I am so honoured to have the very talented Tamara Lackey as a guest on The Dedicated Photographer today. I met Tamara at a workshop in 2009 and saw her speak at WPPI earlier this year. She is a force to be reckoned with and has an infectious energy about her. I highly recommend visiting Tamara’s awesome new website where you can see her work, learn about upcoming workshops and check out educational products that she has to offer.

Prepare to be entertained. I introduce you to the lovely and fabulous Tamara Lackey…

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a female and have been ever since I was born.  I find that all the things I love most in my life typically take some level of effort to sustain and grow – that includes my family and my career.   I run an associate-based studio out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and am co-creator of a production business, Lackey+Casey Studios.  Our first series of products was just launched, Capturing Life Through (Better) Photography.

2. List 3 photographers you admire – past and/or present.

She’s an icon for a reason –  I love the new campaign Annie Leibovitz shot for Disney.

I’m going to fudge here a bit – but I love the work of Sandro Boticelli, a bit early for photography (15^th C).  I studied art history in college, and I find his work stunning.

And I think my friend David DuChemin has shot some truly lovely photographs on his adventures.  I’m glad he survived his most recent one.

3. If you weren’t a professional photographer, what would you like to be doing?

Teaching or Writing.

4. What is your favorite age to shoot, and why?

Whatever age I am when I’m shooting

But if you mean children… I really like photographing children before they are very lens aware, and that age varies based on the personality of the child.  So much of great interaction (that feeds into great portraiture) has to do with getting your subjects to forget about being photographed.

5. Something that few people know about you.

I’ve traveled and spent good time in six out of seven continents.  Many repeatedly.  Antarctica is next.  I have had a couple opportunities to visit, but wanted it to be more than a ‘tag, you’re it’ experience.

6. What is the craziest job you ever had?

I don’t know if it counts as crazy, but it’s a bit odd to think that I used to get paid to drive a golf cart for celebrity golf tournaments.

7. If someone gave you $3000 today to spend on photography equipment, what would you buy?

I’d spend it on the time it would take for me to bring a digital artist up to speed on exactly the kind of editing I love.  I’ve tried a couple houses here and there but still do all my own editing because that’s the one area I’ve haven’t been able to outsource to my liking.

8. Mac or PC?

Mac.  Quite a lot of Mac.

9. Besides your camera, what is a must-have at each session?

My reflector.

10. What is your favorite movie of all time?

I have a hard time committing to favorite of all time – but I melted watching Avatar.

11. What is your favorite TV series these days?

Modern Family.  Or How I Met Your Mother (terrible title, funny show).

12. Which is your most-used lens?

My Canon 85mm 1.2

13. What inspires you on a regular basis?

When people don’t have to be kind and encouraging, and they simply are anyways because they care to make others feel better.  Consistently inspires me.

14. What 3 words would your friends use to describe you?

One of my best friends calls me her sunshine – one of my most favorite compliments.  Have also heard driven.  And goofy.  And a perfectionist.

What word would you use to describe someone who gives more answer than requested?

15. What 3 words would your kids use to describe you?

Asked.  My 9 year old:  Fun!

My 7 year old:  Awesome.

My 5 year old:  Please and Thank you.  (She may have misunderstood the question.)

16. List 3 things you wish you had done sooner in your business.

Put a strong business infrastructure into my business immediately.

Been a bit less naïve about trusting blindly when it came to my finances.

Gotten everything in writing.  Amazing how that can come into play.

17. What is your greatest fear with regards to your business?

Wow.  I never think of it that way.  I’m stumped.

18. If you could have lunch with someone famous, who would that be?

I think Elizabeth Gilbert has an interesting mind and expresses herself quite articulately.  I’d love a long lunch date with her.

19. Which 3 businesses/companies do you admire and why (doesn’t need to be related to photography necessarily)?

Apple – incredible energy in that company, ruthlessly smart marketing

creativeLIVE – they are doing some pretty incredible things in the online education business

Adorama – for an online superstore, they offer a genuinely personal touch.

20. Could you share 3 of your favorite images? (Lucky us – we got a bonus 4th!)

Totally awesome. Thank you so much, Tamara!

If you thoroughly enjoyed reading Tamara’s responses as much I did, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment and  also feel free to SHARE this post with your friends and colleagues on Twitter, Facebook, etc. It is always GREATLY appreciated.

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