[music] [cell phone ringing]
[inaudible]
[cell phone continues ringing]
Hello?
MARIA: Hi Lizzy, it's Maria from B&H!
I heard you were speaking at OPTIC this year, and I'd figured I'd introduce it to the audience.
Do you have time for 21 questions?
Well, sure! Yeah, definitely I do.
MARIA: Awesome! LIZZY: Okay...
I'm just gonna plug in my headphones first. Gimme one second!
[electronic music]
We are good to roll! MARIA: Awesome...
MARIA: So, first question what do you do for a living?
For a living, I take, um...
I always sound kind of weird when I say it, but I take selfies [she and Maria laugh]
Which I combine landscapes with self portraiture.
Uh...
in an ethereal, kind of whimsical way.
Walking out into the mountains, and setting up to take self-portraits,
often quite a distance from the camera, just kind of immersing myself in nature
[Lizzy chuckles] Yeah!
MARIA: Awesome! It's very unique.
Yeah, it is quite. Thank you!
[both laugh] MARIA: So, what about me agenda for today?
On the agenda for today, I am experimenting with putting together videos.
I'm starting to work on doing little short films.
So, that's what I'm working on today!
MARIA: Cool, and has quarantine affected your workflow at all?
LIZZY: This quarantine, yes. Definitely.
Um...
All the parks and everything nearby have been closed down, so...
I've been spending a lot of time just hanging around at home.
And it's been nice for getting a lot of editing and stuff done.
But, yeah it's definitely put travel and getting into nature and shooting on hold.
So, just at home trying to plan out what's next!
MARIA: Yeah, and what got you started into photography in general?
What got me started. I was 12 years old when I stole my dad's little point and shoot.
It was the first digital camera that I had ever seen and...
[laughs] Yeah!
I was addicted. It was love at first sight.
I was always into art, and drawing and whatnot growing up, so...
When I found the digital camera, it was like a new form of art
where I could instantly take photos of nature and wildlife and stuff.
And I got hooked right from the get-go.
MARIA: Do you remember what point-and-shoot it was?
LIZZY: I have no idea
[both laugh]
I can't remember at all!
MARIA: And you mentioned the whimsical style that you now do.
What got you into that how did you solidify that idea?
Well, as I got more and more into photography I...
In the year 2010 I decided to step out of my comfort zone
Because I knew in order to grow as a photographer I needed to push myself and challenge myself.
So I decided to do a 365 project of self portraits, taking self-portrait for a year.
And it was by the end of that project that I realized that I'd found my niche, I guess you could say.
Immersing myself in nature, combining my new skill of self portraiture for my first love of nature.
And then after that I just realized that's what I wanted to do.
I wanted to show what it was like to connect in nature the way I had been.
MARIA: And why self-portraits, and not maybe getting a model?
Because... [laughs]
I was very shy. I was, um...
I always spent more time with animals and in nature just by myself.
So I was too scared to shoot with models.
I had some lovely friends, of course, but I spent most of my time by myself and with my animals.
So, it was a great way to like be creative and....
Go on my own time. I could go adventuring.
And I got really into like knowing what I wanted how I wanted to pose and everything.
So the thought of trying to drag somebody else was kind of scary [laughs]
I've gotten better at it now, but...
When I first started out I was just much more comfortable shooting with just myself.
MARIA: And what's your go-to camera and lens?
My go-to camera is the Sony a7r III.
And...
My go-to lens, that's a hard one.
[both laugh] MARIA: What are some of your favorites?
Some of my favorites. Okay, the...
The 24-70 1 point--or no 2.8--that one can be used for most of my work.
I guess I use it for about half.
And then I also have my 85mm 1.4, as well as a 135mm 1.4.
MARIA: And then, aside from your point and shoot, what was your first camera that you really used to master?
That would be the Canon 60D, which I had from 2010 up until...
Must have been 2016 when I switched to Sony.
And yeah, that camera served me quite well,
but it was time to move on to something better-- MARIA: Right.
--when Sony came along.
MARIA: And so I heard that you're gonna be speaking at this year's B&H Virtual OPTIC
And teaching is a big part of what you do, right?
Yeah, it never used to be,
and then the last few years, I've just kind of stepped into it.
I used to be quite scared to teach. Like I said, I was quite shy.
[both laugh]
Didn't photo shoot with lots of people.
But I never realized how many people were interested in my work, and wanted to learn how to do what I do.
So I...
The last couple of years I've been stepping out of my comfort zone again and doing public speaking.
And I've started teaching workshops.
And it's actually been really fun.
I was really scared at first, but being able to connect with people and be creative together
and lift each other up and learn together, it's been great and
I see it as being a huge part of my future as well
MARIA: That's great!
With the quarantine, a lot of people have been adapting to virtual workshops and learning
Have you been doing either teaching or learning yourself?
Yes I... like I said before I'm learning how to edit videos,
which is a whole new learning curve for me.
And I'm also...
I created a Patreon account so that I could start or practice teaching more,
but online.
So on that, on my Patreon, I'm releasing editing tutorials.
And I'll start releasing behind the scenes when I'm out shooting in the field as well.
So yeah!
MARIA: That's great!
And then, you've gained a pretty good following now on social media.
Has social media helped you in your career and kind of show the world what you do?
Uh, yes and no.
I would say social media, when I first started out on Flickr,
that was where I gained my initial following and made lots of friends who inspired me.
I'm pretty sure I just stepped in dog poo while I'm walking through the yard
[Maria laughs] LIZZY: That's kinda nasty. Oh my. Gross.
[Lizzy laughs]
And then when things started moving over to Instagram that's where I got most of my following,
but I never really noticed that it really launched my career from my following.
