Q & A with a Photographer - Thomas Creative

Hi guys! Bekah here! Who’s eager to meet another amazing photographer in the 417 area?? I love having the opportunity to share 417 photographer’s stories and highlight their individual styles in this series! I think it is so cool to see the unique perspective people in the exact same field have!

Today I introduce you to the lovely Tamara Thomas of Thomas Creative! Let’s get to know her below!

Hi, all! I'm Tamara Thomas!

Along with my husband Caleb, I own Thomas Creative. I am a hobbyist turned full-time photographer. Last year, Caleb jumped on board and we added videography to our services. It's been the most fun doing this together. We call wedding days our day dates. We truly enjoy doing it as a team. It's so rewarding and fulfilling. We enjoy all types of photography. Anywhere from product shooting, family sessions, seniors, weddings, to making story videos for small businesses. If there is a photo/video need, we're down to fill it. We embrace it all! We have two beautiful babies. You can catch us location scouting, hanging at our church or enjoying popcorn and a movie when we're not shooting weddings or sessions.

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How long have you been a photographer? 

I got my first camera in 2012, but I'd say that photography has been my career since 2017.

How would you describe your photography style? 

True-to-color portrait photography/video. We love bright, vibrant colors and try to keep our photos and videos as nice and realistic as your eye sees them in person.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a photographer to you? 

Relationships. Oh my goodness, my heart SWELLS when I get to celebrate different seasons with my clients. Brides becoming Mamas, watching kids go from babies to toddlers, etc. My clients become friends. I get to be part of the best time of their lives. I just love it.

What is the best thing about your clients? 

I have some very loyal clients. There are a lot of amazing photographers in the 417 and I'm honored that they stick with me year after year.

What is your favorite thing to photograph?

This is a tough one because I truly love it all. I'd say I am best at family sessions. I have the gift of making buds with kids. Hearing clients say, "They never smile like that for photos." is the best pat on this photographers back.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

FINALLY GOING FOR IT. For so long I would give away free sessions, turn weddings down, etc. because I wasn't confident in my skills. With a nice shove from my family, hubby and friends, I just decided to embrace this gift that God has given me and just do it. It's been so rewarding and I cannot believe that I have a full schedule of sessions year round. It's a true dream come true.

If you could give one piece of advice to yourself when you first started as a photographer, what would it be?

Stop being so hypercritical of your work and charge what you're worth. I would also say, don't be intimidated that there are a lot of photographers. Be true to who you are, continually work on your craft and the clients will come.

If you could give one piece of advice to your clients what would it be?

Celebrate your life, y'all. PRINT YOUR PHOTOS. You invest in these images, they belong ALL over your walls.

Do you have any photography influences? 

Seriously, y'all. You're KILLING IT. I love to show love to my fellow photogs. There are so many awesome photographers that I follow here in Springfield. If we're talking big influences, I love Jo Johnson. She's based out of Arkansas. We actually went to high school together and watching her flourish into an incredible photographer/mentor/business lady has been so inspiring.

What is your favorite piece of gear? Dream piece of gear?

I just went mirror-less with the Canon RP and I am LOVING IT. Lighter/smaller camera body has been a game changer on wedding days. If Caleb was answering this, he would be able to give you a full run down of all of the gear he would love to buy. He's a "gear nerd". I just try to learn the ins and outs of what I have.

What are some fun facts people may not know about you? 

In the 7th grade, I placed second in city for wrestling. I didn't even like wrestling. I just wanted to prove some boys wrong. I am still in the business of proving people who think I can't do something wrong.

What would your ultimate, dream photo shoot be?

I would love to shoot for a kids clothing line with my daughter as one of the models. She's stinkin' cute and since she was born she's been my practice buddy. Watching that 4-year-old spunk come out in front of the camera is so fun.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I can totally get lost in the Instagram scroll.

What was your favorite part about using Lightbox?

I love it all. Climate control with nice natural lighting is so awesome. I don't have to worry about rescheduling due to weather. Can we talk about the staff? You guys are top notch!

How would you like to use the studios at Lightbox in the future?

I love mini sessions at Lightbox. Anytime Lightbox partners with The Vintage Rental Co for mini sessions, I'm definitely promoting it to my clients. I love them.

Thank you SO MUCH Tamara! You are so talented and we cannot WAIT to see your smiling face in the studio again!

If you want to check out more of Thomas Creative’s work, You can find them here:

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Written by Bekah Schooler

Creative Coordinator

If you are interested in being featured in the Q & A with a photographer series on the Box Blog, e-mail me at Lightboxbekah@gmail.com

Photographer’s Shoot-Out Recap

Our goal at Lightbox is always to foster creativity and bring the community together.

