Today I would like to share a secret with you. The Finnish wedding photographers are bunch of great people, who generally, instead of competing, prefer fellowship and cooperation. That is very unique. The same applies for Finnish family and children photographers. We might not meet for weekly coffee, as we all are fighting our private battles with what at times seems like twelve-headed dragons, but we keep each other in mind. But I am a social, very social person (some might say there is a thin line between being social and being addicted to company). And I need to discuss my artistic and business views often and I need to do it with people who are in the same position. And so I became a member of a private board for professional children and family photographers. I feel very priviledged to be there. It’s a fathomless well of knowledge, a source of great support and a place where they trash my images mercilessly. Since today, for couple of weeks always on Thursdays, you will have a chance to get to know some of my friends, people who mean SO MUCH for my professional development.

Today meet Jill!

Name: Jillian Healey
Studio Name: Jillian Healey Photography
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Website: www.jillianhealeyphotography.com.au
Blog: www.jillianhealeyphotography.com.au/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook….122301171143001

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This is one of Jill’s favorite images:

#1 Why do you love this image? It just screams new, young love. There’s passion and the very fabric of the planet seems to be backing them up!

#2 What were your settings with this image? Shutter Speed: 1/640 ISO: 200 Aperture: 3.5 Lens: 50mm 1.4 Body: 5D Classic

#3 What do you love about Photography? This isn’t a straightforward question. I love making a record of people, connections, personalities that will give people cause to smile and reminisce in years to come. I love details. Eyelashes, fingers, eyes – all the things you come to know about a person you love intimately. I love more than anything else that I am able to take my skills and eye for detail and connection into the most heartbreaking moments in a family’s life with the charity work I do with the Heartfelt organisation who go into hospitals and capture what is often the only high quality photographs of little ones who are on the verge of getting their wings or who have flown already. It is the reason I learned to take a photograph and the reason I continue to make photography my business and career.

#4 What type of Photography do you specialize in and why? Newborns, immediate families, maternity and couples are what I do most of, in that order. I have recently realised that I work best with smaller groups of people and am now really limiting myself to servicing those groups so that I am always playing to my strengths and giving my clients the very best I can.

#5 What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes? There hasn’t been nearly enough time for hobbies and pastimes in recent years as I have been so busy building my business. Through photography I have re-learned knitting in order to make lots of props for my babies, but before that I enjoyed DIY, painting and feltmaking. I also love driving out in to the countryside with my husband and kids and picnicking in remote and spectacular locations.

#6 Who or what inspires you? As time goes by and I get a little older, I can see how precious life is and I am utterly inspired by being trusted to take such intimate photos of people on their journeys through love and the creation of new life. I also find inspiration in other photographers. I love the energy of Diana Palmer and Tara Whitney and Nate and Jacklyn Kaiser. I love the serenity and achingly beautiful images of a number of newborn specialists (too many to mention!!) who all have unique styles of their own.

#7 Who are some of your favorite singers/bands? Does Glee count??? Other than that, I love Eurythmics, Black Eyed Peas, Radiohead, Beyonce and Britney Spears. I also like a variety of Britpop and all things 80s!

#8 What is your favorite movie of all time? Danny Deckchair

#9 What would your ideal day be like? My staff would arrive to make breakfast, clean, do laundry, iron and make the school lunches. I would then take my three girls to school whilst said staff put the house back together, grocery shop and make me a healthy and tasty lunch. I would be photographing a newborn while they do this. After lunch, a little editing, respond to emails and then go collect the kids from school. We would then go hang out at the beach for an hour, grab some afternoon tea and then come home and do homework. My chef would have started on dinner. Eat dinner, send the kids for showers and tuck them into bed while the maid cleans the dishes and then my masseuse would give me a quick shoulder massage before bed. Other than that, I would just go with a completely chaotic day, stumbling from one disaster to the next, never an ironed outfit in sight nor a clue of what to eat for dinner. Either way is good

#10 If you weren’t a photographer, what other profession would you like to pursue? You know, it’s the polar opposite of photography, but I would have liked to have been an emergency room doctor. If only I had realised that in high school when I chose a more non-scientific course of subjects, things might have been so very different today! But I certainly wouldn’t change those choices now given what I have ended up with!

While Jill’s taste in 80′s music might not fly with me (devoted jazz fan here, with occassional trip to the land of soul and funk), I am on the same wavelength with her on everything touching photography. Jill is a great person and I feel proud to be friends with her. ♥♥♥

PS: If you didn’t do what you do now, what other profession would you like to pursue? If you tell me yours, I will tell you mine.