Interview with Wedding and Fashion Photographer Scarlett Lillian

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moi01-thumb Interview with Wedding and Fashion Photographer Scarlett Lillian Interviews Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions

I am so excited today to bring you an interview with an extraordinary photographer. She is bright, fun, colorful and full of life. Welcome Scarlett Lillian to the MCP Blog.

I was 1st introduced to Scarlett when she purchased actions from me last year.  She and I, unfortunately, had cancer in common too (her father, my father in law).  We kept in touch and I admire her spirit and style – and most of all her zest for life.

I hope you will enjoy learning more about her journey and photography.

Please take the take time to comment here and let us know what you inspires you or hits home for you from her interview.  Scarlett has agreed to answer 10 questions from readers too!  So if you have a question for her, ask away.  I will post her answers to the 10 questions she chooses in approximately a week from now.  Anything goes…

You can visit her blog by clicking on her logo below.

logo Interview with Wedding and Fashion Photographer Scarlett Lillian Interviews Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions

Tell us about how you got started in photography? And what was the defining moment(s) where you knew this was what you were meant to do?

I joke that I have creative A.D.D. because so many things interest me.  But what led to becoming a photographer first started with a love of scrapbooking.  In high school and college, I was obsessed with documenting my life with friends and family and creating these elaborate scrapbooks which then led to a major in magazine journalism because I saw it as an advanced form of scrapbooking.  I worked for a little bit in journalism, then graphic design where I learned Photoshop long before I knew how to take a professional picture.

While doing design, I entered that phase where my girlfriends started getting married, but they already had photographers, so instead I filmed their weddings and got into the wedding industry first by doing videography.  After a year, I started becoming obsessed with blog stalking a lot of photographers and really felt my heart pulling more to photography than videography, so I decided to get my first SLR camera and see if I was any good at it.  After having the camera a week, I realized how much I love love loved photography and decided to make the switch and go for it!

I don’t know if I ever had a specific defining moment that confirmed this is what I was meant to do, but it’s more like every time I receive that email after a wedding with the bride gushing about how much she loves her photos, those are the moments that continue to confirm why I do what I do and I feel so blessed to have the honor of being a photographer.

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When you were a little girl (let’s say between 5-10 years old), what did you want to be when you “grew up?”

LOL, well, from 5-10 years old, definitely a movie star.  I was really active in the drama club and school plays.  Then in high school we had to write a fake article for a Time magazine cover on where we would be in 5 years.  My article was about how I was the first billionaire supermodel.  But the older I got, the more stage fright I got and I realized I much more prefer to be behind the camera now and love helping other women feel like a supermodel in front of my camera.

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What photographers inspire you the most?

Oh gosh, so many. Now that my blog world knows that I’m dating someone special, I continue to get asked the question who my wedding photographer is going to be. I have no clue! There are so many I love for different reasons.

Mike Steelman just took some beautiful pictures of us, Jasmine Star is the kind of person I would want around me on my wedding day, Carlos Baez rocks a high fashion infused style to his wedding photography, Jenna Walker and her sister Katie are amazing at documenting those candid moments that make you cry just looking at their photos, Kelly Moore does sweet stuff with lighting, bobbi+mike’s stuff is juicy with color popping like I like to do with my own photos, and Jessica Claire is just amazing at what she does period. I could go on and have so many wedding photographer friends who I continue to be inspired by all the time.

But I also love looking at what non-wedding photographers are doing like Brooke Pifer or Nigel Barker.

How would you define your style of photography and what makes you stand out as a photographer?

Stylish, passionate and glamorous are the three words always going through my mind when I shoot.  As far as what makes me stand out, ha, well, the one thing I always hear is the way I edit my photos with popping the colors.  I love to overexpose and oversaturate my stuff.  Having a graphic design background, editing is where I truly feel like the artist.

What type of photography do you most enjoy and why?

Fashion photography definitely!  I don’t really look at wedding magazines because I’m always flipping through fashion magazines for inspiration on lighting and posing and attitude.

Describe a typical day in the life of Scarlett Lillian?