If you follow Lightbox, you’ve probably seen a gorgeous floral set and a minimal editorial set popping up on our feed often! What is it from? The very first Photographer’s Shoot-Out event!

For our first Photographer’s Shoot-Out, we had 11 photographers, 2 sets and 2 models! Unlike most styled shoots, each photographer had different time slots so they were able to work with each model one on one! The first set was with our rose tufted ottoman, white seamless backdrop & a GORGEOUS floral arrangement from Queen City Blooms. Each photographer had the choice between our model, Karissa, wearing a fun, mustard yellow maxi dress from Lulu’s or an elegant wedding gown from The Dress Bridal Boutique! The 2nd set was a more minimal set with our model Soleil wearing an amazing sweater cape from Rent the Runway. In this set you were encouraged to really play with posing and focus on the art of portraiture! This set was basically a blank slate with a few props and really allowed each photographer the space to get creative in their own personal way!

One of the most amazing things about an event like this is having several different photographers shooting the exact same sets and models but in totally different ways! It really showcases the individuality between each and every person who participated. I myself got to join in on the shoot-out and they are some of my favorite photographs I’ve ever taken!

And of course, this shoot-out would have been nothing without the incredible talents that had a hand in bringing it all together!

Here are the amazing vendors who participated:

Florals: Queen City Blooms

Hair & Make-up: Skyler Ellison, assistant under Emily Edgar

Models: Karissa Houts and Soleil Richardson

Bridal Gown: The Dress Bridal Boutique

Yellow Dress: Lulu’s

Sweater cape: Rent the Runway

Now the fun part, THE PHOTOS! Let’s take a look at the work of all these amazing, talented photographers!

WILD WILD PHOTOGRAPHY

@wildwildphotography

SHANA LYNNE PHOTOGRAPHY

@Shanalynnephoto

ILLUMINATE PHOTOGRAPHY

@illuminatephotography417

JWETER PHOTOGRAPHY

@jweterphotography

TAYLOR JEAN PHOTOGRAPHS

@Taylorjeanphotographs

GRACE KAY PHOTOGRAPHY

@gracekayphoto

BLOOM AND BE PHOTO

@bloomandbephoto

RHIANON BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

@rhianonbrownphotography

NEGATIVE IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

@negative.image.photography

STOECKER MEDIA

@stoeckermediallc

HANNAH ARNZEN PHOTGRAPHY

@hannaharnzenphotography

@lightboxsgf

Can I just say…WOW!

After seeing all these amazing photos you might be thinking, WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE? Well, good news! I’m super excited to share with you the mood board and theme of our next shoot-out:

PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR SHOOT-OUT!

There will be 2 monochromatic sets to work with and a table of props that will inspire creativity! It’s all happening on Sunday, April 5th! Tickets are on sale NOW! Get them here:

Written by Bekah Schooler

Creative Coordinator & Studio Assistant

If you want to stay in the know about future shoot-out events, sign up for our email newsletter here:

PHOTOGRAPHER’S NEWSLETTER

How To Use the Ring Light for Your Rental!

Let’s start with the basics!

With the ring light you have the ability to control the look and lighting of your photos! It can be added to any rental for just $15 and you can add it the day of your rental! This is a great option if your rental happens to be on a cloudy day and you want a little extra light for your photos!

There are two sliders on the ring light, one that controls temperature and one that controls brightness. Since it is a slide and not a switch, you have complete control over how bright you want the light and whether you want cool tones, warm tones, or somewhere in the middle!

The ring light is super user friendly, so you totally don’t have to be a professional photographer to utilize it for your rental! It also comes with a tripod to hold a cell phone!

Our rolling white backdrop, the ring light and some banners or props make the perfect setup for a do-it-yourself photo booth during your next party!

Below are some examples of how I used the ring light during my photo session with Jacob!

All of these photos were taken with the same camera settings and all of them were taken about 30 minutes before sunset when natural light was starting to fade!

The only difference between them is the light temperature and brightness settings I had on the ring light!

BEFORE: This photo was taken with the ring light set to cool tones and the brightness on high

BEFORE: This photo was taken with warm temperature settings and the brightness on medium!

BEFORE: This photo was taken with only natural light! Keep in mind that it was almost dark outside so there wasn’t much light to work with in the first place. In a normal situation I would change my camera settings, but I kept the the same as the photos above to illustrate the differences between all the photos!

AFTER: For the cool tones settings I just enhanced them a bit! This setting fit really well with Jacob’s skin tone and the backdrop we were working with!

