Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Burton.
Valerie, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have always had a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember. Maybe it had something to do with my dad being into photography when I was younger. Although I cannot quite recall my younger years, I do have black and white photographs that my dad took and printed out himself. So, it feels like I remember. I think thats why I’ve always loved photos and photography…. the lasting memories.
I had several opportunities in the past years to learn more about photography, one being from my dad. I also worked for a photographer doing hair and make up several years ago and even did some modeling for them on occasion so I know what its like first hand being on the other side of the camera as well. I also attempted photography in high school, and I loved the class but struggled with the whole “triangle” concept of learning about apertures, f-stops, and ISO settings. I honestly just didn’t make the effort, and I just wanted to take pictures but didn’t want to take the time to actually understand the camera. I had an eye for taking pictures but wasn’t getting the results I always wanted by just pressing the shutter button and letting the camera make all the decisions for me. So about six years ago I decided to really learn my camera and finally turn that dial to manual. One day it all just clicked… the triangle that is, it made sense and was really not as difficult as I thought. I tend to over think things and make them more difficult sometimes. Since then I’ve taken a few classes and haven’t stopped learning since. I have two beautiful daughters who are great models for me when I want to try out something new. They also make pretty good assistants when I need an extra hand at weddings or other events.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I capture important times in peoples lives, special occasions, life-changing events, new beginnings and even the saddest days for some. I do volunteer from time to time at the local hospitals when parents are faced with saying good-bye to their ill babies. It’s not easy and not everyone is up for the heartbreak that you also experience, but I know how much some of these families appreciate having those photos as it will be the only professional photos they will ever have of their little ones. As a photographer, there are times that you are more involved in other peoples lives than even some of their closest friends or family. For me, it’s an honor to be part of those moments and photograph them, so they have those memories to look back on.
I love being creative and get to do that in several ways with photography. I love setting up different themes for in-studio cake smash sessions, coming up with new props, finding new locations and then giving people a lasting memory of it. There are many different styles of photographers out there, and some are more defined than others. My social media didn’t have a nice consistent look to it like many others do, and it bothered me. I felt like my photos and social media needed to look like all the others did. When I decided to turn my hobby and passion into a business, I felt some pressure to define my style as a photographer, and I’ve finally taken that pressure off of myself and realized its okay to have several styles and specialties. I realized that after a client told me the exact reason why she hired me was because of my versatile style. I like dark, and moody photos and I also like light and airy photos. I usually will ask my clients their preference, what they are wanting, is there anything particular they want and to look through my portfolios before hiring me. My end goal is the same as theirs, to be happy with their photos. I’m also not limiting myself to just Weddings or Newborns because I enjoy taking pictures of all people.
I am very fortunate that I get to not only take photos in some beautiful locations here in Arizona, but I also travel frequently to Puerto Peñasco Mexico which has some of the nicest beaches and sunsets just as beautiful as Arizona except over the ocean. I love the outdoors and natural light, although using artificial light really lets you get creative.
I really want to encourage those who are waiting for the perfect time to get those pictures taken to just do it now. Many people I talk to usually are wanting to accomplish something like weight loss first; then they will take family photos. Don’t wait. My advice is you can always take photos again, and you will love having your before photos to look back at all that much more. I would love to see more people actually print out their pictures and hang them on their walls. This is a goal of mine… to have all my photography sessions include some kind of prints, along with the digitals. I try to encourage all my clients to get prints whether through me or another vendor. PRINT OUT YOUR PHOTOS 🙂
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
Well, I think for Photographers it has become mostly easier but also a little harder just because there are so many of us now. You really have to keep those creative juices flowing to stand out from the many other great photographers out there. I’ve learned that being a good photographer is a combination of an artistic eye, camera skills, photoshop skills and communication skills. As with any successful business it also takes good work ethics to succeed. With the technology we have these days it’s become easier. I’m not worried about taking 24 photos and them all turning out too dark etc. and wasting film. Now I can take 240 until I get it right and see the results immediately. I may or may not have done that in the beginning lol. It does, however, make it much easier to learn when you can see results right away, make adjustments, and see more results. Being able to share photos with friends and family is also easier thanks to social media and really helps me be able to share my art and love of photography with so many. Being a photographer in Phoenix and the surrounding areas is awesome as far as support and help. We have so many different groups and communities that are always so supportive and helpful to one another.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My work can be seen on my website www.ValerieBurtonPhotography.com and of course Instagram and Facebook as well. My most current work/photos are usually on my IG account.
You don’t necessarily have to hire me to support my work, although that is one way. Just a simple like on my social media pages or sharing my information would be appreciated. I also have a “reviews” section on my Facebook page where past clients can show their support.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ValerieBurtonPhotography.com
- Phone: 602-488-5238
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/valerieburtonphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valerieburtonphotography/
Image Credit:
Valerie Burton
Trevor Dayley – Personal photo
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