boys; their excitement, their connection, their individuality.
What kind of camera bag do you carry and what’s in it?
I have a Kelly Moore 2 Sues camera bag and couldn’t love it more!! Depending on what I’m off to shoot I’ll have my Nikon D7000 and one or two of my lenses which include: Nikon 35mm 1.8 & 50mm 1.8 , Sigma 18-50mm 2.8. I have an old film Pentax 50mm lens that I modified for just freelensing. I also have my Lensbaby Composer Pro with Sweet 35, Sweet 50, Edge 80. ExpoDisc 2.0.
Then of course there’s things like chapstick and hair ties and since I’m a mom so there always ends up to be random super hero figures and tic tacs (my boys love those!)
What are some of your favorite photography products?
My ExpoDisc. Before I was either fumbling with gray cards or guessing with Kelvin, but the expo disc is quick and easy and great for white balance.
Three random things about yourself:
I love the old classic classic black and white movies
Sunflowers are my favorite flower
I’ve had cataracts my whole life
Best piece of advice you’ve received?
Be you; everyone else is already taken.
Any advice you’d like to share?
I would say photography is a journey and not a race to the finish line. In the beginning, I thought I had to rush to get to this fantastic place that so many others I saw were already at. It was exhausting and frustrating. Then somewhere along the way I realized there isn’t just one path leading to some holy grail ending. I realized I wanted to explore, take a few detours and try things that may or may not work for me. It’s about experimenting and creating and enjoying the journey; not about impressing others or getting to the finish line. In fact, I don’t ever want to reach “the end” because that means I am not growing and pushing myself anymore.
Mac or PC? Photoshop or Lightroom?
PC, Lightroom
Where else can we find you on the web?
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kellyjacobi/
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