Susan Keller

Website: Short on Words

Orange County Portrait Photographer

I've loved photography for as long as I can remember. The only things that kept me from taking thousands of images during my college years and during my babies' earliest days was the price of film & cost of developing. Now freed from those constraints, I've poured considerable time and effort and equipment cost into honing my favorite "craft." In 2008, I began pulling together my portfolio and this year I hope to develop a business from my hobby. Exciting days, these are. And I'm thrilled to be a part of this I ♥ Faces community, where I can continue to experiment and also be inspired by others who have a passion for photography.

Jodi Friedman

Website: MCP Actions

Twitter: @mcpactions

Jodi is the owner of MCP Actions, which provides resources for photographers worldwide who seek to improve their product and deliver more value for their customers.

MCP Actions offers original Photoshop Actions to customers internationally, which enable photographers, at the click of a button, to enhance and enrich their photos in a fast and efficient way.

Additionally, Friedman offers Photoshop training, via the Web, at various levels, to professional and hobbyist photographers across the globe. She is also the creator of a popular and growing blog that brings photographers together to improve their skills and expand their thinking about photography and photo editing. It is available at www.mcpactions.com/blog.

An experienced photographer, her product and people shots appear across the Internet.

Raised in Georgia and a graduate of Syracuse University in Upstate New York, Friedman resides with her family in Michigan.

Andrea Riley

Website: Happy Chaos

Twitter: @drewmark19

I’m just your average, ordinary gal…the middle child in a family of five kids. This year will mark my tenth wedding anniversary to an ornery, funny and wonderful man I’ve known since sixth grade. We have three children: 2 boys and a baby girl. I’ve always had an interest in computers and photography. Some day, I hope to find the time to go beyond amateur photography and use my computer skills to make my pictures even better!

By writing tutorials for I ♥ Faces, I’m forcing myself to get going on my progress towards that goal. I have been teaching special education at the middle school level for eleven years, and I’m still sane! (I think.) I also play piano for church and help out wherever needed in church programs. I’m the world’s worst house cleaner, and perhaps the most accomplished procrastinator ever!

You may be wondering how an amateur got to be a contributor? Two reasons: 1. I’m Angie’s sister and 2. I’m the only person Angie knows who owns Photoshop Elements which makes me the resident “expert”. It has been fun to learn and grow together as photographers on this amazing website!

Boybarian Dad

Website: Boybarian Photo

Twitter: @boybariandad

I am an on-location, (mostly) natural light photographer. I shoot with a Nikon d200 and a Nikon d70s. I love to find those diamonds in the rough - old brick, buildings with character, and vintage items that tell a story. I've always felt those old studio portraits look so unnatural... uncomfortable-looking subjects with awkward-looking back drops. My goal is to capture cities, nature and people as I see them - not as stiff, choreographed poses but in their natural surroundings.

My family and I live in Iowa where we homeschool our sons. I am a residential designer and my wife is a graphic designer.

Julie Rivera

Website: Julie Rivera Photography

I am a thirty something wife, mother, sister, friend and photographer. These titles didn't really happen in that order, but that is how I would like to imagine I prioritize my life (I say "like to" because many times the Photoshopping and photography push their way to number one...) I grew up in a Navy family, moving every two years or so, then I went to college, entered the Navy myself, served for over five years, married my husband, vowed to never again have a job I didn't enjoy, became a stay at home mom and finally started my photography business at the beginning of 2008.

To put this dream into perspective, when I was fresh out of college, I set up a mutual fund with the goal of earning enough money to have a darkroom and all the necessary equipment. Ten years later, I liquidated my fund and bought my digital darkroom and set up shop. I held fast to my word and I do not have a job I don't enjoy. I love photography. I love preserving a quirky moment, an everyday moment, an image that gets posted on the fridge, smudged with food and grease and still brings a smile every time you open the door for milk.

I want photography to be natural and relaxed. I do posed shots, because I know that is what Grandma likes, but I really love the rolling around on the ground in a wrestle match type session. I only shoot with natural light because I don't understand fancy lighting equipment and I am too cheap to buy it. :) Truth be told, I find it easier to set a child or family loose out of doors and see the interactions happen. I love my work and I am so glad I am able to share it with so many!

Rachel Durik

Website: Savor Photography

Blog: The Adventures of an American Mum

Here's my true confession: the reason I got into photography was so I could have beautiful pictures to post on my personal blog. Yep, that was the only reason. Most photographers grew up with the love of photography in their blood, they played with their parents cameras, they were always creative with their point and shoots before upgrading to a DSLR. I was none of that. I was a crappy picture taker with my point and shoot. I made learning photography a project for me and insisted that I learn as much about my camera as I possibly could. I hit the books hard, and I still do. So I think maybe creativity is more inherent, but the technical aspects of photography can be learned!

