Interview with Neal Creative!

Hey everybody!! Guess what? Another great interview with Danielle, owner of Neil Creative. Danielle has graciously offered 20% off templates for Senior Solutions readers for the month of July! Use the code SrSolutions when you check out.

She is also doing a giveaway for a paper pack and and askua template!! All you have to do is comment to be entered!! There will be a random drawing on Sunday July 6th.

Thanks Danielle!!

 

List your sites:

www.neilcreative.blogspot.com

 

How long have you been a photographer and how did you get started?

I’ve been art directing photo shoots for the last 5 or 6 years, it always happened that no matter where I was working as a designer, I would end up going on the shoots to direct. I was always intrigued with photography but at that point just didn’t have the time to go back to school for it. When I got married two years ago, I spent most of the time trying to find the right wedding photographer; in the process I think I may have become obsessed with photography. When I returned from my honeymoon I immediately signed up to start taking photography classes at one of the nearby colleges. I just finished up the photography program and will soon be going live with my website and business. 

Tell us how you got started doing design work?

I was always involved in the art programs in high school, so it was only natural that when I went to college I ended up in the art department. I received my Bachelors in Fine Art in ‘99 and have been working as a graphic designer ever since. I’ve had a wide range of jobs in the business from non-profits to ad agencies to a Fortune 100 company. It was only last year that I started my blog and offering my designs to photographers.  

What is your favorite thing to design?

That’s a tough one. Logos are unique and original so those would have to be at the top. But I also like working on magazines at my day job, it’s pretty tedious work laying out 30-40 page magazines and I am pretty anal about it being perfect from cover to cover. 

 

If you were a new photographer starting out and didn’t have a lot of money to spend, what is the one thing you would recommend they buy first pertaining to your design work?

A logo and a good marketing kit for sure! I used to work in the brand dept. at one of my jobs and your brand is everything!! Not just the logo, but the complete look of your marketing package must be consistent so that clients see your stuff and remember you!

 

What are your hottest selling product(s)?

Lately I’ve been creating a lot of my templates without copy, so they aren’t specifically senior or baby or wedding templates and they are really hot right now. The same template can be used for a save the date, a graduation announcement or even a birth announcement, they’re very flexible. 

 

Where do you get your inspirations?

Life - I find inspiration in the strangest places. A brochure that I did a few years ago was inspired by a trip to CVS. I’m always paying attention to patterns and designs around me. It’s kind of scary. As for photography, since I’m still a newbie I love to surf the web and see the cool things that everyone is doing and their unique styles. Things that I would never have thought of!

What is your favorite camera and lens to use when shooting?

I just upgraded from a Nikon D50 to a D300 and love it! I’m torn between my 17-55 2.8 and my 70-200 2.8 VR; it just depends on what I’m shooting!

 

What is the one thing you could not live without (besides family and photo related camera gear)?

My dog! My husband works a lot and on top of that a lot of crazy hours. Most of the time you can find him sitting on the floor next to me while I’m on my computer. He makes for good company when it’s midnight and I’m home alone. 

 

If you could spend one day with a photographer or designer and ask them anything about their style, business etc who would you choose and why?

Scarlett Lillian for sure. I don’t even know how I stumbled across her photography site. She also used to be a graphic designer and I believe even did video at one point. She’s a great photographer and seems really down to earth. I check her blog daily. If you haven’t read it, you need to check her out; it’s more than just about photography it is about her life too. She’s a strong, Christian woman, who has become a huge inspiration to me. I can’t even image how much fun it would be pick her brain for a day. 

 

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