David Beckstead was named among "The Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World" by American Photo magazine in March 2007. David mixes his passion for art and travel to run a destination wedding photography business, traveling to over 65 countries and almost every state in the U.S. while maintaining a residence in "middle-of-nowhere" northeast Washington state. His wife and business partner, Kassandra, shares his passions and together they seamlessly meld their lifestyle with their business. David runs workshops across the U.S. and the world. Learn more about David at davidbeckstead.com. Read about the thought processes behind some of David's stunning images in Issue No. 1's "How the Shot was Made: The Inside Story of Incredible Images."

Marissa Bouchèr and Kimberlee West’s site, The Boudoir Divas, is a bright infusion of passion and fun. Visually exciting and as colorful as the divas themselves, photographers and prospective clients can learn everything there is to know about the business of boudoir. Check their site for upcoming workshops in Paris, France, (now totally booked) and Australia. A new posing guide is about to be released in February 2009. West says, “The hardest thing for boudoir photographers is posing a woman to make it look flattering and believable and realistic and sexy, so we created this posing guide.” Their original book, the deliciously mom-cringingly titled Boudoir Diva’s Bad-Ass Training Guide, is available now on their site. In rich magazine format, this boudoir business guide covers everything from marketing to shooting to post processing. Also for sale on their site are actions and album templates. View the Boudoir Divas work in Issue No. 7's "Pillow Talk".

Chenin Boutwell, co-creator of The Anti-Workshop and the Totally Rad Action Mix, has been shooting wedding for five years. In that time, she was recognized by the AGWPJA as Photographer of the Year, received numerous recognitions from WPPI and has been featured in Photo District News, Rangefinder, Studio Photography and Design, The Knot Weddings, Beautiful Weddings UK and Grace Ormond Wedding Style. In addition to shoes, champagne and Cubs Baseball, she loves traveling the country and teaching other photographers how to reach their full potential. View Chenin's delightful work at boutwellstudio.com and for her sage advice on decidedly sticky situations, read Issue No. 4's "Wedding Etiquette for the Rest of Us: What the Bridal Magazines Don't Say."

Karen Carey is a Philadelphia based photographer nationally noted for her soulful and artistic fine art black and white portraits of children. She combines an eye for strong yet simple composition with exquisite mastery of light to create powerful portraits that are honest and intimate, bearing witness to the same passion, humor and sensitivity that she exudes in her own spirited personality. Her work was recently acknowledged by the American Society of Media Photographers as the "Best of 2006" and included in the prestigious Women in Photography International's 2007 juried competition. Many of her portraits are hanging in fine homes and fine galleries across the country, while others have been featured in national publications such as Parade Magazine and Professional Photographer. In 2008 Karen launched Think.Create.Record., an introspective and instructional workshop designed to empower professional photographers to further define and develop their creative vision. Learn more about Karen at karencareyphotography.com and in Issue No. 6.

Through her documentary-style photography, Marla Carter creates distinctive fine art portraits for her clients. With the goal ever in mind of capturing images that will stand the test of time, Marla takes real images of real people--primarily maternity, baby, children, family, and seniors. Shooting entirely on location, Marla has been joined in the business by husband Shane for the past two years. His fun-filled beach shoots provide a perfect complement to Marla's timeless style. Learn more about Marla and Shane at marlaandshane.com and view the amazing transformation of their chic new space in Issue No. 4's "Inside Real Studios."

Michael Chinn describes his style of shooting as combining "a likeness beyond everyday and a point of view which reflects realism and a fine art flair." While his wedding clients appreciate this approach, photographers likewise benefit from Michael's keen eye for classic style. Michael Chinn exclusive albums and boxes offer a clean, simple, and contemporary look and are designed and handcrafted in his San Francisco studio. View Michael's beautiful wedding work at michaelchinn.com and learn more about his refined creations in Issue No. 4's "Inspired Project: Fine Print Boxes with Michael Chinn."

Jesh De Rox is fascinated with life, and spends his time studying the way people perceive and connect with each other and the world around them. His work is centered in the desire to express these relationships. He has come to believe that the most important and precious parts of life are found in small truths, easily missed--that the world within is the root of the one without--and that the search for meaning is more about the search than the meaning. Currently he lives in Western Canada with his beautiful family, where he runs a successful fine art studio and continues his exploration. Learn more about Jesh at jeshderox.com.  Check him out in Issue No.5's "Life (As An Experiment): Jesh De Rox".

