We are so excited to announce that Laura Paesano is the lucky winner from our March giveaway! She was lucky enough to win a Nikon D800!!
After getting interested in photography in high school, Laura worked at a retail photography studio while she was in college. There she learned how to make kids laugh and how to keep parents from tearing their hair out during photo sessions. She majored in Studio Art at Stony Brook University with minors in Digital Art and Art History and concentrations in photography and printmaking, before graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2010.
In 2014, she started her business, Laura Pea Photography, specializing in newborn photography. She said, "I know how important it is for kids to grow up seeing their photos displayed in their homes. My personal mission is to make sure my clients get their kids' photos off of their phones and onto the walls!"
We asked Laura a few other questions about her love of photography and her business that we want to share with you. Enjoy!
How did you first get into photography?
"My parents both had a love for photography. I was always surrounded by lenses as a child. It wasn't until they offered a photography course in high school that I really wanted to learn the ins and outs of the camera. My dad taught me how to shoot with my mom's 1980 Canon AV-1 and I fell in love."
What is your favorite thing to photograph?
"I specialize in newborns and kids but my absolute favorite subjects are my dog, Basil and my cat, Duchess. They are seasoned models at this point."
What type of style would you say fits you best?
"My style is a mix of traditional and candid portraiture. I usually start a shoot with more formal, posed shots and then toward the end of the shoot, I like to photograph my subjects doing their own thing."
What is your most favorite shoot you have ever had and why?
"My favorite shoot was when a client said to me "Just follow us around while we have fun!" We walked around a park and the kids played and I was able to get some really great candid shots. There was something really authentic about the smiles I captured that day - and I didn't even have to tell one corny joke!"
What was your first reaction when you found out you won the camera?
"Disbelief! I made my mom read the email to make sure I was reading it right. When she started jumping up and down, it sunk in!"
Are there any other fun or interesting facts about you that you would like to share?
"I was on vacation in England a few years ago and was shooting a ton of photos with my old Nikon D60. My camera's shutter blew after going through the Harry Potter studio tour in London. I had taken about 700 or more photos that day and it couldn't handle it. I guess my camera didn't believe in magic!"
What do you think of the camera now that you have received it?
"You can't imagine the smile on my face when I got my camera in the mail! Thank you so much again. I love it and I've barely put it down since I got it. Right away, I shot some frames of my dog Basil. He was in the studio with me when I got the package (because we're stuck together like glue) so he had the privilege of being my first subject! Then I waited until the golden hour to go out in my backyard to shoot. My favorite one I took out there is one of a few flies buzzing in the sunlight. I can't wait to take more. I can't thank you enough!"
You can check out more of Laura’s photography on her website at www.laurapeaphotography.com. You can also visit her on Facebook and follow her on Instagram.
Make sure you check out our Hall of Fame of past camera winners and read each of their stories. Also be sure to follow Camera Giveaways on Facebook and sign up for our email newsletter so you can stay up to date on upcoming giveaways, photography news and other amazing photography.
You could be our next winner... GOOD LUCK!
