Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Spivey.
Ellen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started taking photographs in my early teenage years just for fun. I found that it was exciting to see the outcome and challenging to try and make it perfect. The main reason I would go out and photograph was that I thought that was the only thing I was good at and was interested at the time. Often, I would ask my friends to model for me and would tell them where to stand and how to pose. While I was in high school I was heavily influenced by Richard Avedon’s fashion photography and tried to mimic it as best as I could. Being that photography was my only interest at the time I decided to act on it and I enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design where I received my Bachelors degree in Fine Arts.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No not at all. The road to success is very bumpy but you learn a lot along the way. It is up to you what you do with the knowledge. Most of the struggles I had was learning to be confident in my work and artistry. I can be pretty negative and harsh on my own work, like every artist is. One of the biggest struggles I dealt with was staying strong while being critiqued by professors and classmates.
Please tell us about Ellen Spivey Photography.
I am not much of a business, not yet. My favorite subject to photograph is fashion photography, such as advertisements in magazines. I am most proud of how much I have learned and grown as a photographer, everyday photographers become better and better with practice and it is necessary to step back and see what you have accomplished. What sets me apart is the combination of elements that I use in my photography that no one else does. I use many retro and old colors and my editing style deals with a yellowish hue that you would see while viewing an old photograph or a film filter that sets the photo apart from the more modern photographs seen today. Also, I try to pose my models so that their body looks not posed and I enjoy using more awkward camera angles.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Some of my favorite memories from my childhood were eating toast and tomatoes with my grandmother and she always gave me some of her ensure that she drank for her own health. Later once I was older I remember laughing at the thought that she would let me drink some of the drink that was specifically for her.
Contact Info:
- Website: ellenspivey.com
- Email: ellensspivey@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
Image Credit:
Models: Rebecca Goodhart
Niambi Nelson
Amber Flora
Renua Giwa-Amu
Sebastian O’ Dell
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