Commercial photographer, portrait photographer, Flickr superstar--it's all in a day's work for *Rachel Devine*. Her photojournalistic eye and preternatural knack for translating a child's view of the world through photography have earned her a staggering 2,500,000+ hits to her Flickr page and an ever-growing list of commercial clients including Target, General Mills, FAO Schwartz, FOX studios and The Little Gym. Rachel has been photographing kids and teens commercially since 1995 and is now expanding her business to Australia to include consultations and tutoring for photographers. View Rachel's portfolio at racheldevine.com and some of her favorite images in Issue No. 3's "We are Inspired."  She is also featured discussing commercial photography in Issue No. 7: "Branching Out".

Nicole Hill Gerulat, of San Francisco, California, has been shooting for eight years, but the last four have been predominately
commercial work. With a love for photographing lifestyle, children and food, Nicole won the stock photography division in PDN’s Photo Annual 2009. At the moment she’s writing a textbook, teaching classes, taking on fewer clients, and photographing a cookbook which will be out in May, 2010. Please visit her online at Nicolephoto.com and in Issue No. 10's "Better Image: Commercial Photography with a Side of Stock".

Jerry Ghionis has emerged as one of the most influential photographers of the 21st century. In 2007 he was the only Australian named as one of the Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the world by American Photo magazine and was named an “Icon of Imaging” by Microsoft. Jerry won an unprecedented four out of the last five International Wedding Album of the Year Awards at WPPI to add to his ever-growing list of accolades. He continues to raise the benchmark of excellence as an artist who is admired and respected by his peers and loved by his clients. As a dynamic public speaker, Jerry inspires and educates fellow professional photographers all over the world with his passionate approach to photography and his natural business acumen that has made him a leader in the photography industry. Learn more about Jerry Ghionis at jerryghionis.com. Read about Jerry's award-winning albums in Issue No. 1's "Featured Seminar: Shooting for the Perfect Album" and learn about his charismatic style in Issue No. 7's "Rockstars of Photography".

Michigan-based wedding and portrait photographer Brianna Graham is nationally known for her eclectic style, vivid colors, and technique. Brianna's boutique approach to wedding and portrait photography focuses on capturing her client's personalities, and her sophisticated use of pattern and texture combined with her artistic style makes her photography unique. Often incorporating her collection of wallpapers, antique chairs, couches, throw pillows, etc. into her images, Brianna makes artwork as individual as the clients she photographs. She has been featured in several publications, most notably her cover feature in Rangefinder, and has also received multiple awards for her photography. To view more of Brianna's portfolio, visit her website at briannagraham.com. Brianna shares her sales insight in Issue No. 4's "Up-selling as an Art: Getting the Most from Each Sale."

Ann Hamilton combines her love for photography with a journalistic eye and an artistic flair. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines including Rangefinder, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, 7x7, Destination Weddings and Honeymoons, The Knot, and several books including The Best of Digital Wedding Photography. In addition to capturing weddings, Ann has a passion for photographing dogs. She works along with her best friend, Bogie the pug, in her fabulous San Francisco boutique studio. Visit annhamilton.com to learn more and view inspiring photos of her Cow Hollow space in Issue No. 2's "Inside Real Studios."

Gene Higa travels the world doing what he loves, photographing weddings near and far, and is one of the most sought-after destination wedding photographers today. Originally from Los Angeles, Gene makes his home in San Francisco but calls the world his office. Gene has been commissioned to photograph weddings all over the world, including Spain, Philippines, Peru, India, Italy, Greece, Hawaii, Jamaica, Thailand, Brazil, Barbados, Mexico, as well as across the United States. His images have been featured in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Elegant Bride, Your Wedding Day, Modern Bride, The Knot Weddings, and the last 15 consecutive issues of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, including landing the cover image of the magazine's 2008 special issue. In 2007, The Knot voted Gene as the "Best of Weddings Pick" for Northern California. A WPPI platform speaker, he has been profiled in Rangefinder, Photo District News and Studio Photography magazines. He is sponsored by Bay Photo Lab, Cypress Albums, Pickpic, Albums Unlimited and liveBooks. Gene also teaches and shares his approach to shooting weddings with professional photographers across the country, inspiring a new generation of photographers to reach for the stars. Learn more about Gene at genehiga.com and in Issue No. 2's "The Rockstars of Photography" and in Issue No. 9's "Gene Higa: Living His Brand".

