Winner of the $30 voucher
The winner of the $30 voucher for commenting on Ali Hohn’s interview is comment #5, Bridgette! Email me to claim your voucher.
Add comment January 31st, 2010 posted by Ren in giveaway
Interview with Ali Hohn
I’ve know Ali for over a year now. I was honoured when Ali came to me to design her logo. I often think how lucky I am to meet such talented and wonderful people. Ali’s off camera flash work blows my mind. I’m just delving more into this and her photography is such an inspiration. Without further ado…. Ali Hohn!
Name/Location - Ali Hohn, Minnesooooooota
How did you get started in photography?
I have always loved taking photos. I was always the picture taker when my family would go on vacations. I always loved landscape/scenery photos. I had thought about what I wanted to do in life when I was choosing colleges and I never thought I could earn a living in photography so I went to school for psychology. My other passion is helping people so that’s why I went to school for that. Not until I went on vacation to Hawaii before we had our daughter. My 3.2 megapixel camera that we spent almost $1000 on for our wedding… (yeah I didn’t hire a professional… what a mistake that was!). Anyway, that broke while we were on vacation and I had been seeing ads on TV for the Rebel 300D and I wanted it so bad. I didn’t get it though… I bought a point and shoot to replace the camera I had. I came back from vacation and really wanted that Rebel so my husband bought it for me. I then got preggie with our now 3 year old daughter Anna and while I was on bedrest I found a photography forum. Since I couldn’t go anywhere and was ordered to bed I read as much as I could, learning more about my camera and photography. I had my daughter and haven’t put the camera down since. I just really got into it for fun. Not thinking I’d make money for it. My friends started seeing photos of my little girl and when my daughter was not even 2 months old is when I started. I absolutely love it too!
How long have you been in business?
I started on June 13th 2006. I had my first session in my garage! My daughter was almost 2 months old and it was my mum’s birthday that day. That’s the only way I can remember the exact date!
What was the one piece of advice you were given when you were first starting out that you like to pass on?
When I was just starting out I met up with some local photographers and there was this one girl Julie. She meant so much to me because of some of the things that she told me. I was really struggling with my confidence level and I was just chatting with her about wanting to get better and take closer up shots of people. And she was really simple and said, just do it. Just start practicing right now and she put herself infront of my camera and I took a beautiful photo of her. She meant so much to me and unfortunately she was killed a year ago trying to save another girl’s life in the river. That photo that I took of her was displayed at her funeral and I just sat there thanking God for putting her in my life. So my advice to anyone that is struggling with anything… Just Do It. The more you try the better you get. Don’t beat yourself up if it isn’t perfect. Love what you do and do it with all your heart.
Tell us about your style…
My style has evolved in so many ways. When I was first starting out I was all natural light. Now, I shoot 99% off camera flash and I absolutely love it. I love how it looks straight out of the camera and I’m not that great in Photoshop so it minimises my time in there too. I don’t spend a lot of time ps’ing my photos.
Here’s a photo I took of a senior the other night. I did very little to this photo. Portraiture, and then ran a Pioneer Woman action at super low opacity and that was it.
Here’s an SOOC image. Just ran USM and portraiture.
What’s in your camera bag?
Um… way too much. 5D MarkII, 5D, 70-200IS, 24-70L, 100 macro, 8 pocket wizards, radio poppers, 2 580EX IIs and more.
What is the strangest thing you take with you to a shoot?
The strangest thing? Well I do get some looks every time I haul out my beauty dish and vagabond. Not the average person have seen those.
What is your most important marketing tool?
FACEBOOK!
What is your best selling add-on product for 2008?
This year it’s been my proofbook from Color Inc. I love it! All the seniors love them too!
How do you handle workflow?
I kind of explained it above but normally run portraiture on everything and then I normally use Andrew’s Free Optimizer that I found on ILP years ago. I don’t spend a ton of time in Photoshop because I don’t feel like off camera flash images need a lot of time in there.
How do you stay motivated?