AFTER: For Jacob’s skin tone I did bring down the warm tones and oranges in editing just a bit to match my own personal style but I love the look of the finished product! The warm tones would be really great with other skin tones or if you were going for a specific style!

AFTER: I had to work a lot harder with editing on the photos with only natural light! I felt like it left them a bit grainy and the backdrop doesn’t pop quiet as much as it does when i’m using the ring light!

Here are some bonus pictures that were taken with the ring light when it was pitch black outside!

Are you ready to get creative? Book and add the ring light here!

Blog and photos by Bekah Schooler, Studio Assistant at Lightbox & Owner of Illuminate Photography.

Q & A with a photographer - Jennifer Weter

We have had an amazing group of photographers join us at Lightbox in our first couple months of business! It is so amazing to see the individual style and creativity that each photographer brings to our space!

We are starting a new series of blogs featuring photographers that have come to use the Loft and Lower Studio here at Lightbox!

For our very first edition, we are very happy to introduce you to Jennifer Weter of JWeterPhotography!

Meet Jen!

“I'm a travel obsessed, beach loving, sunset chasing soccer mom. I love new experiences, whether it's meeting new people, exploring new locations or trying new foods. My husband and I love to explore new cities during our daughter's soccer tournament weekends by visiting local restaurants, craft breweries and coffee shops. What photographer can live without caffeine, right? I've spent many years working in the healthcare industry, but I'm most at home behind the camera preserving the moments that mean the most to my clients.”

Head shot: Abigail Derrick Photography

How long have you been a Photographer?

I started my business in 2017, but my love of photography began many years ago when I was the photographer for my junior high school newspaper. After my daughter was born in 2008, I wanted to preserve all of those precious, fleeting moments. That's when I enrolled in a photography class at Missouri State University, and I spent the next few years soaking up all of the knowledge I could get my hands on. I still believe investing in your education is important, and continue to take classes and workshops. I was fortunate this year to learn from one of my photography idols, Tarah Sweeney

How would you describe your photography style?

I like to incorporate a mixture of portraiture and lifestyle images in my galleries. I know we all hope to get that one shot of everyone looking at the camera and smiling, but the images that really move me are the ones that embody warmth, movement and emotion. Every picture has a beautiful story to tell!

What is the most rewarding thing about being a photographer?

Being able to document moments that will be cherished for generations. I always loved looking through my grandparents old photos. Seeing images of my grandmother as a child and young adult sparked conversations that might never have occurred without those photographs. It brought back joyous memories for her, and allowed me to share in a part of her life that I knew very little about.

What's your biggest fear as a photographer?

Showing up to a session without an SD card. So, I am compulsive about checking all of my gear before I leave the house, and I usually have several extra stashed in my camera bag, just in case.

What is your favorite thing to photograph?

Newborns! The transition from couple to family is so incredibly life changing. Those first few days go by in a sleep-deprived blur, and I love being able to freeze those moments for them. Witnessing the evolution of a family, as their littles grow and as siblings are welcomed is one of the best parts of photographing families year after year.

What is the best thing about your clients?

They are graciously willing to be vulnerable and allow me into the most intimate parts of their lives. It's difficult to be that open and trusting with a photographer, but it's so important. This lets me document the way they interact with each other when no one else is around. That's where the true magic lies. It's an honor that I don't take lightly.

If you could give one piece of advice to yourself when you first started as a photographer, what would it be?

Trust yourself. Shoot what you're passionate about because to serve your clients well, you have to be inspired. If a session doesn't excite you, you won't be able to produce your best work.

If you could give one piece of advice to your clients what would it be?

Relax! Don't worry about the kids' behavior, just show up ready to be in the moment with your family. I'll take care of the rest!

What are some fun facts people may not know about you?

I was once a wedding cake decorator. I delivered many 5 tier cakes down ridiculous stairways, holding my breath the entire time. I had more than one nightmare that I dropped a cake during delivery. Although it never actually happened, I had enough near misses to make me never want to photograph weddings! Another fun, but embarrassing fact...I took a nap on the monkey bars when I was five years old. I fell off, face first, and broke both the bones in my arm. I guess being clumsy is a theme that has followed me throughout my life.

What would your ultimate, dream photo shoot be?

A couples shoot on the Kalalau trail in Kauai. My husband and I got married on the island and it will always be special to me. It's the perfect mix of my favorite things - beach, mountains, waterfalls and adventure.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Love, in all its many forms. Love between partners, parent and child, siblings, friends...it's what gives us hope for the future.

What kind of photo shoot(s) have you done at Lightbox?

Maternity and holiday family sessions. Everything from babies to families of six.