Lake Tahoe photographer Christa Hoffarth began as a photojournalist but was inspired to open her own studio in 2001. Recognized as one of the leading wedding photographers in the country, Christa travels the globe to shoot weddings for her clients. You will also find Christa regularly speaking at professional organizations on topics covering wedding photography, design, and marketing. Christa is the WPPI Buzz Award winner for 2007 in the category of Best Overall Marketing Campaign as well as winning the PPA AN-NE award winner for best Wedding Campaign in 2007. Christa's work may be viewed at christahoffarthphoto.com and her marketing savvy makes Issue No. 3's "Crank up your Branding IQ: Simple Ideas for Developing a Rock-Solid Image" a must-read.

Being self-taught in photography doesn’t mean unschooled. In six surprisingly short years, Mindy Harris’ practical and technical knowledge came from much practice and study. “When I first got my camera, I looked up any bit of information I could find about camera settings, aperture, and shutter speed. I spent a lot of time informing myself.” While photography started as just a fun thing to do, she says, “Inspiration and motivation are two intangible qualities that bring everything else into line.” Mindy lives and photographs in sunny Los Angeles, CA. To see more of her amazing images and to contact her for your own session, please visit pastelphotography.com and see more of her work in Issue No. 10's "A Family Affair".

Lena Hyde owns and operates a successful boutique studio in Palm Beach and her portrait work is in high demand for celebrities and socialites in Florida and beyond. Before shooting portraits, Lena was an art educator in San Francisco and an art columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Her experimental photography has been internationally exhibited in galleries and museums, including the Southeast Museum of Photography, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Gallery, American Embassy, Harare Zimbabwe, and Casa Fotografia Fuji in Brazil. Lena is a founding member of DesignAglow.com and works with select photography studios around the world as studio consultant.

Barb Uil's work has been described by clients and peers as having a childhood cheekiness, editorial flair, and narrative vision. Her simultaneously true-to-life and magical work captures the very essence of childhood whimsy, while her simple yet potent branding is instantly recognizable throughout the photography industry. Her work has been published worldwide in magazines such as Family Circle and Junior and her commercial clients include Australian Capital Tourism, Defense Housing Australia, and Australian Environment Water Heritage & Arts. She has also photographed many children's clothing brands, including Dirty Laundry, Infancy, Babylicious and Anna Kosturova. Barb lives in the Gold Coast of Australia with her husband Art, their two oft-photographed girls, and travels throughout Australia and the U.S. year round. Discover Jinky Art at jinkyart.com.au. Read more about Barb in Issue No. 1's "Being Jinky."

Michigan photographers Nathan and Jessica Johnston create fashion-inspired, photojournalistic images for the stylish bride. Their background in graphic design coupled with a love of film clearly inform the moments they capture. Describing their style as "cinematic weddings and lifestyle photography for the modern minded," Jessica and Nathan strive to create timeless images as well. Their work has been featured in The Knot Weddings, Photo District News, Brides, and Metro Detroit Bride. Visit jessica-johnston.com and read Issue No. 4's "Portrait of Success: Jessica Johnston Photography" to learn more.

When Andrea Joki founded Ajaton Joki ("Timeless River"), her goal was simple: she planned to bring international-style portraiture to Helsinki, Finland. Her studied yet always evocative images capture all the wonder of life in a timeless manner. Learn more about Andrea's work at ajatonjoki.com. Her beautiful post-processing is featured in Issue No. 3's tutorial "Textures and Blends: Photoshop Artistry" and in Issue No. 10's "Capturing The Heart: Creating Personality in Your Images".

Anna Kuperberg is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Francisco, CA whose photos have appeared in InStyle, Martha Stewart Weddings, and People. Her fine art photography has been exhibited nationwide and is in the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Art Museum, the St. Louis Art Museum, and the Portland Art Museum. Anna also loves photographing dogs and enjoys her daily walks with Venus (a Great Dane) and Slidell (a Catahoula/Labrador mutt). She has recently published a book, Designer Dogs: Portraits and Profiles of Popular New Crossbreeds. Learn more about all things Kuperberg at kuperberg.com. Read more about Anna's work in Issue No. 3's "The Rockstars of Photography" and in Issue No. 7's "Dogged Determination".

Tamara is an award-winning photographer whose images have been described as expressive, authentic, and moving. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications, including Vogue, O Magazine, Town & Country, Martha Stewart Living, Elle, Inside Weddings, and Parenting magazine. Her photography has also been showcased on the Martha Stewart Show, and she has also been repeatedly profiled in Rangefinder magazine, and she will be featured in an upcoming article in Professional Photographer Magazine.  Tamara runs a highly successful, associate-based studio in North Carolina, with an emphasis on portraits, weddings, and editorial work. Released in November, 2008, her new book, The Art of Children's Portrait Photography (Amherst Media), is currently one of the top 3 best-selling titles in the publisher's extensive catalogue. Learn more about Tamara's work at tamaralackey.com.  Check her out in Issue No. 4 as she teaches "How To Be Soooo Good With Kids".

