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Member Spotlight April 2011
Val Kellogg & Andy Rodriguez
Andy Rodriguez Photography
Head shot of Val was taken by Louis Tonsmeire,
one of the speakers at this year's convention.
Andy Rodriguez
www.andyrodriguezphotography.smugmug.com
What is your background, education, training, work experience if other than photography?
Andy: I am from Chicago. I relocated to paradise (Arizona) about 15 years ago. I've had some college classes in Architectural Engineering.
I have not had any real photographic training. I began my interest in photography one day when hooking up my brother's camera to my telescope. My interests in photography quickly moved to photographing people. Shortly after graduating from high school, I was often asked to shoot photos of my friends' weddings.
I didn't like how the B&W came back from the local photo store, so my brother and I started building a darkroom in a bedroom. We blacked out the windows and built a light proof entry. We used tea warmers during the winter to keep chemicals from freezing and we used baggies of ice to keep chemicals from getting too hot. That first camera was a Canon - that is what I've always used. My first camera was the Canon F-1. We made lots of money doing photography but I didn't consider it a business.
However, once I took a portrait lighting class from Paul Sebring, I was hooked. I lost interest in weddings and other shoots like that. I'm hoping to do only portraits.
I have worked at a wide variety of jobs, from bartender, to day laborer on constructions sites, to seasonal help at a grain elevator shoveling grain for 12 hours a day.
Valerie: I'm originally from Rochester NY, but I've lived up and down the East Coast, in France and the UK, and in Chicago. I moved here from Chicago about 5 years ago because of a job. My favorite seasons are fall and winter, so the heat has taken some getting used to... I went to University of Virginia for biology, then to a community college for respiratory therapy, and later got an MBA through Purdue University.
My primary job is marketing consulting in medical devices and pharmaceuticals. I've worked in healthcare market research for nearly 20 years.
How long have you been a photographer? When and how did you get started? How did you learn photography?
Andy: I started taking pics in '68. For me, photography has so far been pretty much self taught. But I see the youngsters coming up now with formal photo education and now I see a need to keep up by participating in the workshops and get togethers that AZPPA provides.
Valerie: It was 15 years ago in France, with a good point and shoot film camera, where I discovered a love of capturing the image that I saw in my mind. I also discovered the frustration of not capturing what I'd imagined.
In Chicago, I decided that I would learn about photography the right way: from the ground up. I had the idea that to properly learn photography, one had to start with film, before moving to digital. I purchased one of the last film Nikon SLRs sold in North America. Guess I'm not an early mover!
When I moved here, I decided that I needed to learn how to use this frustrating camera (I hate to read instructions), so I joined a Meetup group called AZ Shutterbugs. That's where I met Andy.
I've been seriously into photography for about a year now. My photography knowledge has been primarily picked up from Andy, as well as through attending seminars and workshops offered by AZPPA. Photography allows me to interact with people, and to use the creative-artistic side of my brain. I've shot a few weddings, lots of events, and even Pets with Santa, and we've practiced shooting portraits of several friends and their families.
What is your specialty? Weddings or do you shot portraits of commercial too?
Val & Andy: Specialty right now is - nothing-but we're planning to specialize in portraiture. We're going to workshops to learn more, and doing lots of volunteer photography for non-profits.
What are your goals for your business?
Andy: To be able to quit the job I'm doing now. Computer operator for CVS/PBM.
Valerie: To get off welfare (just kidding). I'd like to see us in a studio within a year, with the portraiture business to support Andy full time and me part-time, but eventually full time. Once we're better established, I would like to invite an intern to work with us, to help the student get solid exposure to the business side of studio photography.
I have always thought that the ultimate place to see my photos in print would be in National Geographic magazine. That goes hand in hand with my dream of some day traveling, listening to people and capturing bits of their lives in photos.
What has been your most successful marketing effort to date?
Andy and Val: Volunteering for non-profits. Word gets out pretty quickly and we get free advertising in the groups' brochures and event notifications. So our name is getting out there.
Valerie: In addition, the volunteer work has provided absolutely priceless practice for me.
Why did you join the AzPPA? What has been the best thing you have gotten out of being a member? Or what do you look forward to the most out of being a member?
We (Valerie K) and I joined to be part of an established and respected group of photographers. We are hoping to pick their brains dry. Best thing so far has been the one on one portrait class given by David Weingarten.
Eventually we hope to give back knowledge and inspiration to others in the group. Diversity never hurts.
Valerie: It's also proving to be a good place to make photographer friends, and to get a good dose of ideas and inspiration once a month.
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