The Seniorologie Directory is a listing of senior portrait photographers across the country.  The purpose of the directory is to provide seniors a place to find the perfect senior portrait photographer for their senior photos.  As a member of the Seniorologie Directory, photographers receive a blog post that gives them the opportunity to share a little about their business and themselves.

Today’s Seniorologie Directory Member Share is from Dianna Griffin of Dianna Griffin Photography in Marysville, Ohio.  Check out her work and read all about her below.

How long have you been in business? I’ve been doing photography off and on for over 30 years (Yikes! That makes me sound old!) but have had my recent business since 2005.

What percentage of your business is a senior? It’s been about 50% the last several years.

What do you think makes a perfect senior session? I love it when I’m photographing a senior who is confident and likes themselves.  It really shows through in the images we capture and they are more likely to smile genuinely instead of forced. Everything else is just geography.

What do you love most about photographing seniors? Getting to know them is fabulous! I get to hear what they hope to do after graduating.  Whether it’s college, the work force or the service it’s just really cool to hear all about it and to get a glimpse of who they are and who they plan to be.

What would you say is the biggest challenge in your business? My biggest challenge right now is the volume. I’ve finally got a helper to do my paperwork and office management so I’m hoping that relieves some stress and frees up more time for me to spend with my family.

Describe your photography style? That’s a hard question to answer because I’m not just out to please the senior but also the parent.  I’ve been doing this long enough to know that the senior wants fun and “cool” images and that the parent (usually the mom) wants some traditional posed images to choose from for their wall.  I blend everything together in a session so I guess my style would be called lifestyle AND portraiture.

What motivates or inspires you in your photography? Being a mom of an 8 year old I realize how much we love our kids.  It’s crazy, crazy love and every time I look at my son I see who he is now and who I’m hoping he’ll be as he gets older.  My daughter, Kim, has grown into such a beautiful woman and an inspiration to me as well.  Every time I pick up my camera and head off to a session I know how important it is to capture that student in an image that his or her parent can look at and say, “Yes, that’s my child. That’s exactly who she/he is and I’ve got crazy, crazy love for them.”

 

Twenty Questions Game…Just for fun!

Where are you from/live? I’m from Elyria, Ohio but I’ve been living in Marysville, Ohio for the past 23 years.

Married? Yes to my soul-mate Brad

Kids? 6 adult children combined and 1- 8 year old together.

What are their ages? They’d kill me if I listed their names and ages so suffice it to say the oldest in her 30’s and the youngest one is 28.  And then, Matthew is 8.

Nikon or Cannon? Nikon

What kind of camera bag do you carry? My main one is a Lowepro.

Favorite music to edit to? Either contemporary Christian or Country. Both genres aren’t afraid to sing about God.  It’s refreshing.

Favorite Photoshop Action? I have some from several companies but I’m saying it’s the “add drama” from ta Florabella Collection.

A photographer that inspires you? I’ve always been inspired by all the photographers out there that go on the front line to get those images of our soldiers. 

 

Favorite Food? Chocolate (and Italian)

Favorite place to shop? Ann Taylor

Favorite drink at Starbucks? I don’t really do Starbucks.

Favorite Guilty Pleasure? Milano cookies. Great, now I have to go buy a bag.

Favorite memory from when you were a senior? Senior Dress-up day. We wore costumes and I was a roller derby queen along with my friend, Cathy. We roller bladed ourselves from class to class all day. It was awesome!

Favorite Quote or Saying? “Nobody gets in to see the Wizard. Not nobody, not no how!” And, “Do what you do so well that people can’t help telling others about you.” Walt Disney Finally, “Hello! I’m Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to Die!” from the Princess Bride.

Favorite Workshop or photography event you have attended? The last one I attended was with Sandy Puc’ and she did her workshop on families and babies. 

Favorite Magazine? Professional Photographer by Professional Photographers of America.  Talk about inspiring images! It’s always full of beautiful images and the wealth of resources it offers to photographers is amazing.

Favorite Vacation Spot? Las Vegas, Baby! Then again, I haven’t been to Cancun yet so that may change.

Favorite Movie? The Princess Bride. I can probably recite it by memory.