Randall and Ryan Dagooc, also known as Mango Red, continue to inspire and excite. Their work has been featured in magazines such as Roam, Status, and Wedding Essentials. They have also reaped accolades locally from the WPPP (Wedding & Portrait Photographers of the Philippines) including second place in the 2006 photo cup (in their first year entering). They also earned Rookie of the Year honors for 2007 from the WPPP. The brothers bagged the first three places in the “Getting Ready” category, the first two places in the “Environmental Portrait” category, third in the “Bride and Groom” category, and first, third, and seventh in the “Prenup” category during the year long contest. See more of their amazing work at mangored.com and in Issue No. 10's "The Rockstars of Photography."

Marianne Drenthe's unique brand of children's portraiture is nationally renowned and distinguished by her use of deep, rich color, ethereal captures in areas of natural beauty and urban decay. These qualities have contributed to make Marmalade Photography's boutique studio a Chicagoland destination studio of choice. Marianne enjoys life in the 'burbs with her husband of 15 years and her two beautiful daughters who continue to provide joy and inspiration every moment of every day. This past year has seen the premiere of the highly anticipated and successful See The Light Workshops which are directed at children's and family photographers who want an injection of inspiration and dose of good sense for their path to success. You can find her work at www.marmaladephotography.com and in Issue No. 6: "The Style Issue".

From the time she first picked up a camera at the tender age of twelve, acting as both stylist and posing friends, until the time she began photographing weddings a mere nine or so years ago, Elizabeth Messina has always done things her own way. With a talent for nurturing while nurturing her talent, this native New Yorker is taking a nation by storm with her innovative photography. Now shooting everything from magazine covers to commercial shots, to mommies to be, this renowned wedding photographer’s work can be seen in publications such as Elegant Bride, InStyle Weddings, Us, The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner, OK!, Town & Country Magazine, Modern Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Grace Ormond Wedding Style. Elizabeth was recently named one of the “Top 10 Photographers in the World for 2008” according to American Photo, chosen as one of the “Top 25 Trendsetters of 2008” by Modern Bride, and recently won the grand prize for PDN’s Top Knots 2009. Check her out at elizabethmessina.com and in Issue No. 9's "Rockstars of Photography".

Though she found her love of photography during her sophomore year of high school with an APS camera, Michelle Moore took her first photography class during senior year where she developed her dark room skills. In college, she started taking
photos of local Indie bands and became hooked. Within two years, she started exploring fashion photography at The University of Washington, where her initial appeal for a degree in Atmospheric Science or Oceanography took a backseat to her desire to pursue a Fine Arts/Photography program. Early days of business found her accepting any kind of work she could find – babies, random events, band promos, charities, headshots, portraits or weddings. Eventually, she decided to only pursue the type of business that she truly loved, which included fashion photography and seniors. Where should we expect to see her in the future? Quite simply, Michelle will be shooting fashion photography. “I want to be a fashion photographer! I love shooting fashion!” Already published in the magazine Disfunkshion (disfunkshionmagazine.com), I expect that we will be seeing her work in Vogue or W in the not-so-distant future. Check her out at iammichellemoore.com and in Issue No. 10's "Head of the Class".

In addition to opening her premises, Sara Morris was nominated for Indy’s Top Wedding Photographer in 2009, making 2009 a banner year. While she’s a more portrait-based photographer, she has traveled to places like Chicago and Alaska to shoot weddings. She specializes in family, children, high school senior portraits— “modern portraiture with a vintage flair,” and weddings. On her blog, Sara states, “I have had a camera in my hands for as long as I can remember, but that’s not exactly how my storytelling began. I would sit around as a little girl tearing out page after page from fashion magazines, collecting images and pinning them on my overcrowded bulletin board. The colors, the clothing, the scenery, the hand gestures and eye contact...it was the way all the pieces fell together to create the perfect image that truly inspired me. And, that is what still inspires me today, and why I love what I do! I am one of the lucky ones!”  Check her out at saramorrisphotography.com and in Issue No. 10's "Inside Real Studios".

Laura Novak is the owner of Laura Novak Photography, a photography boutique and studio located in Wilmington, Delaware. In the past four years Laura has taken a small, part-time business that she ran out of her home into a thriving studio storefront that employs three full-time employees and four part-time freelancers and assistants. Her business background informs not only her wedding and portrait business but also Strategy Avenue, her business resource for professional photographers. Learn more at Laura's sites, lauranovak.com and view photos of her beautiful studio in Issue No. 3's "Inside Real Studios."

