FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

I should actually title this Featured Photographers because this is a husband and wife who share a shop - Painted With Light. The shop is a member of the Photographers of Etsy (POE) and has images that have beautiful color. Come and meet



Here is our interview -

Briefly describe what you make?

We’re digital photographers. Using Canon equipment, we manipulate light to capture digital images. We take those images into Photoshop to perform our post processing. In the majority of our photographs, we only use Photoshop to enhance the photo. Our goal is to portray the subject matter as naturally as possible, as we originally saw it.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

At this point, we only work in digital. In terms of subject matter, our photography spans landscapes, nature, macros, and cityscapes. We’re fortunate to live in a very beautiful area and there always seem to be something new to photograph!

How long have you been creating craft?

Photography has been a hobby of mine for many years. Somewhere I still have a picture I took when I was very young of my grandfather – I believe more than half of his head and body are cut off. Hopefully I’ve gotten a little better since then.

How did you get started?

I’ve always enjoyed documenting the world around me. I got my first SLR camera in high school and the rest is history. My husband became interested in photography after we met and we transitioned to digital photography in 2005. This gave us the ability to take more pictures and have more control over the post processing. At the beginning of this year, we decided we’d attempt to sell our photos after our friends and family encouraged us to share our work with others.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

Photography literally translates to ‘drawing with light.’ We love working with light to create unique, creative images. We thought it would be fitting to use the name Painted With Light, as with our photography what we’re really doing is painting with light to create our photographs!

What would you most want people to know about your work?

Our style is very much about keeping as true to our subject matter as possible. We like to challenge ourselves to capture images in situations that aren’t always the easiest. We welcome any feedback about our work.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Create your own style and stick with it! Keep at your craft because you truly enjoy doing it. And make the time for it – not always an easy thing to do!

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Please do go and see Painted With Light. You will enjoy what you see!

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

Our photographer is another member of POE - Photographers of Etsy and has his shop on the Etsy site. The pictures that you will find there are very stark in color and that makes them very appealing. Come and meet


Here is our interview with Matt -

Briefly describe what you do?

I am a self taught photographer, someone who is very passionate about photography but has a limited amount of time to devote to my hobby. I shoot images that I think are interesting, and a lot of times I end up missing, but once in a while I'll capture something that works.

How long have you been taking pictures?

For as long as I can remember. But it wasn't until recently that I started taking pictures for myself. In college I took a photography class that blended film photography with digital processing. A few years ago I got back into film photography with a black and white class, and around the same time I started to take pictures seriously as a hobby. Within the past year I've taken the leap to putting some of the images I've taken over the years up on Etsy.

How did you get started?

I have always loved taking photos, but I didn't get into photography seriously until my wife and I began to have kids. Almost four years ago my first daughter was born, and looking back at old pictures of me as a kid I knew I wanted to capture as much of her first days on film as I could. I really enjoy the nostalgia that old photos create. Early on I was only shooting pictures of my daughter, but as we got back into traveling, and as my hobby expanded, I started taking pictures of other subjects.

Do you shoot digitally or do you use film?

I shoot about 95% digitally, but I recently picked up two film cameras that I am starting to use more of. I really enjoy the look of the images that come out of those cameras, but I'm still learning how to use them effectively. One day I'll put some images from the film cameras up on my Etsy shop.

What are your favorite things to photograph?

I don't think I have a favorite subject, but I do feel like I go through periods where one type of photography will dominate what I'm capturing. For a while I was focusing just on night photography, and while that is still something I like to do I am not spending much time doing it at the moment mostly because it's so cold out. This year I am trying to expand into shooting concepts - something like a project where I focus on one subject or theme for a period of time. I’m still compiling the list of contenders for my first theme. Ultimately if it catches my eye I'll take a photo of it.

What words of advice do you have for other photographers?

The number one piece of advice I can give, and something I need to pay attention to, is to bring your camera everywhere. You never know when you'll encounter something interesting to capture.

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You must visit Matt at his shop. Matt also has a blog site that you might want to drop in on too! You are going to see a lot that you are going to like!

And while you are Etsy - please do come and pay a visit to

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

I am so happy to introduce you to another photographer who is selling her work on the Web. This is another member of the Photographers of Etsy group. Please come and meet April and her shop -



Here is our interview with April.

Briefly describe what you make?

I actually have 2 shops on Etsy, this one is dedicated to my photography and I also have a shop for beaded stuff. So I guess you could call me a beading photographer!

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

I'm a digital girl! I would really like to have a dark room some day and process my own film! As far as my subjects, I'm partial to nature, especially flowers. But, I also like to find the abstract in everyday things. And, thanks to my husband I like cars!

How long have you been creating craft?

I've been taking pictures since junior high (although I would NEVER show anybody any of that!!). I only really got serious about being artistic with it towards the end of last year. I, by no means, consider myself a professional photographer. This is more of a hobby for me. It was my husband's idea to start selling my photos, so I figured I'd give it a try.

How did you get started?

Just point and shoot! I think my dad was a big influence in my interest in photography. I always remember him with the camera around his neck, especially on vacation. I was amazed at the things I learned from simply reading the instructions for my camera. I can't imagine what I could come up with if I were to take a few classes.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

My mom has called me Apple for as long as I can remember and I have recently become obsessed with the color orange. So, Apple Loves Orange! I do happen to like both fruits!

What would you most want people to know about your work?

Like I said before, I am not a professional photographer! I just hope that people like what I have to offer. I do this mostly for me as an outlet for stress, I have 2 children that like to drive me crazy!

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Do what you love and do it for you! It's mot much, but I am still so new at doing this. I'm rather like a sponge taking in any advice I can get myself!

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Come and take a look at April's photography and while you are at it, check out her other shop as well!