Meet Gabrielle Schmidt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Schmidt.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I started my journey as a photographer in 2013 when I went on a mission’s trip to Kona and Thailand that was based in photojournalism and media. That was the first time I picked up a DSLR and I took some classes during the training phase of that trip on photography. During that time, I fell in love with the way that photos can tell a story and invoke emotions.

It wasn’t until a couple of years after my trip, in 2015, when I began to really pursue photography. I got married and our wedding photographer captured the day in such a beautiful and unique way. A huge part of what made it so unique is because it was shot on medium format film. That’s when I realized that I wanted to use the incredible medium of film photography to capture and portray the beauty I see in this world.

I purchased my medium format camera in late 2015 and from there I really started pursuing portrait and wedding photography. I love doing portraits and capturing memories for other people but after a while I was craving some more freedom to express myself and to photograph the things around me that speak to me. This has led me to lean more towards photographing landscapes, wildlife, and travel photography over the past year. I still really love shooting portraits but there’s something about photographing all of the amazing nature and places in this world that just fills my soul up!

Please tell us about your art.
I am a film photographer. I shoot on a medium format film camera called a Contax 645 and my favorite film to use is Fuji400h. After my photoshoots I send my film to an incredible film lab in California, Richard Photo Lab. They develop and scan my images and send them back to me. I shoot film because it truly captures light and color in such a dreamy and authentic way.

Film also helps me feel so connected to my subjects, my images and my art. I think that connection to my photos is a huge part of what brings my photos to life. When I am shooting digital I tend to overshoot but with film it forces me to slow down and really put thought and planning into the images I am going to capture because I only have 16 photos per roll of film and each image costs a couple of dollars to develop. The thing I really want to portray through my imagery is the beauty that is found all around us, not just in the epic landscapes and Instagram worthy locations but also in the simple things. The small details of day to day life that are so often overlooked.

I want my images to cause people to slow down and find that beauty and light that is all around them. When photographing portraits, I also strive to not only capture an image but the emotion of the moment. Whether it is the joy between a mother and her child or the intimacy of an almost kiss between a couple, I want my clients to look back at their photos and feel what they were feeling in that exact moment that it was captured.

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I do think that the role of artists has changed in the world today. With social media we have the ability to share our art with so many more people than was possible for artists in the past. I believe that with all of the things that are going on in the world people are desperately seeking out something deeper and beautiful to connect with. It is more important now than ever to use your art to fully and authentically show up in the world, which will mean so many things for each artist.

In my role as an artist I feel so grateful to get to produce beautiful images that remind people of the goodness and immense beauty that is in and all around them. I am an incredibly sensitive person who feels things very deeply so it is inevitable for the things that are going on around in the world to affect me on a personal level but when it comes to the photos I capture I am still always trying to capture the radiance and the charm in things rather than focusing on the darkness. I want my photos to always bring a sense of joy, wonder, adventure, and gratitude to my viewers despite what’s going on in the world.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, or you can visit my website to see my work! You can support my work by visiting my etsy shop and purchasing prints of my photos (or paintings, as I am an abstract painter as well). You can also reach out to book a portrait photo session! The last way that you can support my work if you do not need to book a session or purchase beautiful art for your home is by following me on Instagram and commenting and connecting with me there!

Instagram: @gabrielleedonaphoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GESphotography
Website: www.gabrielleedonaphoto.com
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSchmidtsStudio

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gabrielleedonaphoto.com
• Email: hello@gabrielleedonaphoto.com
• Instagram: @gabrielleedonaphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GESphotography
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSchmidtsStudio

Image Credit:
All photos taken by myself (photo of me was taken by husband, Richard Schmidt, who is also a photographer).

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