Ha.  Well, I love to start my day with quiet time reading my Bible and writing in my prayer journal before my computer sucks me in the rest of the day.  Then it’s a lot of emailing and editing and more email and editing.  And trying to remember to take out my dog every now and then in the meantime!

I do mostly business stuff during the day like customer service, bookkeeping, etc, and at night when things slow down is when I do a lot of the creative side of things.  Then my day ends with getting tucked into bed via video chat from my long distance love.

Nikon or Canon? Primes or Zooms? Mac or PC? iPhone or Blackberry? Lightroom or Photoshop?

Canon definitely.  Primes and zooms.  Mac, duh.  iPhone, even though I have a love hate relationship with it right now and AT&T’s less bars in less places.  🙂  And Bridge for batch editing with a little Photoshop like touch ups and using my wonderful MCP Blog It Board collage actions for my blog!

Describe your dream location to do a photo shoot?

PARIS!  It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little girl to go there.  The romance, the fashion, the architecture.  Love it!  And I would love love love to host a workshop there too.  I’m currently brainstorming about making that one happen!  🙂

Who in this world would you most like to photograph?

Oh wow.  As obsessed with celebrities that I am, I feel like I should answer with someone famous.  But honestly, I’ve been thinking lately, I can’t wait to be a mom with a camera and document my kids as they grow up… whenever that day comes.  My poodle is tired of modeling.  ha!

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Can you share your most treasured photograph with us and tell us why?

It was a picture I took before I knew anything about photography.  I had a point and shoot on a family trip to Nashville with my parents.  When we visited the old Ryman theater, my dad completely lit up.  He had always wanted to visit that place because as a kid he used to listen to the radio with his grandparents, all listening to the concerts being held in the famous Ryman theater.  So then when we there, he stood under a sign for the 1887 Confederate Gallery and held his hands up like his heart was home.  He had such a strong passion for the confederacy in the Civil War and his Southern roots.

At the time I just laughed at him and rolled my eyes the way daughters do at their dads being silly, but now, after losing him to cancer this year, it has become my favorite picture.  It’s how I like to remember him best in all his finest glory.  (The picture can be taking from my blog here:

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Can you tell us something about you that nobody knows?

LOL, I feel like I put so much of myself on my blog that I can’t think of anything to answer.  I definitely wear my heart on my sleeve and believe in keeping it real, in the good times and even the bad.  I’ve found that my clients really appreciate the authenticity and find it relatable and often tell me, sure they like my photography, but they are hiring me because of the person I am.  I can’t think of a better compliment.  I feel so blessed that so many out there embrace my heart.

You mentioned that you love using the MCP Magic Blog It Boards to collage for your blog.  Tell us more when you use them and share a few favorites please.

I always use them to do a collage of the photographers who come to spend a day with me:

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I always use it for wedding details:

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And documenting the wedding:

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And I love using it for fashion spreads:

lynsiglam02-thumb Interview with Wedding and Fashion Photographer Scarlett Lillian Interviews Lightroom Tips Photoshop Actions

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No Comments

  1. Kim on May 20, 2009 at 9:07 am

    This was a wonderful interview.. Scarlett’s blog is now in my reader.. Her work is amazing..thank you Jodi for introducing her ..

  2. Sarah Wellmeier on May 20, 2009 at 9:44 am

    LOVE ME some Scarlett….she was one of the first photog’s I started following:)

  3. Michelle H on May 20, 2009 at 10:08 am

    Thanks for introducing us! Scarlett, my question for you is on lens flare… how do you make it happen? I’m always pleasantly surprised when it “happens” but I’d love to know how to create an image with PURPOSEFUL lens flare! 🙂

  4. Thresha on May 20, 2009 at 10:14 am

    Great interview and what a beautiful picture and story of her dad!

  5. Sheila Carson Photography on May 20, 2009 at 10:49 am

    I love the way you overexpose and over saturate your photographs! I am in love with color that pops. Can you share some of you editing techniques with us? How do you achieve that colorful look?

  6. Tira J on May 20, 2009 at 11:41 am

    Thank you Scarlett, for being so transparent here and on your blog. I appreciate you!! And thanks Jodi for having her here on your blog and for your awesome products you create for us. 🙂

  7. Erica Larson on May 20, 2009 at 11:42 am

    Hey Scarlett! It’s so good to see you on here 🙂 I hope you are doing good!

