with Courtney Slazinik
Menu
Have You Met Lisa J Deering
Lifestyle
Have You Met Lisa J Deering

Excited about our Have You Met series where I showcase YOU, the photographers of our community. We had over 400 photographers apply for the series in less than a week. I can’t wait to showcase the talented photographers. There is a mix of hobbyist and business owners as well as full-frame and crop sensor users. This may be my new favorite part of the site.

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks in advance for supporting Click it Up a Notch. I am not longer accepting applications for this series.

  • No.
    01
    Tell us a little about yourself and your photography journey.

    I am a wife, and a mother to two rambunctious, all boy, boys. I have a very small, natural light, photography business that I do here and there around my family schedule. We reside in Las Vegas, NV.

    Like many others, my journey began when I was younger and really became pronounced when I had my first child in 2006. I wanted to capture every moment. I loved and valued my professional portrait experiences. I wanted that skill level of photographs to beautifully document everything of my own kiddos, but knew unless I learned it myself it couldn’t happen. I got a better camera, and practiced some, but was overwhelmed with the whole thing in addition to having new baby and a job to do. In 2009, right after my second son was born, I was given the opportunity to mentor with a lifestyle photographer for a short time. The timing was right and that hands on experience was all I needed to really launch me into the depths of learning and honing my skills.

    lisa j photography-1
    1/5000 | f/2.8 | ISO 320 | 28mm

  • No.
    02
    What is the best advice you received so far on your photography journey?

    Spend time taking pictures, lot’s of them. Look at them. See how they differ from images you aspire to take. Is the lighting different? Is it the depth of field? Is it how the camera is angled at the subject (shooting straight on vs shooting down). Study and try changing little things here and there to get closer to what you are trying to achieve. Don’t be afraid to practice on a still object such as a toy or stuffed animal.

    lisa j photography-2
    1/640 | f/2.8 | ISO 640 | 175mm

  • No.
    03
    What is your favorite thing to photograph?

    Of course my kids are my first favorite. However, because I only have boys, I do relish when I have sessions with beautiful little girls with flowing hair and cute outfits!

  • No.
    04
    Where do you find your inspiration?

    I find my desert location so different than many of the images that I love. So, often times it is really the light, make it magical. I do find it is more about the light shining through the hair, getting the big catch lights in the eyes, or using the shadows for a moody black and white.

    lisa j photography-3
    1/400 | f/2.0 | ISO 250 | 85mm

  • No.
    05
    What type of background do you have? Self taught? Formal training? Mentor?

    I had a mentor for a couple of months. She really helped me over the hump of learning the beast of a new “big” camera and just getting a general idea of shooting in manual mode. From there, I have been self taught along with a couple of in person workshops, many on-line classes and forums.

    lisa j photography-4
    1/50 | f/2.5 | ISO 2500 | 50mm

  • No.
    06
    Are you currently doing any photography projects? If so, what?

    I am not tied to any projects at this time. I am looking to get involved in shooting my everyday life with some sort of regularity and commitment. It’s on my to do list for sure. I did spend the month of January playing catch up and I did just finish up the overwhelming task of my 125 plus page family albums from 2013 & 2104.

    lisa j photography-5
    1/160 | f/2.8 | ISO 200 | 200mm

  • No.
    07
    If you could only use one lens for a year, which would you choose?

    That is a tough one. I would settle on my 85mm 1.8. It’s not too big and I can’t get enough of the bokeh!!!

  • No.
    08
    Share links to 3 of your favorite photography tutorials and tell us why.

    How to Use the Interval Timer with Your Camera – Because we were there too! Get in the picture!

    Comparing Different Lenses – So good to view when you are shopping for your next little gem to play with.

    Photoshop Headswap – A not so hard thing to do, but often necessary when you are shooting larger families.

    lisa j photography-6
    1/320 | f/2.8 | ISO 500 | 200mm

  • No.
    09
    What is your favorite image right now?

    I love this image of my youngest son, Carter. He is 5 1/2. Look at the intensity in his face! This image shows how little he is still, but how he is turning into a big boy doing tricks and such.

    lisa j photography-7
    1/1600 | f/2.8 | ISO 250 | 200mm

  • No.
    10
    What type of camera and lenses do you shoot with?

    I have a Nikon D700. I have a 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4, 28-75mm 2.8, and my newest a baby a 70-200mm 2.8.

  • No.
    11
    Let’s light someone else’s candle, who is a photographer you think we should check out?

