Hi! I’m Lisa Rappa, a mom of two amazing kiddos…four if you count my two crazy dogs. I am guilty of being just a little photography obsessed, and there is definitely no shortage of photos of my own children. Outside of photography, I try to stay active and since I often work from home, I like get out of my house as often as I can. My personal goal this year is to travel more, so if you need a session in a state outside of Georgia, look me up!
A little more about Lisa: Lisa Rappa is an Atlanta based baby and family portrait photographer. The majority of her sessions focus on the early years of childhood starting with the newborn stage and she often has the privilege of capturing these babies and their families as they grow. Her passion for photography is equal to her love for working with kids, making this truly a dream job for her.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a photographer?
I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures and often had a camera (often a disposable one, ha!) with me throughout my high school and college years, but it wasn’t until I got my first DSLR (a Rebel T2i) in July of 2010 that I became immediately obsessed with digital photography and knew I wanted to learn as much as possible and work towards starting a business.
· When and how did you start out in photography?
In December 2010, I decided to pursue photography as a business. I did some portfolio building during the few months before then and later made it official with the business license, website, and Facebook page. I figured I’d see how it went before deciding if I would return to teaching and luckily I’m still getting to do it and still loving it!
· How would you describe your style?
Mostly natural and clean as far as processing goes. I know many of my clients want the “smiling at the camera” photos, but I enjoy capturing a lot of the in between moments too. My goal is for all of these moments to look and feel relaxed and genuine, even when some posing and direction is involved.
· What’s in your gear bag? (If you don’t want to list everything just tell us what brand.)
Canon 5d Mark II, 70-200mm 2.8, 35mm 1.4, and 50mm 1.2, 85mm 1.2 and, 580 ex II
One lens you can’t live without?
The Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS II is my go-to lens for all of my outdoor sessions. Definitely my MUST have.
· How did you know when the right time to start charging was?
After I did my portfolio building and had a few families approach me about sessions, I knew it was time to be compensated for the work I was doing, especially to be able to afford to keep doing it!
· How much did you charge for your first session and how much are you charging for the same type of session now?
At first I charged a $125 session fee and clients could choose between 10, 20, or 30 digital images after the session. The 30 images option was just $225. Eventually I realized this model made my income very unpredictable and truly was not enough for my business to be successful, so decided to go with an all-inclusive digital rate and now charge (starting at) $575 per full session, which includes 30 digital images. I do hope to add some more print package options, do some in-person reveals, etc. in the near future, but for now this is what has been working best for me and my busy schedule!
· How did you market yourself when you started out?
Referrals and Facebook …these are still how I get the majority of my business.
We are going to play a game…
Name the first person that comes to mind when you think of… Write down the first person, no cheating!!
· Newborn photographer: Me 🙂 OK, so maybe Keri Meyer’s name actually popped in my head first.
· Wedding photographer: Zach and Jody Gray
· Lifestyle photographer: M4H Photography
· Most inspirational person: Photographer – Brooke Shaden. Her style is of course so very different from my own and is beautifully unique in general. I am inspired by her creativity, openness, and confidence as an artist.
The author Elizabeth Gilbert inspires me so often with her wise words, which have truly helped me through some hard times (I’m so excited she’ll be at Click Away too!).
And in my personal life I’d have to say my children for obvious reasons; and my mom inspires me daily with her love and support. (Sorry, I totally cheated…couldn’t name just one!)
Name the first thing that comes to mind when you think of:
– Prop vendor: Little Boo Creations and Hippity Hoot Notions
– Photography Book: Zack Arias Photography Q&A
– Photography Blog: http://www.clickinmoms.com/blog
· Did you go to school for photography or were you self- taught? If self-taught, what helped you the most?
Self Taught…I Googled my heart out at first, and joined 365project.org, which really inspired me to learn more and push myself creatively. I eventually took some workshops to make sure I was truly understanding things correctly.
· What has been some of the hardest things to overcome in your business?
Self doubt. I don’t think many people realize how much photographers are putting their hearts out there for the world to see with each image they share. It took me a while to really believe in myself as a photographer and I still have moments where I question my abilities. At the same time, I hope I always do because it just pushes me to want to continue to grow even more.
· Do you have any tips for photographers just starting out? (Can be a business or a shooting tip… or any tip you’d like to give them).
I always say the most important thing is to believe in yourself and even when you have doubts don’t be afraid to just put yourself out there anyhow, face your fears, and do your thing!
My sessions are for my clients, but photography is very much something I also do for ME and I try to always remember that so I don’t lose my passion and what got me started in the first place. And always try to take some time to shoot just for you.
· If for some reason you couldn’t be a photographer what do you think you would be?
I was an elementary school teacher before I became a photographer, so I likely would go back to teaching, but I’m not totally sure. Whatever I did, it would probably involve working with kids though.
· What’s the best lesson in photography (business or shooting) that you’ve learned so far?
To not compare myself to everyone else and to just focus on my own personal growth.
· What are your thoughts on props-
I used to incorporate so many props in my sessions, but now bring them along for just a few options and as necessary. I enjoy focusing more on my subjects’ personalities than anything now, but they are definitely needed and helpful with the toddlers on the move and can always add some fun to a session! My newborn sessions have also gradually become less prop-based, but they do help with creating more variety for these too.
Find Lisa on the Web:
Website | Facebook | Workshops