I think what helped me the most with that
was the initial connections I made over 10 years ago back through Flickr.
The friends I made on there, we've been really close, and we're always lifting each other up
and supporting each other and connecting each other to the opportunities we get.
And yeah so I think it's with them always helping others
and being helped by the people that I connected with in the early days
And even these days new people that I'm becoming friends with and forming those connections
the opportunities I get are always coming from that... Yeah!
MARIA: And then so you do a lot of different things from teaching, to photographing and connecting.
What's your favorite part of what you do?
My favorite part of what I do... Wow I love it all!
[both laugh]
I guess my favorite part, though, would be just generally being out in nature.
'Cause that's where it all started for me. Just being outside, being present in the moment,
enjoying the beauty and trying to capture it.
So, yeah!
Being out there in the mountains, in the forest or in my backyard.
Which is the best I can do for now! MARIA: True!
MARIA: And then, so what are some great tips to give to somebody.
who's trying to create self portraits in the style of what you do?
LIZZY: Some tips for people trying to create self portraits...
My biggest tip would be get a tripod, get a remote.
[dog barks] LIZZY: Oh, I locked my dog out!
[Maria laughs]
[inaudible]
LIZZY: Um, and...
The remote has been the best thing for me.
An intervalometer kind of remote.
Uh, yeah.
That would be my best tip: to get an intervalometer, plug it into the camera,
set it up to take photos every 2 or 3 seconds while you're walking out in front of the camera.
I used to just do the self-timer method for selfies.
And that was hard, like running...
MARIA: That's stressful!
to the camera as fast as I can for 10 seconds.
And you get one photo and have to go back!
So yeah, the intervalometer method is my hot tip! [laughs]
Then you can take, like, a hundred photos. However many you want in one go.
Which has been great for me because usually it's like one
out of every hundred photos that comes out semi graceful.
[laughs]
Yeah!
MARIA: And so, you just mentioned your dog.
Is that the dog that we see in some of your photos?
LIZZY: It sure is!
This is Pepper down here!
Being all cute snoozing on the floor.
[both laugh]
Yeah, he's a great dog. He's super loyal.
He comes with me on all my photoshoots.
Great company, a bit of a turd sometimes [Maria laughs]
But, he's the best of them. Don't know what I'd do without him!
MARIA: And during this quarantine...
So, since we've all been home not being able to travel as much,
a lot of people have taken up cooking during their free time.
Have you gotten into any new recipes?
I've been going really hard banana bread.
[both laugh]
I tried to make my first banana bread loaf three weeks ago,
and it came out so bland!
So this weekend, I tried--third time's the charm--and I tried it again
And it came out pretty perfectly! So I'm quite proud of myself.
[Maria laughs] LIZZY: Yeah!
I think I got banana bread down!
[both laugh]
MARIA: So, your photos always show you or your subject in such beautiful places!
Where has been your favorite place to photograph?
I think my favorite place has to be...
Golden Ears Provincial Park
which is almost in my backyard. It's about a five or ten minute drive away,
And it's got beautiful mountains, and a lake and a fairy tale-like forest.
All my favorite kind of locations are all just in that one park.
And I never get tired of it. I think about--it's got to be over 50% of my photos are all taken there.
MARIA: And if you weren't a photographer, what would you be?
I would be either a dog walker or a dog trainer.
[both laugh]
That's what I thought I was gonna be going up, until--
MARIA: Wow! --photography stole my heart, yeah!
I've always loved the dogs!
MARIA: Do you work alone?
I do work alone, yeah. I...I find...
Well I started being out in nature alone and with just my dogs,
and I've always found that I connected better just being one-on-one out in nature
And that's where my creativity came from, my inspiration.
And even though I love collaborating with people now,
and doing photoshoots with others, and exploring with others,
there's still something so special to me about just going out by myself,
and working alone, going back to my roots and feeling that one-on-one connection with what I'm doing.
MARIA: So since you work alone, you have to do the location scouting and the pre-production all by yourself.
What exactly are you looking for when you do that?
Um... I never really plan ahead.
I've realized I usually... I'll just pack my stuff in my camera bag, go prepared.
But my first goal when I'm going out--I'll be ready to do a photoshoot--
but my goal is to enjoy nature and hike and explore and see what I can find.
And if an opportunity presents itself, if I stumble upon a scene and the lighting and everything lines up just right,
then the inspiration might strike and I'll take a photo.
But otherwise, when I'm exploring, in the back of my mind I see these places
And I'm like "oh this would be great at this hour"
Or like at sunrise or sunset and so I kind of keep all of that in the back of my mind.
And I might come back and take photos at that time.
But for the most part, there's not much planning ahead.
Just exploring, which is my version of location scouting I guess
MARIA: Cool! Aside from your camera, what's your favorite piece of gear?
Um...
My intervalometer that I've already mentioned.
And, I don't know if chocolate counts as gear... [Maria laughs]
But it's always in my camera bag!
[both laugh]
MARIA: And if there were to be a movie about yourself, who would play you?
This is a hard question, and I don't know why I'm imagining Kate Winslet?
But, that's who I'm thinking of!
[both laugh]
MARIA: Well, she's pretty graceful and your photos are pretty graceful so I see it!
Oh, thank you! I appreciate it!
MARIA: And who should we interview next?
Who should you interview next, uh...
Joel Robinson had some wonderful, delightful, storytelling-type photos.
I think he would be well deserving of an interview.
MARIA: Okay, awesome!
We'll definitely contact him.
And that's all the questions I have for you today!
Alight, I gotta jump back into my attempt at editing videos here!
So yeah, thank you very much for calling! MARIA: Awesome!
It's been a pleasure answering these questions! MARIA: Thank you so much!
[music]