In this interview, Vickie tells us how she loves to capture people engaged in small special moments, how she’s inspired by those who take the time to tell their stories, and also gives us a few hints about her next photo book project, coming soon to Shutterfly Gallery.
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Tell us about yourself
I live in the midwest and am the mother of six children, ranging in age from 4 years to 29! I am very interested in archiving and organizing family history. Shutterfly books have really helped me to do just that. It is my intent to create an accurate, historical family history book for each of my children, one that they would be proud to pass on to their own children. I also want my books to be the foundation for building upon as future generations live their lives.
What are your favorite images to capture and why?
I love capturing shots where people are doing things. They might be studying a flower, reading a book, or looking at someone they love. Those are the photos that end up being my favorites because the expressions are so genuine.
Who and what inspires you?
I am inspired by anyone who has a story to tell and will take the time to tell it! I like to tell stories that fill in the missing pieces. Giving the background story to a photo makes it that much more interesting. Just knowing why, where and when the picture was taken and especially who took it is so important! So many times, we view group photos and comment that a very special person is missing from the group. In reality, that missing person isn’t missing at all because they actually snapped that special moment in time! You can look at each person in the photo and know who they were looking at when it was taken. I find that to be very comforting and special! Storytelling for me is made better when you can match up those stories with photos that corroborate each other. It makes the story even that much more real when you can join it with a photo of the experience.
What’s your next photo book project?
Aside from collating my family photobooks, I have an idea to put together photos from a recent “field trip” my daughter and I took. It’s only at the beginning stages, so I’m going to keeps my lips sealed on this one for a bit.
What are some of your favorite Gallery photo books and why?
My favorite photo books to view in the Gallery are the ones in the Tribute category. People are so honest in creating tribute books that I get lost in them and have to view all of them. I love meeting people and the books in this category seem to delve deeply into who a person is or was. I also love books featuring vintage photos of generations long gone and then the families that came from them. It’s very neat when you find a book that begins with a smudgy sepia toned antique baby photo and ends with a crisp, full color, and smiling new child!
For more information on Vickie P., check out her Shutterfly Share site.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Great article Vickie! So many inspiring and creative tips. I loved it. I knew you had 6 kids but didn’t realize your oldest is 29. You look like you are in your 20’s. So young and so full of life. I’m sure Sage provides so much entertainment for you, she really is a smart cookie. I LOVE all your vintage photographs. Brings me back to the good ol’ days of childhood.
I can’t wait to view more of your books and get more tips from you. Your share site is truly outstanding.
Joanna T
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
August 5th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Vickie–
Your interpretation of the missing loved one brought a tear to my eye. My father…who passed…when I was nine was never in very many pictures. He was the one always taking my picture or filming me. Everywhere we went, every family event. Just for the fact he took the time to take the pictures of my mother and I, but put them in albums too. I remember he had a love of history too and I think that is where I got the love of taking pictures. Your photoboth albums are some of the most unquie books that have it all….family,history and storytelling.
Ann Abbott
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
August 5th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Vickie,
Your albums are breathtaking, they are so good. I have not got a chance to look at all of them but I love your books, your site, and look forward to getting to know you better. You are such a talented individual and look forward to continuing to be inspired by your work.
TammyM5
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
August 6th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Vickie- I haven’t looked at your books yet but I loved your interview. I love family history as well and currently I am working on my EXTENSIVE family tree! Just bought Reunion9 which is a family tree program for Macs and I am IN LOVE! I also am aspiring to create an ancestry album. Will be bringing it to the next family reunion we will be having in a year. I am hoping people will be inspired and will want to buy a copy for themselves. Lots of ideas, so little time! Thanks for sharing and can’t wait to check out your books!
Niki
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
August 6th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Inspiring! I love your pictures and photobooks. I don’t tell stories much, and I let the pictures do the talking for me but someday I will follow your lead. My goal is to make some family tree albums (maybe next year!) And um… SIX children!? Quite impressive in itself! I’ll see ya around the gallery and visit your page again soon!
Brayden’s Mom :o)
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
September 26th, 2008 at 5:25 am
Awesome interview. Your books are so wonderful. I loved learning more about you and where you draw your inspiration. I too can’t believe you have a child older than you look! Amazing. You are such an inspiration and I love looking at your creative genius.
Thank you for sharing and inspiring!
Kelli K
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
September 27th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Your comments are so sweet. Thank you so much. You are inspiring me to get going on more projects! I feel like I really must delve into the digi scrapping techniques at this point. It will bring me to a new level in Shutterfly book making that I have been yearning to grasp.
Thank YOU for inspiring me to do this!
VickieP1
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
September 28th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Vickie,
What a great interview and I have to agree I never thought about all the 1000s of photos i’ve taken of my family and I’m not in one of them. My love of taking photos of my children outways my thoughts of making sure I’m in some of them as well but in reality I guess I am. I’m behind the camera capturing every moment of their lives. whether simply playing or capturing their first lost tooth. Thanks for allowing me to see my photos in a whole different way. I’m like you wanting to learn digi scrapping to take me to the next level in Shutterfly books! Thanks for sharing what inspires you!
CynthiaY2
Shutterfly Gallery Guru