  8. Scarlett Lillian on May 20, 2009 at 11:51 am

    Thanks Jodi for a great interview! I look forward to answering all your questions! 🙂

  9. Katrina Wheeler on May 20, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    I LOVE Scarlett!! I subscribe to her blog! I have a question for her, I really admire you, and your open display of your faith. I am a christian and love to see how much you honor god with your life, even in a world where people are so critical of that. My question is, what would you recommend doing that could get my name out there to people about my business? I just move to Georgia from California and so I have zero clients now. I have been looking for photographers to second or assist under to get me in the loop in this area but I haven’t found any. Or would you recommend a workshop? I would love to do a shoot w/ scarlett day, but I can’t afford that unfortunately. My other question is what is your favorite detail shot lens? Looks like a 1.2?

  10. Kate Gass on May 20, 2009 at 1:46 pm

    Thanks so much for the interview! It’s great to see how she uses your actions.

  11. Judie Zevack on May 20, 2009 at 1:47 pm

    Hi Jodi!! Thanks for sharing this interview. My question to Scarlett is being that I am a novice at photography ( I just got a Canon Digital Rebel XSI) would you recommend I find a photography mentor or attend some classes?

  12. Jody on May 21, 2009 at 11:10 am

    Hi Scarlett (LOVE your name and it fits you so well!), I was wondering how you get your clients to relax and pose? Or do they pose? I’m just starting out, but find I get so nervous and flustered with just my friends! Did it take you a while to feel comfortable? Are there any books/videos/etc. you recommend for posing? I see that you get ideas from magazines which I think is great. What do you think of those posing cards you download? (Thanks Jodi for the great interview!)

  13. Jody on May 21, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    (LOL. Jodi I missed your blog post below about posing! Duh.)

  14. Lenara Funk on May 21, 2009 at 1:41 pm

    I look at her blog everyday,.. and everytime I can learn something with her. She is awsome!My questions is,..what kind of software do you use for the slideshows? Any tricks or tips you want to give?thanks.

  15. Dana Goodson on May 24, 2009 at 7:11 am

    Great interview. As always, thanks for sharing Scarlett. :o)

  16. Michelle of Jamie and Michelle Photography on May 26, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    The images are fantastic! I, too, am a huge fan of bobbi+mike 🙂 and now a fan of Scarlett Lillian. As someone still pretty new to the wedding photography industry, I was wondering how do you find time to get all of the great portraits throughout the wedding day? We just had a wedding on Sunday, where we discussed ahead of time that we would do bride/bridesmaid pictures at 4, when the ceremony was at 5. The bridesmaids weren’t even ready at 5 and the ceremony of course started late. Then, after the ceremony, everyone was so antsy to go party (especially the groom), so we could only get a few shots. So, yeah, just wondering how you find time throughout the day to get all these awesome shots and how you encourage your bridal parties to move along when getting ready 🙂

  17. meg manion silliker on May 27, 2009 at 7:34 am

    what a stunning talent you are!! i am so happy to have been introduced to you. thank you jodi. here’s my question. you can only use one lens…..which one do you choose?

  18. Sara on May 27, 2009 at 7:51 am

    Thank you for another great blog Jodi! I second Meg’s question. I am shooting my first wedding this fall and I have been struggling with which lens would be the best for the wider group shots. If you could only pick one, what would you reccomend?

  19. jim mcginnis on July 3, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    The information you offer here is great. The images are incredible as well. Thanks for all the advice.

  20. Vegas Wedding Photographers - FogartyFOTO on February 25, 2011 at 10:54 pm

    So much color and spunk and fun! You rock it!!!!

  21. somatechcanada on September 16, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    Please tell me that youre going to keep this up! Its so great and so important. I cant wait to read far more from you. I just really feel like you know so very much and know how to make people listen to what you have to say. This blog is just also cool to become missed. Great things, really. Please, PLEASE keep it up! At the same time I would suggest to review this article – http://somameridiafr.blogspot.com/

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