There are so many things that keep me motivated. The number one is my daughter. I said when I first started out that I would save money for her so she can go to college. I have yet to save anything though (bad mommy!) lol No, but really, my daughter keeps me motivated. My husband is not home very often so photography for me is my break at being a mom, wife, housekeeper, etc. It keeps me sane. I know that most mom’s out there feel that way too! Although, I’m working, but it doesn’t feel like work to me because I love it so much. When I get behind the camera I don’t think about anything other then shooting that person. I don’t think about what the day was like at home, how many bills we have to pay, the ginormous tantrum my daughter had, etc lol… I just get to be me with my camera and make senior girls feel beautiful.
Tell us about Rock That Flash…
Last summer I was looking at some images wondering how they did that. I was jut in awe of the light that was on them and how beautiful the photos were. I started researching and my friend Dan told me they were using flashes outside. I was in awe and I just had to figure it out. My friend Dan took me out and he just told me what to do but I was so confused. I didn’t understand at all what I was doing. I had to figure it out by myself. I am such a visual person and a hands on person no matter if someone told me how to do it I couldn’t figure it out. Even to this day, when I count numbers, I have to visualise the number in my head and count like we did back in kindergarten lol!!! That’s how much of a visual person I am!
Through all of my seniors last year I started teaching myself through trial and error. It wasn’t until one night I was out with this senior girl and her mom here in the states visiting their daughter/sister that I finally ‘got it’. I had been pretty much just guessing at what I was doing in all the sessions before but still got some pretty good results. I was so frustrated… Why? Because I was really over thinking it in my head. After each session, I would come back and look at my settings and writing things down so I could remember. I have never had a good memory so I’ve had to write things down too so those writings basically evolved into the online book. I wrote everything down and my husband really encouraged me to sell the online book to photographers. I was very against it for a long time but then I thought about it some and decided it couldn’t hurt.
My friend Kylie Clark made a blog for me and I put it up for sale. Then I was invited to go Down Under to teach a photographer in Brisbane. From then on things have spiraled into workshops here in the states. I never even planned on this but it has been amazing and fun. I have always felt like I am still just a stay at home mom who was able to simplify the off camera flash for most non techies out there like myself. I am still just a stay at home mom and I love that.
What is the one thing you can’t live without (no cheating and saying family and friends)?
One thing that I really couldn’t live without would definitely be God. I am so thankful that I have Him in my life. I was an absolute wreck as a kid growing up in a super dysfunctional family. I was mad at everything. I was mad at my family, at God, and at myself for so many years. Then, when I was in college some people I met told me more about God and what He was about. My life has been so changed since then and I am so thankful.
If you were entered in a talent show you would…
As in a talent show that you have to perform in? No way, I wouldn’t do it! I have never been one to do those types of things! Sorry Ren!
What turns you on?
That’s a loaded question! J/K… How about something that makes me happy… lol… my daughter. She is just so incredible. She is only 3 but she is incredibly amazing. She is so smart and so beautiful. I just sit there and look at her and think wow my husband and I created that little being. I am just amazed by her. I want more kids so bad too but that’s a whole other story.
What turns you off?
I could tell you tons of things that turn me off but the number one thing is people who are just so full of pride and come off like they are better than everyone else.
What’s on your iPod?
Really, it’s all Christian music. I don’t really listen to much these days though. I really enjoy my peace and quiet when I can get it 
Mac or PC?
MAC all the way!
I love my mac. My pc sits dead right now and I haven’t touched it since I got my mac.
And this shot is one of my all time Ali Hohn faves! When I first saw this posted on facebook in a series I just thought it was devine. I don’t know why, but I’ve always wanted to do some ’smoking’ shots.
You can find Ali’s photography site here, read her blog here and read more about Rock That Flash here.
Don’t forget to leave Ali some comment lovein’ - next week one person will be drawn from the comments on this post to win a $30 voucher to the vibe store.