Offering wedding, engagement, portrait, and the more intimate “Boodie- Wah” sessions, commercial, fashion and music shoots, Tanja Lippert combines her unique spontaneity and fashion sensibility to create extraordinary photographs in Los Gatos, California, and beyond. She specializes in using film and natural lighting to make people look and feel beautiful, not to mention having fun while doing it. Lippert conducts seminars and workshops, was a featured speaker at the WPPI convention, and her work appears in many publications, including Today’s Bride, Rangefinder, Bride’s, The Knot, and Your Wedding Day. Check out her work at tanjalippertphotography.com and in Issue No. 10's "Dork Energy, Chicken Suits
and Kamikaze Style".

Adele and Sean Reding live, laugh and love in Elizabethtown, Kentucky along with their two beautiful daughters. Although
they hope to take the South by storm with innovative emotional imagery, their biggest priorities will always be God and family. View their work at adeleredingphotography.com and learn about their creative and awe-inspiring style in Issue No. 7's "Inside Real Studios".

Red Leaf Studios, specializing in couture wedding and portrait photography, can be found in the vibrant city of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Artisans Richard and Amy McDowell have turned their photographic gifts into a thriving wedding photography business. This husband and wife team has been noted as being “one of the most progressive couples photographers in Canada” by Mary McGrath, WPPI. The love they have for each other is closely followed by their love of photography, and this is apparent in their work. Time spent studying the work of Richard and Amy will reveal their captivating lighting and posing style. Visit their website at redleafstudios.ca or their blog at redleafblog.com to experience their style first hand. If you are interested in the actions that they have for sale, be sure to visit redleafboutique.com and stop by redleafworkshops.com to stay up to date on the latest workshop offerings. Check out their article "Light Years Ahead" in Issue No. 9.

Named by PDNonline.com as one of the “Up and Coming Stock Photographers of the Year,” Jay Reilly’s website can be found at jayreilly.com. Jay has upcoming workshops, including a February 20, 2009, 8 hour class on diversifying with stock, while other workshops promise weddings and photographing kids. Travel workshops in Costa Rica are scheduled for the spring of ‘09. For more information visit jayreillyworkshops.com. Jay has also opened up family shoots in the past couple months. “I’ve been putting a spin on them, producing more conceptually different, slice of life, authentic and with a realness to it.”  View Jay's work in Issue No. 7's "Life on the Stock Market".

Toronto child portrait photographer Heather Rivlin specializes in black and white photography for newborns, babies, children, and maternity. With her casual yet classic style, Heather records real moments and provides her clients with heirloom portraiture. She is also the coordinator as well as an affiliate photographer for the Greater Toronto Area Chapter of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing families experiencing the death of a child the opportunity for remembrance photography. View Heather's portfolio at heatherrivlin.com and read her insightful advice in Issue No. 2's "Newborn Photography: A Collection of Truths."

Having come from a small business family where both grandfathers, her father, father- in-law, husband, brother, two sister-in-laws and 1 brother-in-law all own small businesses, Sarah Petty had an advantage entering the world of small business ownership. After watching her father teach full time at a community college while turning his small one-bay auto repair shop into a new, state-of-the art, 17 bay, full-service auto service facility, it taught her that success doesn't come easy. Her parents taught her to live within her means and that education is always worth the investment. Petty’s education and work experience contributed heavily to her becoming one of the most successful studios in the country and one of the most in-demand speakers on the circuit. Sarah got her feet wet at Central States Coca-Cola in the corporate marketing department where she learned the importance of branding from one of the best brands in the world. During this time, she earned her MBA from the University of Illinois. From a direct marketing firm to becoming marketing director at a top area advertising agency, she spent years helping small businesses grow. Feeling fortunate to hold a camera several hours a week, her primary tasks involve marketing her studio and teaching other photographers how to market their businesses. After a year of planning, she launched Café Joy, a monthly subscription service where she sends ideas and education to her members each month. Sarah talks about branching into higher sales in Issue No. 7's "Petty Ambition".

