I’ve really been looking forward to sharing Cari Enticknap with you all.  She is one of my photographer friends that I have had the privilege of meeting several times now.  She is genuine and true.  Every time I have ever spoken with her, I feel like she is listening so intently.  I feel like I am really being heard.  Gosh, I really do love this woman.  Such a complete joy to shoot with.  She spunky and creative, and I’ve learned lots from watching how she poses high school seniors.  Mad love for Cari Berry Photography of Enumclaw, Washington.

You can see more of her work on her WEBSITE, BLOG, or on FACEBOOK.

Questions
About the image…
1) Why do you love this image?
First because that’s my baby <3 and I love her little smile, and her stranglehold on the stuffed dog that goes everywhere with us. I love it also because of the hayfield setting, the textured processing, and most of all the gorgeous golden backlighting. Oh, how I love shooting in the sun! If I could shoot EVERY session backlit at sunset, I’d be overjoyed.

2) What were your settings with this image?
I shot this on my old camera – the Nikon D90 with the 35mm 1.8 lens. ISO 200, f/1.8 and ss 1/1600.

About Photography…
3) What do you love about Photography?
I love the creative outlet Photography offers me; the process of imagining a concept, sculpting my vision into reality, then capturing the moment through the lens and editing it to perfection. I also love the challenge of it; there are so many elements of a great image that I am constantly striving to learn more and be better. It’s the most fulfilling career I’ve ever had, not just because it is challenging and creative, but also because it allows me to meet wonderful families and people, and preserve their precious and fleeting moments for them to cherish forever.

4) What type of Photography do you specialize in and why?
I focus mostly on seniors and families. I adore working with seniors – they have so much energy and personality and style; it’s contagious! And I love the dynamics and emotions and playfulness of family sessions. I love that a family often shows up expecting their portrait session to be like another chore on their to-do list, only to find that they actually have a blast together doing it! And it’s so rewarding when they see their images and tell me with a big smile that I really captured who they are together! I have very few images of my own family together from my childhood, but I treasure them. I think EVERY family deserves a photographic reminder of the love they share….
I shoot a lot of kids and babies too, and since I love kids and babies anyway, those shoots are most enjoyable! Kids have such a range of expressions and moods, even in a 20 minute period, and I love preserving that for their parents to cherish later. I love capturing all the little details of childhood – hands, feet, eyelashes – because they change so quickly when they’re young, and without a photo it’s difficult to recall exactly how they looked at a particular moment, right down to the fingernails.

About your life?
5) What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
Besides photography, I love to read. I read a novel a day. It’s an addiction. Like chocolate. Or Angry Birds

6) Who or what inspires you?
I’m very inspired by other photographers. There is such incredible talent out there, and also generosity and hard work. I’m inspired by gorgeous light – that hour before sunset on a summer day especially. I find nature very inspiring – moonlight on a river or fog on an open field at dawn always inspire me to pick up my camera…

7) Who are some of your favorite singers/bands?
Right now I am reallly loving One Republic. Can’t get enough of them. But I’m a big fan of the cheesy classics too – like New Kids on the Block, lol.

8) What is your favorite movie of all time?
That’s tough. There’s no way I can pick just one. Off the top of my head, I’d say some of my faves are the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Shakespeare in Love, and Shawshank Redemption.

9) What would your ideal day be like?
Sunny!!! Living in Seattle, I’ve got a mad craving for sunshine – we don’t get enough of it!!! The perfect day would be warm and bright, spent exploring the beach with my husband and kids, and my camera of course!

10) If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue?
Before I was a photographer, I was a teacher. If I couldn’t take pictures, I’d like to work with kids again in some capacity. Or maybe I’d be a florist. Or a travel writer.

Stay tuned next week when I introduce you to Sylvia Borgo from San Diego, CA. I’ve met her too, and let’s just say, I wish San Diego and San Francisco were a lot closer. She’s fab. Here’s her website if you wanna take a peak.