Handmade Feature & Giveaway - Sara Norris Photography

It's nothing special to find a photographer on Etsy, but 'nothing special' just isn't my style. That's why I was instantly smitten with the gorgeous work of Sara Norris. She is one of the most versatile photographers I've seen, first capturing the old-time whimsy of a ferris wheel and then the timeless strength and beauty of an ancient tree from the gnarled roots up. She can capture a bunch of carrots as deftly and with as much spunk as she portrays a mischievous little chihuahua. I love the nostalgic feeling most of her photos have and how so many of them would work well in sets and how each photo elicits a distinct feeling in the viewer, from humor to a humbling awe of nature. Without further ado, I give you Sara herself:

Q. What's the story behind Sara Norris Photography?
A. Being a full time photographer is my dream. I never wanted to live the 9 to 5 sort of life. I have always wanted to make a living creating beautiful images for people to enjoy. So, with the support of my family and friends I took the next step and started Sara Norris Photography. There are two sides to what I do. I sell fine art prints in my Etsy shop and I also have a portraiture business where I photograph musicians, families, children, pets, etc.

Q. When and where did your passion for photography begin?
A. I was interested in art and photography at a young age. When I was a little girl I had a pink plastic camera and I would run around snapping pictures of my family, friends, and even my pet hamster! At about 12 years old I discovered my dad’s old Vivitar 35mm camera in a closet and it changed my whole life. When I looked through the viewfinder of that camera it was like I was seeing clearly for the first time. It had several different lenses and each one opened up a whole new world of possibility for my photographs. I was in love. Now my passion for photography only grows stronger with every photo I take.

Q. What's your favorite aspect of your art?

A. My favorite thing about photography is that it allows me to show people the world through my eyes. When I take a photograph its like freezing an actual moment in time and showing it to people in a way that they may never have looked at it before.

Q. Least favorite?

A. My least favorite thing about photography is how quickly the technology changes these days and everything is so expensive. There is always a new camera or gadget that I want. I’m constantly restraining myself from spending every penny I have on equipment!

Q. Describe yourself in exactly ten words.

A. creative, passionate, stubborn, honest, dreamer, kind-hearted, hard-working, ambitious, outgoing, open

Q. What is the biggest obstacle you've encountered as an Etsy seller? Do you have any advice for those just starting out?

A. The biggest obstacle so far has been getting my name out there. Etsy has so many talented artists and it takes a lot of work to stand out in the crowd. Self-promotion is a full time job in itself and I work at it every day.

My advice for people who are new to Etsy is to create a quality product, have a plan to promote your shop (and stick to it!), and never give up. Also, good customer service goes a long way. I have found that people really appreciate it when you go out of your way to do something special for them. When you have happy customers they are more likely to return to your shop and spread the word about you.

Q. Favorite food?

A. I love really spicy food! I just recently moved back to New Mexico and I can’t get enough green chile. I order it on everything.

Q. Who is your favorite photographer?

A. Oh man, this is a really tough question. My favorite photographer changes almost daily. Right now these are the photographers I really like:

Richard Avedon – His style is so simple and still so powerful.

Kane Longden – He’s only 16 and his photos are amazing.

Barb Uil – She is the photographer behind JinkyArt Photography.

Robert Christian Malmberg – His technique is really inspiring.

Q. What does your typical day look like?

A.

- I'm not really a morning person, so I usually roll out of bed at about 9 am, turn on my computer and make myself a cup of coffee.

- - I answer emails, see if any orders came in from the night before, and relist items in my Etsy shop while I wait for the caffeine to kick in.

- - If I have orders that need to be shipped, I’ll pack them up and take a walk down to the Post Office to drop them off.

- - I'm much more productive in the afternoon, so I’ll have lunch and then get to work. I'll upload images to my computer and start on the post-production process or get to work on a project I have already started. This can sometimes go on

all day depending on how much shooting I’ve been doing.

- - I’ll take breaks to answer more emails and list more products in my Etsy shop.

- - At about 5:30 pm my roommate Katie (who is also my little sister) gets home from work. By then I’m starved for human contact and a good meal so we’ll grab dinner.

- - After that its usually back to work. I hate leaving a project unfinished and most days I’ll work well in to the night or until I just can't see straight anymore.

Q. If you could speak any language fluently, which would you choose and why?

A. I want to speak Spanish. I have taken several Spanish classes through the years and I live in New Mexico so I've picked it up here and there, but I would love to be able to speak Spanish fluently and with confidence.

Q. You have a free ten-day trip anywhere in the world. Where are you going?

A. I would go to Tahiti and I’d want to stay in one of those little grass huts out in the ocean. The water is so clear and blue there. It looks so beautiful and relaxing.

Q. What's your favorite Etsy shop, blog, and band?

A.

Etsy Shop:

The Black Apple

Topsy Turvy

Blog:

I am totally addicted to design blogs. Design Sponge is one of my absolute favorites.

Band:

I am a HUGE music fan so asking me to pick a favorite is impossible. But lately I’ve been listening to The Black Keys and Kings of Leon.

Q. Favorite quote?

A. "A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What one can be, one must be." - Abraham Maslow

A.

Sara Norris Elsewhere:
Website
Twitter
Shop

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The Giveaway

Sara is giving away one winner's choice of any print 8x8 or smaller from her fabulous shop! With 95 items in stock, this gives you a lot of options to fill that empty spot on your wall! The giveaway will end at midnight on August 23, and the winner will be announced the following day.

• To enter, you must visit Sara Norris Photography and choose a favorite photo or series of photos. Leave one comment here with your answer. This step is mandatory before earning additional entries. Feel free to heart the shop as well! Make sure that you leave your e-mail address in at least your first entry.

Additional Entries

• Become a follower of Shrimp Salad Circus using the 'subscribe' options on the left sidebar. Leave one comment telling me you did so.
• If you're already a follower, then you're absolutely fabulous, and thank you! Leave two comments telling me such.
• Follow Shrimp Salad Circus and Sara Norris Photography on Twitter, and tweet about this giveway for one extra entry Copy and paste the following message: Sara Norris Photography is giving away your choice of ANY 8x8 print from her stunning collection at http://tinyurl.com/lrkdft!! @ShrimpSalad Leave one comment with the URL from the tweet.
• Put a Shrimp Salad Circus button {Vintage Musings} on your blog sidebar for two extra entries. The button is located on our right sidebar. Leave two comments with a link to your blog after adding the button.
• Stumble or Digg this post or favorite us on Technorati for one extra entry each. You can use the 'Share' button immediately below the post signature. Leave one separate comment for each action with your username or a link to the page.
  
• Blog about this giveaway and include a link and a photo of the giveaway item from above for three extra entries. Leave three separate comments with a link to the post.
  
• Purchase something from Sara Norris Photography for five extra entries. Leave five separate comments with a link to your transaction page. You could end up with something great for you and a friend.