    I am loving the stunning portraits from Anja Photography. I am also very inspired by the fresh approach that Summer Murdock Photography has capturing images of her children and surroundings.

    lisa j photography-8
    1/4000 | f/2.8 | ISO 250 | 200mm

  • No.
    12
    What is your biggest challenge when it comes to photography?

    My biggest challenge has been that I am too much of a perfectionist with my pictures. Over the last few years I have really tried hard to learn how to make beautiful, perfect, images. I am comfortable with where I am at right now with that aspect. The problem is, life is messy, my boys are chaotic. I have had a hard time stepping back and taking pictures of our real life; they just weren’t pretty enough. I am working on that. I don’t want to miss documenting all of it…that is why I started it all to begin with.

    lisa j photography-9
    1/1000 | f/2.0 | ISO 250 | 85mm

  • No.
    13
    How do you display your photos?

    I take a lot of pictures of my family. I probably keep about 3000 a year include phone pictures. I try to print canvases at least every two years. I try to do a big family album every year (I love Blurb). And I do have a photo wall that I try to add or update occasionally. It really takes effort to get those images off the computer, but I always feel really good when I do, and smile often when I see them on the walls.

    lisa j photography image display-2

    lisa j photography image display-1

  • No.
    14
    What's the strangest thing you carry in your camera bag, and why is it in there?

    Baby wipes…you never know when some kiddo has dried nose crud or something they need cleaned off.

  • No.
    15
    What is next on your list of things to learn this year in photography?

    SEO for my photography website.

    lisa j photography-10
    1/320 | f/2.0 | ISO 1600 | 50m

  • No.
    16
    Show us what your workspace looks like.

    We have many areas I could use (spare bedroom, nook area) but I like being able to work and be around my family or kiddos and yes – drive my husband crazy and show him every amazing image. It also allows me to pop in here and there and get editing done without being completely removed from the kids.

    lisa j photography work area-1

  • No.
    17
    If people want to follow more of your work where should they go?

    I would love to have you visit my website Lisa J Photography or my page on Facebook.

19 Comments
  • February 9, 2015 at 10:41 AM

    Love this Lisa! I’m a boy mom too and I love meeting other photographers who love capturing images of their boys. Great interview!

  • February 9, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    I’m loving this series of posts.
    Rubi | The Den | http://www.the-den.blogspot.com

  • Tricia
    February 9, 2015 at 11:43 AM

    Great interview and photos. I like the mentor idea. Good luck to you.

    • February 9, 2015 at 1:51 PM

      Thanks Tricia. I was overwhelmed by all I was reading and having that hands on talk to me in plain terms was just what i needed!

  • Nicole S.
    February 9, 2015 at 1:17 PM

    Your images are stunning…all of them! Keep up the fantastic work, I look forward to checking out your website in more detail, you have a lot to share! Thank you!

  • rebecca
    February 9, 2015 at 4:26 PM

    #9 Pic is awesome!

    • February 10, 2015 at 11:55 AM

      Thanks Rebecca – that is one of my all time fav images of my little green eyed boy!

    • February 10, 2015 at 11:56 AM

      Thanks Rebecca – that image is one of my all time favorites of my little green eyed son!

  • Silvina
    February 9, 2015 at 5:02 PM

    Love to know all this beautiful moms and photographers… thank you for this great idea!

  • Janet
    February 9, 2015 at 5:11 PM

    OMGosh Lisa, your images are DIVINE!

  • February 9, 2015 at 5:19 PM

    I love how crisp the subjects are complemented with the beautiful backgrounds. I will study your photography like crazy :). Not in a creepy way though!

  • February 9, 2015 at 7:20 PM

    Wow, Lisa! I’m totally in love with your work! I, too, am a mama to boys (blonde boys!) so I really appreciate the way you capture their boyhood so beautifully. :)

  • February 10, 2015 at 5:16 PM

    Your work is absolutely gorgeous Lisa!!

  • February 10, 2015 at 10:51 PM

    Lisa, I love the lighting and colours in your images. You have a great style. Thanks so much for sharing.

  • February 11, 2015 at 11:52 AM

    Gorgeous images! I am lusting after that 70-200 mm too :) One question for you – if you update your canvases every couple of years, what do you do with your older canvases? This is something that I’ve been considering as the images grow in number and my wall space dwindles! I am/trying to keep up with albums too but really love wall art. Would love to hear your thoughts!

  • February 11, 2015 at 12:34 PM

    loved reading and seeing lisa’s lovely work. tfs

  • February 12, 2015 at 7:46 PM

    Beautiful work! Love the composition and use of natural light.

Leave a Comment