What was your favorite part about using Lightbox?

It's so incredibly versatile! I've used Lightbox for photo shoots, baby showers, girls' night out, and the space was perfect for all three. I love being able to utilize the prop closet. We were able to have a gorgeous tablescape for the baby shower and I didn't have to haul everything in from home.

How would you like to use the studios at Lightbox in the future?

I'd love to use the amazing light in the loft studio for a newborn session

Thanks so much Jen!

We love your work and so appreciate you taking the time to share your passions with us!

Find more of Jen’s work here:

www.JWeterPhotography.com

https://www.instagram.com/jweterphotography

My Personal Experience Using the Lightbox Loft

Hi there!

Bekah here from the Lightbox team!

I own Illuminate Photography here in Springfield and I’m going to tell you about my experience using The Loft!

As a photographer, I know how challenging it can be to find an indoor space for photo sessions that has adequate light and space while still being private!

Photographing in a comfortable and quiet environment really produces more genuine and relaxed photographs! My clients and the quality of the photos I give them are always, always, always my first priority so I was SO excited to utilize Lightbox to give my clients the best possible experience I can!

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a pet calendar with 22 (Yes, TWENTY-TWO) dogs and 2 cats and I jumped at the chance to use The Loft for this project. I had super consistant lighting throughout the whole session! Having this large of a project in a controlled environment really helped keep the pups more calm! The rolling white backdrop was the perfect tool to style for the different months and I was able to use several decor items available in The Loft and combine it with items brought from home to make this project come to life! If you would like a calendar to support Rescue One, please click here.

Photographing portraits is one of my favorite parts about my job! I love being able to capture what makes a person uniquely themselves! I took some pictures of Sarah on her lunch break from her job during spirit week. It was 80’s day and how can you not get some photos when your outfit is this good??

I’ll let you in on a little secret; It was SO overcast and gloomy this day but we were still able to get some gorgeous and bright photos with only the light coming through the abundance of windows in the Loft! As a natural light photographer, it is HUGE for me to be able to stay consistant with the photos I do outdoors at an indoor location! There is no shortage of soft, beautful, natural light at Lightbox!

One of the really cool things I love about the Loft is that it gets styled differently seasonally so you have the opportunity to create unique photos for your clients every time you use the space!

I am just as excited about this space (if not more!) after using it as I was from the moment I first heard of it! It really is an asset that Springfield has needed for a long time and I am so looking forward to using The Loft for many, many more photo sessions in the future!

5 Creative Ways To Use The Loft

Welcome to the Box Blog - your source to see what’s new and happening at Lightbox!

Let’s talk about five creative ways you can use the Loft! This space will be styled with unique furniture and home decor differently every three months, so you have trendy and fresh backdrops throughout the year. Let’s dive in!

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Bridal Shower 

Newly engaged??? It’s time to celebrate! You and your guests will enter the Loft by a beautiful iron staircase. Filled with natural light, sheer white curtains and beautiful white floors, the Loft screams BRIDAL! Bring your own decor or ask to see our prop closet for dishes, runners, florals and more! You can really make the space your own! What style do you prefer? Boho, Modern, Rustic, or Victorian? If you want a unique piece for photo ops, check out The Vintage Rental Company!

Yoga event

Breathe….Inhale…... Exhale…… Calling all yogis for a sunrise, mid-day or sunset yoga class. We believe intimate gatherings help us mentally and emotionally in our professions and personal lives. Interested in hosting a class? Please fill out a contact form!

Pop-up shop

Located right on historic C-Street which is known for its artistic ties, Lightbox is the perfect fit for pop-up shops or craft shows! Use the loft or the entire space to help make your business grow! We will help spread the word about your event on social media! Lightbox has folding tables to use upon request to set up your merchandise.

Photo Sessions

The Loft works fabulously for photo sessions due to the abundant amount of natural light…even on a cloudy day! Furniture and home décor will be changed throughout the year giving you a variety of backgrounds for your clients! Want to mix things up? Feel free to bring your own props to make the space uniquely yours! The 7.5’ rolling backdrop can be used as a reflector or decorated for your shoot! What a better place to beat the cold weather during the winter!

Girls’ night event

Who doesn’t love a girls’ night?! Whether it be a sip and paint event, a Galantines party or even a weekend brunch, the Loft is the place for you! We also have two 10-foot pine-wood dining tables and 24 white folding chairs. Limited luxury seating is available upon request.

Keep in mind, this is just a small list of the endless ways you can use one of our spaces! Not only are we looking forward to meeting you….we are excited to see how you transform the Loft with your own creative touch!