With a motto like “For People Who Like Pictures,” Jeff and Michelle Richardson are the perfect pairing, not only for each other, but for their happy clients as well. When not plying dance goers with sumptuous pre-prom parties, this dynamic duo stays busy running a successful photography studio specializing in wedding photography, seniors, families, prom photographs, children, maternity and more. Their infectious personalities and attention to capturing real photographs have awarded Jeff the Senior Portrait Artist of the Year award in 2005, 2006 and 2008, and Michelle a spot in the Top Ten in America for the past two straight years. For information regarding upcoming workshops and for more information about these compelling photographers, (and to schedule your next photo session or event), please visit Richardsonstudio.net and check them out in Issue No. 9's "Not Your Mama's Prom".

Sarah and Chris Rhoads of Sarah Rhoads Photographers are a husband and wife photography team based in Seattle, Washington. Passionate about telling couples’ stories from a “unique artistic perspective,” they are “excited about creating imaginative and honest imagery.” They specialize in wedding photography, shooting nationally and internationally.
In their free time, Sarah and Chris have a mint green Vespa scooter they like to cruise on around town. They enjoy hanging out with friends, going to movies, shows, and going to live music shows. Sarah and Chris have been featured in the following magazines, forums and blogs: Professional Photographer Magazine, May 2009; Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom, Winter 2009; The Knot, Real Weddings; several design blogs; Wedding Inspiration blogs; Southern Wedding blog. Their
own blog was one of the top winners of the Professional Photographers of America’s monthly, Professional Photographers Magazine in a “FreshBlog” competition in June, 2009.   Check them out at sarahrhoads.com and in Issue No. 9's "Blog".

Kris Rollag is an American citizen, Australian resident who traded her life as an unhappy and unfulfilled pharmacist for that of a joyful stay-at-home-mom without kids, a writer and a wedding & portrait photographer. Health and fitness of mind, as well as body and spirit, have become Kris's top priority over the last six months and she finds herself living a life she never would have imagined in her wildest dreams. She shares this life with Mr. Wonderful, an Australian she met on the net, and enjoys traveling, painting under the influence of vodka, quilting late into the night, writing stories that would shock her mother and contemplating the fuzz in her navel while walking the gorgeous beaches of the South Coast of NSW. Learn more about Kris at krisrollag.com.au and view the feature she edited, Issue No. 4's "A Book that Changed My (Business) Life."

After receiving a BFA in Graphic Design from California State University Fullerton, Carrie Sandoval went to work as an Art Director for an advertising agency, a job she truly loved. In July 2000, Carrie made a major career change: she delivered her first healthy baby and became a full time mother. Within weeks, she bought her first point and shoot digital camera." I spent countless hours staring at my precious miracle, snapping so many pictures because I wanted to absorb and preserve every amazing bit of him."Becoming a mother was the catalyst that caused her love of photography to blossom. Two years later, after the birth of her twin girls, she decided to get a bit more serious. The point and shoot was replaced with a professional digital camera, and her beloved hobby was transformed into another career. "Capturing the raw beauty and innocence of children -- mine and others -- is a complete rush!" Learn more about Carrie at capturedbycarrie.com and in Issue No. 6: "The Style Issue".

Former English teacher and Ph.D. student Joyce Smith gleefully left academia for photography and never looked back. She enjoys photographing what are surely Philadelphia's most adorable, well-dressed children and bringing her passion for research and learning to her photography business. In addition to portrait work, Joyce has done commercial work for George Gabrielle Couture and her images were recently featured in the Philadelphia Guide to a Healthy Birth as well as Joshi Camera magazine (Japan). Joyce recently launched WordSmith for Photographers and her work may be seen at joycesmithphotography.com.

Susan Stripling owns and operates a boutique destination wedding photography business in Tallahassee, Florida and her wedding commissions span the globe--from Wisconsin to North Carolina, New York to Napa, and Columbia to the Caribbean. Her fresh, inspired wedding work can be seen in the pages of The Knot, Modern Bride, Inside Weddings, Bride and Bloom, and the style section of The New York Times. Susan lives in Tallahassee with her husband, their two gorgeous daughters, and their dog. View more of Susan's work at susanstripling.com. Read about Susan's post-production workflow in Issue No. 1's "Portrait of a Portriat: See How an Image was Created from Start to Finish" and her expertise with destination weddings in Issue No. 7's "On Location".

Husband and wife photography-team Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser shoot, create, work, play, and laugh together on every job they do. Their passion for creating compelling, fresh images and the joy with which they approach their work is evident in every shot. Clients and photographers alike stalk the the blog is found for their daily dose of The Kaisers' inspiring images, humor, and absorbing take on the minutiae of everyday life. Learn more about this award-winning duo at theimageisfound.com and in Issue No. 4's "Nate Kaiser: The Business is Found."

