Amy Prutch

TPP:  Tell us a little about yourself?

AP:  I received my formal photography training at the University of Utah in Journalism and Mass Communication.  After a well meaning reality check from a couple of professors about how fierce the competition in the field was, I pretty much convinced myself a job in the photography industry was not in the cards and instead graduated with degrees in Interpersonal Communication and Special Education.  So wouldn’t you know it, a few years later I marry a photographer and fall into wedding photography!    We live outside of Portland, Oregon and have run AJ’s Studio for 17 years now.  2 years ago we expanded the studio to add  children’s and family photography.  This year we’ve dipped our toe into the senior market and have had a great time.

On a personal level, we have two wonderful boys – Hunter attends the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics and is interested in performing arts.  Wyatt is in third grade and likes to kill zombies.

TPP:  I heard you used to be a teacher?  What grade did you teach, what subject?

AP:  I taught elementary special education for children with severe behavior disabilities for 10 years.  I spent three years as a teacher-consultant working with teachers in mainstream classes to implement plans for kiddos with special education needs in their classrooms.  My final three years were as an Elementary Reading Specialist.   I was working on my PreSchool endorsement when I finally made the jump to full time in the studio.   I pull from my teaching experience every time I photograph a child.    Every time – whether it’s simply keeping in mind the developmental stage of a preschooler, chatting it up about school and after school with a third grader, or using some “management strategies” on a gang of siblings  or cousins.

TPP:  How do you and JP manage to work together, and live together?  What your secret?

AP:  JP and I have always been all about the fun, whether it’s business or in our day to day life.  One of the things we found early on that we had in common (besides being Jimmy Buffet fans and liking our martini’s up) is that there is not really a lot in life that is worth getting stressed out over.  Neither one of are micro managers and have a great deal of respect for each other’s strengths.  In business it’s team AJ’s.  At home with our kids, it’s team Prutch.

TPP:  You have some of the best children photography I have seen to date, tell us a little bit about how you pose them.

AP:  I Thanks!   To be honest, the kids do most of the work. At first, it’s observation – how they interact with their parents, what makes them laugh, how they like to sit, their temperament, etc.  If I’m photographing a kiddo by him or herself, I’ll choose a location that allows them to fidget; a fence,  some rocks,  a bench,  etc.  Eventually the child makes themselves comfortable and then it takes just a bit of direction to get the finished product.    And I do direct – sometimes the movement of a hand, a look in the air, a very simple nuance can make all the difference.  Finally, at the risk of contradicting your blog name, a bit of imperfection is key – you need the reality.

Location is important as well.  While I believe it’s more about the subject than the back ground, I discuss with parents where a kiddo will feel comfortable and just as importantly, a parent will be comfortable allowing the kid to be him or herself there.  I like simplicity in the location where I photograph a child or family, the setting needs to compliment the subject.     The best advice I ever got for posing siblings or families was from Cheryl Jacobs-Nicolai: everybody has to touch somebody.  First, I usually get loads of laughs that way, and secondly, it shows the family relationships and personalities.  THAT’s what I’m looking for.

TPP:  What poses don’t work?

AP:  I think even the most classic photography poses work with kids, however  I’m not a big fan of the looking-off-into-the-distance-and-smiling thing.  I always wonder what they’re looking at.  Now, does that mean you can’t have a fabulous portrait of a child who is not looking at the camera?  Of course not, but my best work is the photographs that have a connection with the subject.  I also am very wary of the “completely natural whatever unfolds” sessions.   As a Portrait Artist, it’s my job to give a bit of direction to get the best image possible.  There needs to be thought put into the back ground and lighting.  Not only that, but it’s much to easy for the kiddos to take control over that type of session and you find yourself chasing them down in a game of cat and mouse.

TPP:  I heard you guys got a kegerator in the studio, what do you fill it with?

AP:  Our beers of choice are either from the BridgePort or Widmere Breweries.  We keep that for our wedding clients and friends though,  LOL.

TPP:  What do you love most about the photographer lifestyle?

AP:  I love being a part of my clients’ lives and seeing their famlies grow.  A good portion of my clientele are former wedding couples who come back when they start their families.  I’m very social, so seeing them and catching up year after year is a blast for me.  Selfishly, I love making my own schedule.   I schedule my portrait sessions far enough apart to ensure I have ample time to process the images and not feel buried and take on only the projects for which I have time and passion.  Being crazy busy with your business does not equal success.

TPP:  If you were offered a job as a ceo that paid 700k a year would you give up photography?

AP:  No way.   The only job that would make me walk away from photography would be if I had the opportunity to be a Mythbuster.

TPP:  Tell us something about JP nobody knows.

AP:  This year, we put our best-kept secret about him on our “About Us” section of our website, but I love the story:  He got his start in Photography in high school when he was kicked out of his Art class for being a smart ass.  Evidently, the Art teacher had it out for the photography teacher and saw that he was transferred into that class.   It’s kind of the anti : “No good deed goes unpunished” adage.    Something else no one knows?  He eats some sort of hot pepper with lunch or dinner.  Every meal.

TPP:  Where do you get your inspiration?

AP:  Would it sound too schmaltzy and cliché to say JP?  It’s the truth though.  He has taught, encouraged, stuck behind and beside me, and even given me a butt kicking a couple of times I’ve deserved it.   And with a little bias as I can muster, I am always amazed by his eye and vision.  I  can also site two mentors,  Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai and David Williams.  Cheryl taught me to embrace and be true to my style.  David taught me the power of a photograph when it comes to the relationships in our lives.   Neither one have let me get away with technically sloppy work either!

TPP:  Anything you want to promote?

AP:  Not at this moment.  I’ll keep you posted though because we’re making blue prints for two new projects!