Featured Photographer: Candace

What camera do you use?

My main camera is a Nikon D300. My back-up is a D60.

What is your favorite photography subject? (or, what do you like to take pictures of the best?)

I love taking pictures of anything beautiful. My goal - as far as my photography business goes - is to focus on Weddings/Engagements/ Bridals/ Families/ Events.. etc.

I can’t think of anything more amazing than being responsible for capturing all the emotion in that most important time for a couple…. When they’re getting married and starting their new life together.

What camera equipment is on your wish list?

Right now, I really want a great zoom lens – specifically, the Nikkor 70-200mm- but it’ll be a while, that’s a $2000 lens. Just don’t have those funds right now.

What are your hobbies outside of photography?

Outside of photography… I have a hair bow business, called “Sassy Girl Bows”. I started doing that when my daughter was about a year old and I was spending way too much on boutique hair bows. I taught myself to make huge, multi-layered bows custom matched to her outfits. Now, I don’t make the gigantic ones much anymore for her, but I still make them custom for lots of kids in my area.

I also love to write. It’s my goal to write a novel before I die. J I’ve started two and gotten half-way through… become stuck and put it aside. Hopefully one day, I’ll successfully finish one.
And I love to read! I’m always reading at least one fiction novel at a time and I am also addicted to photography/Photoshop books. I LOVE them!


Tell us about your family! (married? Kids?)

I’ve been married to Tony for seven and a half years. We have two children, Emma (4) and Noah (1). We want to have at least one more child, but probably two more. I’d love to have another boy and another girl. But we’ll just have to see what the future holds for us. My husband works in Iraq as a defense contractor for 46 weeks of the year, so I do my best to keep things going around here and to keep us very busy. It’s not too bad, because we do get to talk daily and I have my family living all around me, so that makes it a lot easier for us to pass the time!

Where do you live? (you don’t have to be specific if you don’t feel comfortable)

I live in a very small town… Stedman, NC. It’s about ten minutes from Fayetteville, NC, which is the home of Fort Bragg. I’m sure you’ve heard of that on TV with all the talk of sending the troops from there overseas.

Do you have a blog you would like to share? (family blog or photography blog?)

My family blog is: arnoldfamily4.blogspot.com
My photography blog is: graciejamesphotography.blogspot.com

I’d love to have you guys follow/read my blog! It makes me so happy to get comments; I get so excited to read every single one!! And I’d LOVE feedback on my work. That really makes me happy!!!

What is the best photography advice you have ever received?

Hmmm… this is a hard one. Honestly, one of the things that always echoes in my head is to get down on the same level as the subject. Pictures with children are SO MUCH better when you’re on their level, not photographing them from above.



What (if any) editing program do you use?

I use Photoshop CS3 and I love it! Now that I'm used to it, I don't know how I ever got by without it.


10.Can you share your favorite 3 pictures with us??

Of course!!

These are our three nieces. The blonde on the right is Tony's brother's daughter and the two on the left are Maura's daughters. Maura and Tony's brother, Johnny, just got married on June 6th. Theirs is the wedding that I shot. They make a beautiful family!

These are my two handsome men. I love them so much!

This is my best friend, Amy, she says this is going to be on an easel at her funeral saying that this is her, running into heaven! :)