When I think of dreamy, light-filled senior portraits, I automatically think of Meg Borders!  Her photos are amazing!  The way she uses light to her advantage and makes every senior look like she is bathed in beautiful sun makes her photos unique.

Sometimes, as photographers, it is easy to get “scared” of the sun.  But seeing Meg’s images will make you want to embrace the sun and figure out how to play with it, use it and love it!

I had the pleasure of interviewing Meg about her work and here is what she had to say…

Tell me a little about you….where are you from?  married?  kids?  ages?

 I was born and raised in the great Pacific Northwest. My husband I moved away for college and a two-year adventure in Los Angeles, but are now back in Eastern Washington to stay. I am married to an incredibly supporting, loving, and hunky husband named Tyler and have two little Princesses, Eden and Avey who are four and two respectively. They light up my world and are the reason why I got into this craft in the first place.

How did you get into photography?

I started shooting four years ago when my daughter was born. I knew I wanted to capture every single moment of her life and freeze it in time. I picked up my first DSLR and decided that I was going to master it. I wanted to learn all there was to know about photography. That started a year-long journey: online tutorials, trial and error, reading books, spending hours upon hours as a student, and talking with other photogs. I basically gave myself an education. I think that was a differentiator in my journey—I didn’t sell an image professionally until I understood the science of light and the equipment I had.

Any formal training?

I have no formal training and am completely self-taught.

How long have you been in the photography business?

I’ve been in business for three years and made many mistakes along the way; however, am very happy with where my business is at now. It took a lot of discovery, falling down and getting back up, and I am still learning every day.

How would you describe your photography style?

I am a natural light portrait photographer. I’ve tried studio lighting, but the sun is my best partner.  I am such a romantic and a dreamer, I feel like my style reflects that. My style is light, dreamy, romantic and “storybook”—I try to capture a sense of fairytale imagination that we lose as we “grow up.”  I still believe in castles, princes, and white horses! My work seeks out that innocent, magical quality in us.

Who or what inspires you as a photographer?

When I am looking for inspiration I often look internally. I envision things, mostly while driving in the car (my only time to think straight as a mother of two little ones). I find a way to capture them in real life whether it be a scene, a pose, or a lighting scenario. I like to have a final image in my head before I even start a shoot.

How long have you been photographing seniors?

I’ve been photographing seniors since I first started my business and quickly realized it was a huge passion of mine.

How did you get into the senior market?

I’ve been shooting more senior this year than the last two years combined. I really believe my Senior Rep Program had a lot do with that. I believe having a solid Senior Rep Program is vital to becoming a contender in your local senior market.

Do you have a specific senior season?  If so, when?

My season starts in the early spring with my senior rep program and senior sessions start filling my calendar from July through October.

 What is your favorite thing about photographing seniors?

 I am passionate about the self-esteem of women and the pressures they face in today’s society. I want to show young women a new perspective of who they are, and to see themselves in a way they never have.

The media has morphed and distorted the standard of what beauty is and made it something that is unattainable. It’s a fraud. As photographers we know how easy it is to liquify someone, smooth their skin, and get rid of imperfections. We can draw on six pack abs in a matter of minutes.

There is nothing cooler to me than when I show a senior girl her photos for the first time (even if its on the back my camera) and you see their eyes light up and you watch their self-confidence rise. I love showing women their true beauty. In the end it isn’t the 8×10 or 20×30 canvas I sell them, its self-discovery.

What are some tips you can share with other photographers who want to get into the senior market?

Start with quality, solid Senior Reps. Don’t take just anyone, but be picky and choosy about who is going to represent your brand most accurately. Remember, who you shoot defines your business. Photographing ballerinas versus biker chicks will have a major impact on your brand; neither one is wrong, but it comes down to who you are and what you choose to reflect.

What are your most popular senior products?

Aside from gift prints I would say my hottest add on items right now are my Boutique Senior Announcements (press printed and die cut), along with 411 cards, and the Senior Slideshow.

Your photos are so filled with light and warmth!  How do you look for the perfect light for each session?

Because this is my favorite light I only schedule sessions during the “golden hour,” two hours before sunset. I am a sucker for great light, so even if a location is beautiful, if it doesn’t have dynamite light, you probably won’t see me use it again. As soon as I arrive at a location I am always looking for where the sun is falling just the right way. I have learned to be a “light-hunter” and will drag my clients into bug-filled brush, or dirty trenches if that’s what it takes to find my light.

How do you create that wonderful sun-kissed glow that is so representative of your work?

I often get asked the question “what actions do you use?” It is a funny question because the way my photo turns out has very little do with an action I may have used, if I had even used one at all in the course of processing the photo.

The glow you are seeing in my work has 90% to do with the lighting of the photo.  Photoshop should be used like makeup. It should enhance the natural beauty of the photo and bring it to the next level, not make it look like something it wasn’t to begin with.

What is in your camera bag?

I shoot with a Nikon D700 and prime lenses. In my camera bag you will also find candy (I have a major sweet tooth), a headband (for getting hair out of my face while shooting), and probably some lip gloss (not sure why, I always seem to find my missing lip glosses there).

What is your favorite lens?

My favorite lens is probably my 85mm 1.4, but my 50mm 1.4 has been on my camera an awful lot more than usual lately.

Favorite time of day to shoot?

The golden hour. Love me some delicious light.

 What has been your most successful marketing tool?

Facebook and word-of-mouth have been the prime source of marketing in my business. Top-notch customer service and selling the experience of custom photography has gained me an expanding word of mouth customer base.