Meet Mindy Warman | Brand Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mindy Warman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mindy, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
It may be cliche saying this coming from a photographer but taking pictures really does make me happy. Not that every photo I take wells up that deep feeling of joy and happiness. It’s those moments I see when observing others, say at an event I’m photographing, and my heart smiles seeing someone laughing with their friends, a couple dancing quietly together, a child reaching up their hands for Daddy to pick them up, and I point my camera and capture that exact moment in time, those are the moments that make me love being a photographer! I also find great happiness in helping local, small businesses with branding shoots. I want to see them succeed and really enjoy working with them to tell their story for others to see who they are and why their business is so important.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started out photographing anything and everything I could, even going back to my roots shooting film again and developing my photos in a dark room. I have a secret love for film photography and making art with it. But through all the different types of subjects one can photograph, I finally got to a place where I could ask myself what makes me happy and brings me joy in my craft the most. And the answer was documentary style photography, which comes with branding shoots and photographing events.

Is it ever easy to narrow down life to the basis of just the thing that makes us happy? No. The thing that brings you happiness may not be true for those around you. I tried to get more families to do documentary style photoshoots where they are baking cookies with their kids, having a picnic at the park, playing games together, whatever interests they did as a family, and I would get the comment that they just wanted portraits. I am not a posey, portrait photographer and I like to capture the real life of my subjects. Now, I’m not saying that I wouldn’t take photos of them all together looking at the camera smiling, but with me as their photographer not every photo will be a portrait.

I’ve learned to trust myself, my ideas, and my talent through this process. I was recently photographing a preacher and his wife, during a branding shoot in their home for their church website, and after we did some portrait style photos of the two of them together and individually, I asked them if they could go change into some casual clothes they wear everyday, like jeans. I got some curious looks, but they trusted me, and came back in their casual clothes. I had them gather their bible and the bible study they were working on and asked them to sit wherever they normally studied together and to act like I wasn’t there. When I delivered the photos to them they commented to me that yes, the portraits were great, but it was the bible study photos that showed the real them and that were the favorites of the whole shoot. Those photos captured real laughs and real looks that posing and looking at the camera and smiling never could.

This is why I am focusing my business on branding shoots and capturing small businesses in their day to day working environments. Showing you who they really are, and what you can expect when you shop from them or use their service. When you look on their website or social media I want you to feel as though you are right there with me. You feeling comfortable and familiar with them and their business before you ever meet them or walk through the door is the goal. And if I can shoot an event or two along the way for the businesses or for my friends, that would make me happy too!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting I may not be able to say publicly where we would go or what we would do. HaHa Kidding (not kidding).

Honestly, I would be most excited for anyone visiting just to experience our day to day life. Here in Colorado Springs you can see Pike’s Peak, the front range, deer and antelope just driving to the grocery store or to your kid’s band concert. What a beautiful place we live in!

Walking around the stores in downtown Monument, Manitou, Colorado Springs is always fun. Experiencing the Ivywild School just because it’s such a cool place. Having drinks and the flourless chocolate torte at The Famous Steakhouse is always a great idea. And we could never pass up eating at Rosie’s Diner or Waffle House because who doesn’t love a good diner? And no trip would be complete without a drive around and a walk through Garden of the Gods.

Estes Park is my all time favorite place to visit. And attending a concert at Red Rocks or the new Ford Amphitheater is always amazing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A good place to start my dedication would be to all of those whom I have stuck my camera in their face since I received my first Polaroid camera for Christmas in 3rd grade. They say practice makes perfect.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without my faith in Jesus who saved me time and time again. He gave me this gift and passion for photography and I’m thankful to use it for His glory.

And lastly, as a military family we have always been a very strong team of support and trust for each other because how else would you make it through deployments. As much as I have supported my husband’s career, he has always supported me and anything I wanted to accomplish just the same. He and our two children have always been my biggest fans, and for that I am grateful.

Website: https://mindywarmanphoto.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindywarmanphotography/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-warman-rt-r-rdms-ab-b95a6055/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567076920198

Image Credits
Mindy Warman Photography