We were lucky to catch up with Ivy West recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ivy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about one of the craziest things you’ve experienced in your journey so far.
One of my craziest stories about my photography is how I planned this model shoot with a young lady at Shanty Hollow in Bowling Green, Ky.
We were supposed to go down the trail to the like water fall in the back of the woods to shoot in there.
My husband came with to help me with equipment and he questioned me on if I was going the correct way and in return I questioned myself and got us lost in the woods for about 30 minutes.
Ivy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
So when I was 14 I was invited to this photography group for their yearly outing and I was supposed to be a model. As a 14year old you don’t look at all these girls and think “wow I’m the biggest one here” at least I didn’t initially. It was when all of these adults started picking girls and then you know I was the last one left someone had to use me.
And then when we got some of the photos back the photographer who invited me. She had edited my face so much I didn’t recognize myself.
After that I was invited back once more and then never again.
That made me wonder you know I don’t want to feel like I have to be photoshopped to be pretty, I don’t think anyone should feel that way and so I started to slowly teach myself how to use my moms camera and took photos of my friends and family and now I just do it as kind of a side hobby/business but it makes me so happy seeing how beautiful these people feel after we shoot together.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I was 19 years old, I got into a mentally, physically, and financially abusive relationship. It got so bad that I had no choice but to pawn my camera to make ends meet.
My mom tried to help by getting me a camera she found in the goodwill but during this period of my life all of my creativity had just kinda drained.
I wasn’t myself anymore. I didn’t feel in control of my life or my goals anymore.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
I don’t really view any of the people I work with as “clients“ these are people I sit and get to know and view them as friends. And I meet them just like you, me any friend I go downtown to the bars to drag shows or even you know my next-door neighbor, and I just talk to them I talk to them about their families about their life and make a connection with them and you know later on they’ll come to me and say “I think I want to do this as a photo shoot“ and I am more than happy to help them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Capturednvines
- Facebook: Captured in Vines
Image Credits
The photo given of myself was taken by Magnolia lane photography The following models are Nathan Mitchell Miracle Stinson Statera Renee Archie Atkinson