5 comments September 24th, 2009 posted by Ren in interview
PSE7 Testers Needed
I need 5 testers currently using PSE7. Email me at contact@viberesources.com with TESTER in the subject line. Thanks!Tomorrow I’ll be posting an interview with a great photographer and a loooovely lady… stay tuned!
Add comment September 22nd, 2009 posted by Ren in housekeeping
Email Catchup
I have cleared my inbox! Wow… THAT was a mission. If you have sent me an email and not received a reply there must be gremlins living in my inbox. Please send another email.Uploading the final files to the store for those people who experienced problems. You’ll have an email from me in the next few days. Thanks for being patient guys! I also have the next amazing photographer lined up for an interview too… stay tuned.
1 comment August 29th, 2009 posted by Ren in housekeeping
Issues with downloading
There seems to be an issue with downloading. The blog banners are causing all sorts of pain for the majority of people. There are one off downloading issues related to other products. I am working on it! You will receive an email as soon as I’ve fixed it on the backend and I will also post here to let you all know.Thank you for your patience…
Add comment August 14th, 2009 posted by Ren in housekeeping
vibe MEGA sale - FINAL DAY
Just a quick reminder that today is the last day for the MEGA sale. This sale will never be repeated so don’t miss your opportunity!My inbox is quite heavy at the moment and it’s taking me longer then usual to get through them all. If you have emailed me and not received a reply please know that I AM getting to it, you haven’t been forgotten.
3 comments August 11th, 2009 posted by Ren in housekeeping
vibe MEGA sale
This sale is a thank you to all my fantastic vibe clients and a huge shout out that vibe is back baby!
For the bottom basement price of $50 you will be able to download EVERYthing from the vibe store.
There is nothing being held back here at all… if you can see it in the store you can download it!
This sale is insane and for real… there are no hidden strings.
The vibe plug and play business forms are $80 - you’ve already saved $30 and on just one product. Actions, borders, cards, album, forms… it’s ALL in the sale!
Here’s how it works:
1. Purchase the voucher for $50 and download to your computer. You will now have a voucher code.
2. Go back to the store and add everything you want to your shopping cart. Take note: don’t add one thing, then purchase, then go back to add another. This voucher will only work for you ONCE so you must add everything you want to the shopping cart.
3. When you’re ready to finalise your order, head to the checkout.
4. Enter the code printed on your MEGAsale voucher. You will now have a 100% discount and are ready to download away!
5. Start downloading! You will now have 5 days to download your goodies.
So what do you do now?
Are you crazy?
Get over to the store and buy the MEGA sale voucher of course!!!
All good things must come to an end of course. This sale will last for 3 days only (ending midnight Tuesday central american time) and you will have 5 days from the date of purchase to download your goodies. No orders will be reset after this time.
Of course… feel free to post on any forums about the sale ;)
3 comments August 10th, 2009 posted by Ren in promo
Quick Update and a cool texture product
Slight hold up on the sale, which gives you more time to be sure that you’re signed up on the mailing list! Not much longer now… this is something you do NOT want to miss!Found this in my travels recently and couldn’t wait to share it with you all. This looks like an amazing product and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. I love using texture on photos but sometimes it’s a pain pulling up the texture file, choosing, applying and then making it work for you. Head over to TRA and see what they have in store for everybody!
Add comment August 6th, 2009 posted by Ren in housekeeping
Mailing List
If you aren’t already on the mailing list, get on it NOW! Click the link to the right in the sidebar and take a moment to sign up.MASSIVE Christmas in July Special will be announced in just a few days and this is something that vibe has not done before and more then likely wont ever do again… you do NOT want to miss out!
2 comments July 29th, 2009 posted by Ren in housekeeping, promo
Is there anybody out there?
psst… still reading?
I’m ready to re-enter for real and want to do it with a bang! What new product would you like to see in the vibe store? Of course there will be a giveaway for the people actively involved in getting that new product in the store… so… whatcha need?
15 comments April 26th, 2009 posted by Ren in housekeeping
