Interview with Photographer Drew Bittel

We are so pleased to welcome Drew Bittel as our Guest Photographer Judge this week.  She is a wedding and portrait photographer from Orange County, California and her work is fun, innovative, vivid and inspiring to see!

Drew writes: Hi! I’m Drew and I’m a wedding and portrait photographer based out of Orange County, California. I am married to my best friend, Chuck, and am the mom to my crazy and rambunctious 2 1/2 year old son, Brayden (my most favorite photography subject), and my fur baby, Hauggy. I’m also the author of the Mom*tog’s UNmanual and UNposing Guide.

Drew’s Photography Journey: I have always loved photography, but it wasn’t until after seeing my own wedding photos 5 years ago that I bought my first Digital SLR. I loved how when I looked at my wedding photos I could remember the exact feeling I had when they were taken. I wanted to do that for other people. At first it was a dream. I never imagined that I could be a photographer and actually make a living doing what I loved. I worked full time while immersing myself in photography. I second shot with other photographers (some great, some not so much) and learned what to do and what not to do. I took every single job that came my way and forced my friends to let me take their pictures. I am totally self taught besides a few workshops here and there. After a year and a half, I was able to quit my full time job! The dream has become reality and I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life!

A Few of Drew’s Favorite Face Photos:

This is the very first picture that my son let me take of him. He was 3 weeks old. Every other time I tried he would just cry and cry until I gave up. That day was a very warm March day and he fell asleep on my bed. Right before I snapped this picture my dog, Hauggy, jumped up and laid down next to him. This is my all time favorite picture.

I shot this couple’s wedding when I was 37 weeks pregnant. It was my last wedding I shot before I had my son. And now they are having a baby! I love when wedding clients come back to me to shoot other important events in their life. It’s the ultimate compliment.

My favorite shoots are the shoots when my clients really trust me and will help implement my crazy idea. Like bringing a bed into the middle of a field or laying on a burnt tree (which broke while she was laying on it!). Anything for the shot!

This shoot was really special.  This family had been trying to bring home their adopted son from Haiti for 3 years.  The mom and youngest daughter happened to be visiting Kembe during the big earthquake earlier this year.  They were able to get out, but had to leave Kembe behind.  It was a heart wrenching story, but one with a very happy ending.  We did this shoot a couple of weeks after Kembe arrived home in the US.  The sign really sums up this family.

Maternity sessions are my favorite. I love the look on this moms face.

Fun Q&A with Drew:

• What do you love most about capturing faces?  I love to tell my clients story. I love getting to know them and what makes them unique. My hope is that I can capture what that family or couple loves most about one another at that point in their lives.
• What do you find most difficult about capturing faces? Getting people to relax and be themselves in front of the camera. Pictures can be stressful for a lot of people, but I want to show them that it doesn’t have to be. It can be a lot of fun! I reassure my clients that I will tell them if they are doing something that makes them look bad. I also always pay special attention to the women – make sure their hair is perfect, there’s no lipstick on the teeth, no bra straps showing. I go out of my way to let them know I am looking out for them. The biggest compliment that I can get from a client is that I made their session easy for them. That’s the whole goal!
• What was your most exciting photo shoot?  To be honest, every session is exciting for me! I love meeting new people and capturing the dynamic between them. I still get nervous for every shoot!
• Do you have a “most stressful” photography moment that you can share with us? While doing a shoot at Disneyland, I decided it was a good idea to get pictures of my clients riding Thunder Mountain. I put my brand, spanking new 16 – 35 lens on. I just got it the day before and it wasn’t even insured yet! While I was turned around shooting my clients on Thunder Mountain I must have pressed the lens release button (it’s a very bumpy ride!) and it came off the camera. I was so lucky that I caught it before it fell in between the train cars! It would have been super embarassing / expensive if it would have fell!

Drew’s Photography Equipment:
I shoot with the old school Canon 5D. My favorite lens and the one I use 90% of the time is the 50 1.2. Love that lens! The other lens I use the most on family shoots is the 16 – 35 2.8.

Find Drew Here:

• Website
• Blog
• Momtog (read tons of Helpful Hints here!)
• Facebook
• Twitter

Thank you so much for hanging out with us here at I Heart Faces this week Drew!  Please take a moment to welcome Drew as our Guest Photographer and, if you’d like, throw a couple of photography-related questions at her as well.  :)

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