Jen Thompson aims to capture all that is true (and aesthetically-pleasing!) in both her portrait and graphic design work. She adores simple composition and creating honest images with a documentary flair. Her newest project, Majenta Creative, marries a marketing, advertising, public relations and graphic design agency with Jen's boutique photography studio. Jen resides in Central Oregon with her paramedic/firefighter husband Jake and their two young boys. Find Jen at jenthompsonphotography.com. Read about Jen's flair for presentation in Issue No. 2's "Be Visible: The Beauty of Marketing."

Tinywater is not your average photography studio. Celebrated artisans Caroline and Dan delight in seriously great photography (but without being too serious). Haute, personable and fabulous, the dynamic duo not only appear on numerous websites and in magazines for their photography, they are  one of the nation's top dog agility competitors as well. Traveling with their Portuguese Water Dogs to shows when they're not plying their trade with amazing photography, the couple also spends time fostering rescue dogs or nourishing their foodie and gamer side.
 
From newborns, to fun, flirty senior sessions, to kids, lifestyle family photos and more, whether vavoom vintage or hot haute couture, Caroline and Dan's genuine love of photography allows them to be true to not only themselves, but to who clients truly are: unique works of art. Putting an artistic face on photography, Tinywater embodies the fresh, fun personalities of clients, and delivers energy and charm as addicting as their renowned art. Check out their innovativeat tinywater.com.  Also, check them out in Issue No. 10's "The Real Deal".

The daughter of highly acclaimed D.C. photographer, Diana Adams, Justine Ungaro grew up in Washington D.C. and earned a philosophy degree from VA Tech. A year-and-a-half after graduation, she decided to leave corporate America in the dust and devote her full time efforts to a career in photography and has never looked back. Justine cut her creative teeth in the D.C. wedding business and immediately garnered awards from WPPI, Photo District News, Eventpix, the Wedding Photojournalist Association and the coveted title of International Event Photographer of the Year (Esprit Award) from the International Special Events Society in 2005 and 2006. She was also named among Washington D.C.'s top wedding photographers by Washingtonian Magazine from 2003-2007. In late 2006, Justine moved her life and business to Los Angeles, CA where she currently resides with her fiance, a television producer and art director. She continues to travel to D.C. and abroad to shoot a limited number of wedding commissions there each year. In Los Angeles, her photography business is deeply rooted in the music industry, as well as children's portraiture and weddings. Her style has been called classic yet contemporary, a little vintage, a little rock & roll but clients and fans agree that it is always packed with life and emotion. Learn more about Justine at justineungaro.com and in Issue No. 5 's "Taking Your Sales to the Next Level."

Aside from shooting the cover of the October issue of Professional Photographer magazine, Erin Vey ’s work can also be seen on the cover of the Simon and Schuster New York Times Bestselling book Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz. Through her lauded Barkives fine art stock photo selection, she’s worked with a variety of commercial clients including Penguin Press (another image of Gracie will appear a summer 2010 release). Photography by Erin Vey is located in Seattle, Washington, and you can see her fabulous work at erinvey.com and in Issue No. 10's "Life's A Niche".

Vicki Taufer and her husband, Jed, started V Gallery in the cramped basement of their house at the age of 23. With a focus on artistic portraiture, the business evolved into a 4,000 square foot studio with 8 employees in just 3 years. Vicki attributes a large portion of her success to the high profile image she has created for her portrait gallery. Vicki has spoken to photographers both nationally and internationally, including South Korea. She has been recognized by Kodak as one of the up and coming photographers in the industry. Learn more about Vicki at vgallery.net and in an upcoming issue of Design Aglow.

An amateur photographer and college professor for years, Nichole Van traded her full-time university job for that of photographer. Now devoted to creating stunning on-location wedding and portrait photography, Nichole recently took several first place awards in the WPPI 8x10 print competition. Also the creative force behind Flourish: An Emporium for Photographers, Nichole lives and works in Utah with her husband and their two children. Visit nicholev.com to see more of Nichole's work. Nichole's eye for selecting just the right spot for shooting is apparent in Issue No. 2's "The Art of 'Seeing' the Perfect Location."

People often ask Jose Villa how he developed his style, and how he creates images that stand out in today’s highly competitive wedding market. Well, Jose is a fine art wedding photographer. His approach applies fine art photography to the living, breathing, fast-moving phenomenon that is a wedding. Yes, he does some documentary photography—you need to capture the important moments at a wedding—but he also composes and directs. For Jose, it is all about making something beautiful, even if he has to insert himself into the situation and recreate a moment. Ultimately, his goal is to craft vibrant, energetic, fine art images that are as unique as the people in the photographs. Jose's work has been seen is Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Inside Weddings, Instyle Weddings, Elegant Bride, Pacific Weddings, Modern Bride, The Knot, American Photo, Rangfinder, PDN photo, and many more. View Jose's work at josevilla.com and in Issue No. 5 's "Rockstars of Photography."