But as for the timeline, I got my first DSLR in February of 2008 and started my business the following November. And most days, I feel way out of my league and way over my head, but I love it. I am blessed beyond words to be able to do what I love as a living. I live in Eastern North Carolina and can be found at Savor Photographyand at my blog, The Adventures of an American Mum.

Dana Suggs

Website: From Chaos to Grace

My name is Dana Suggs and I am a wife, mother of 3, child-wrangler by day, photographer by night...or more precisely, evening-light. I have been an artist for many years, mostly oils, but also acrylic, watercolor, and pencils. As our family grew, I found less and less time to paint and sketch, but my artistic eye never stopped capturing the scene I wanted to paint. I figured out a few years ago that by using digital photography, I can have that almost-instant satisfaction of seeing what was in my minds' eye, come to life. Instead of oil, I use Photoshop, instead of a brush, I use my camera, a Nikon D90. I was lucky enough to have a great photography group that has helped me learn and grow. I love bold color and contrasted black and whites. I love the photos that evoke emotion and make you long for the story behind the photo. My passion is shooting worship services and my goal is Missions photography.

Jessica Paige
Website: The Lost Lens Cap

I am a wife to a wonderful man, mom to a brood of five, and a small business owner carefully trying to balance my time between my family, business and 5D. My photography journey began in 2007 when I purchased my first DSLR. Once I saw the world from behind the lens, there was no turning back! My children were and continue to be my biggest inspiration. I want to capture moments of their life as I see them, my own little way of freezing time!

I began shooting in Manual RAW in April 2009 after taking an online course. It was truly the turning point in my photography journey that gave the push I needed to get out of my comfort zone and develop my photography style. Currently, I am a hobbiest in the transition of turning professional. I am continually looking for opportunities to stretch myself and improve my skills. I process my photos in Lightroom and Photoshop CS4. I adore natural light photography and love sun flare... I can't get enough! I enjoy so many different styles and feel that my own photography is fairly diverse, but I find that I am constantly drawn to the whimsy and vintage styles.

My Camera Bag contains my beloved Canon 5D and two lenses, the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 50mm f.

Miss B

Web Sites: The Blah, Blah, Blahg & The Bright Side Project

Miss B, a stylish photography loving designer/photoshop guru, is now the newest member of the I ♥ Faces team!! We are super excited and looking forward to her Fix-It Friday contributions! You can find her cool free photoshop brushes and nifty designs on her blog, The Blah, Blah, Blahg or giving away beautiful things everyday at The Bright Side Project.

Keli Hoskins

Website: Kidnapped by Suburbia
Twitter: @keli_h

I've loved taking pictures for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until 2006 when I got my first DSLR that I really started getting interested in all of the ins and outs of photography. I read a manual or two and then parked that puppy in auto-mode. For a couple of years, I focused (ha! get it?) on the beauty around me but didn't pay attention to technique or processing. It wasn't until I really delved into Flickr that I realized I didn't know squat. After a couple of online photography courses and a baby step progression out of auto mode, I began shooting in full manual mode in September 2009. 

I feel like my photography can be described as full of life and love. My inspiration is most definitely my two-year old daughter, who is non-stop energy and curiosity. Like her, I like to have fun and experiment and go beyond the norm with my images. You may even find me in the middle of the woods wearing a tafetta dress and chucks with my daughter dressed up like a spider {see above}.

At the end of the day, I'm just a mom with a camera trying to make our memories last a little bit longer. When I'm not behind the camera, you can find me blogging at Kidnapped by Suburbia. And when I am behind the camera, you will find me holding an Olympus E-520, the 14-45mm it came with, or the 40-150mm that I use for scenic road trips and park photo shoots, or the lens that I practically put under my pillow every night - the 50mm f/2.0. 

Marshall Garlington

Website: FX Mixer

Twitter: @fxmixer

My photographic journey began in May of 2005 when my wife and I bought a digital SLR. We wanted something that could keep up with our kids and the point and shoots we had tried didn't cut it. I began experimenting with all the settings and realized why images had never really turned out the way I wanted them before. Here was all the control that I never knew was missing. Fast forward four years and I'm on my second digital SLR, have a bunch of lenses, shoot almost everything in manual, and realize with great excitement each day how much more there is to learn!