Sara and Melanie of Whitebox Weddings live across the road from each other, love chocolate and Mexican food, and discuss things other than photography in Madison, North Carolina. Whitebox has been featured in The Best of the Knot (a few times), NC Signature, Our State, The Bride’s Book, Southern Weddings, and Weddings Unveiled. They were recently a finalist in the Heart of Gold Awards in Australia. Donating sessions to charity such as the Gateway Foundation, Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Detection, and a local Friends School, Litchfield and Brennan-Harrell provide their work and services to provide hope for others. “It’s a good way to give back to the community, says Melanie. “We just do it because we feel we should.”  Check them out at whiteboxblog.com and in Issue No. 9's "Outside the Box".

After starting a blog in 2004 simply to keep in touch with family and friends, Tara Whitney soon found her photographs gaining notice from mothers across the nation. Her business has since snowballed into a successful career. Known for her fresh, happy family images, Tara dares to go beyond traditional poses and styles to find the authenticity of her subjects. She prefers to capture her clients in a casual and oftentimes quirky manner, typically following along while they laugh and play together. Living and working in Orange County, Tara counters the sameness of everything by creating images that are far from uniform and that allow every person she photographs to feel unique. You'll also find Tara shooting in many states across the U.S., traveling to accommodate those clients who aren't local. View more of Tara's work at tarawhitney.com and in Issue No. 5's "Modern Lifestyle Portraiture."

It was during his tenure in the music industry that Adrian Wilcox discovered his passion for photography. As a creative director and project manager for major labels including BMG, SONY and others, Adrian found himself "filling-in" to do photo shoots for the artists with whom he worked. His reputation as a creative photographer grew quickly and eventually Adrian decided to leave the music industry and pursue entertainment photography full time. Today he shoots a diverse group of personalities ranging from best-selling authors to rock stars to actors, including Jennifer Lopez, Dave Matthews, Shaggy, and Mandy Moore. Adrian is also an accomplished vocalist, performing as a tenor with the Palm Beach Opera. View his inspiring portfolio at adrianwilcox.com and read more about Adrian's inspiring style in Issue No. 1's "The Rockstars of Photography."

Jeff and Julia Wood's photography is a original blend of photojournalism and lifestyle; as photographers they each have their own style which they enhance by working together to produce a unique perspective. Jeff’s love of fashion and modern culture coupled with Julia’s passion for capturing relationships and stories come together with creative images that showcase their client’s hearts and minds with contemporary urban imagery.

They have developed and implemented acclaimed marketing strategies which are the foundation of their business’s success. They conduct private workshops instructing nationally and internationally recognized photographers in all aspects of studio management, marketing and creative inspiration. They are official spokesmen for Canon USA, Explorer's of Light.

Jeff and Julia have been honored to have their work recognized by numerous associations. Their albums have been accepted into the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) loan collection, Wedding Print of the Year from Wedding Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) print competition, five Kodak Gallery awards, two Kodak Elite award and eight Fuji Masterpiece awards. They both have received their master and craftsman degrees through Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Their work is regularly featured in Rangefinder, PDN, Professional Photographers of America, American Photographic and The Rainbow trade magazines as well as various technical resource books. Their work is featured in such consumer publications as Grace Ormonde, Martha Stewart Weddings, In Style Weddings, Modern Bride and Bride Magazine.

Jeff and Julia find their career in photography highly rewarding; it allows them to do what they love both professionally and personally. They balance the demands of busy careers with the joy of raising 4 small children in their hometown of Washington, IL. Their studio is located “On the Square” in Washington and is supported by a fabulous staff fully devoted to their wedding and portrait clients.  To see their work, visit jeffreyandjuliawoods.com.  The Woods are featured in Issue No. 8 of Design Aglow: The Essential Issue. 

One of the most sought-after children's photographers in the Chicagoland area, Audrey Woulard documents the lives of children and their families with a unique sense of style and editorial flair. Working exclusively with natural lighting both on-location and in her downtown Chicago loft, Audrey shoots both portrait and commercial work. Her work has been published in such magazines as InStyle, Better Homes and Gardens photography edition, Chicago, and Chicago Scene. View Audrey's stunning images at alwphotography.com and in Issue No. 4's "Rockstars of Photography."