We had the good fortune of connecting with Trenda Roch von Rochsburg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trenda, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
My creative life has always been evolving. No matter what job I have had in the past, I was always able to weave something creative into it. It’s part of who I am. It’s just inevitable that I am where I’ve always imagined I would be.

As a child I was constantly drawing or making something. I loved arts and crafts. I had a notebook filled with drawings. I loved making miniatures out of found objects. In elementary school when the teacher announced a diorama project I couldn’t wait to get home and dump someone’s shoes out of a shoebox to get started immediately. I embroidered, taught myself macrame, and learned to sew at a very young age. By the age of twelve I was sewing garments and doing alterations for myself, my family, and friends. At sixteen I talked my way into a job at a fabric store for the discount and to be surrounded by beautiful fabric. All the women who worked there had been sewing for years and all became teachers and mentors. I learned so much working at that store. In high school I chose to attend a career trade school and enrolled in Fabric Services. With the help of a wonderfully accomplished instructor I polished my sewing and tailoring skills. After graduating I worked for a costume designer and local fashion designer. Although my life took a different path, I have always stayed true to my creative side. I still love to sew and create but my passion turned to photography.

Photography was something I always practiced, but more for fun and to record family life. I started taking pictures when I was young with a 110 pocket camera. I have always been intrigued with new technology and had various film cameras throughout my life. I remember using a digital camera for the first time in the late 90s for my job. It recorded to a floppy disk of all things and I could slide the disk directly into my computer. I used the photos for a website I maintained for my job with a school district. At the same time I was introduced to Photoshop. I was hooked. I remember sitting at my desk through lunch or going to work early just to have the extra time to play. The possibilities were endless and the advancement in this technology has made me a stronger creator. It has allowed me to experiment more than ever before.

I have a natural sense about color and composition, light and shadows. I tend to look a little closer at my surroundings. I eye the things that most people pass by. I am fascinated with nature and details of plants and flowers. The magic I see is what I want to share with others. I get very immersed in the experience of discovery and challenged to see if I can capture with my camera what I see with my eye.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is a combination of photography and composites. I photograph everything. I’m always collecting photos. If I see something interesting in front of me, I shoot it. My iPhone is with me constantly and is filled with the most random photos. I do composite art and like to use my own photos. I rarely ever use stock photography. I feel like that is somehow cheating. I gather photos of weird unique items and textures and whatever intrigues me to build my own library of images.

My business is me. It’s new. I do it all. I am artist, creative director, ordering manger, social media manager, website designer, SEO tracker, the list goes on. When I first turned from hobby photographer to business photographer I questioned myself constantly. Creating a business is not easy. I suddenly had no time for doing what my business was about, photography. I was too busy getting the business side up and running, my photography was lacking. I missed it and needed to get back to my creativity. I took a couple steps back and realized this wasn’t a race and I could pace myself and still make it to the finish line. I’m a chronic list maker, so I made a point of adding the reason why I was starting this business into my schedule.

I love capturing floral portraits. Sometimes in their natural space and sometimes indoors in my studio space. As a member of the botanic garden I get the privilege of entering the gardens an hour before opening. Somedays I have a plan for what I want to shoot and other days I just wait to see what I’m drawn to or what is looking good under the morning light. I love new discoveries. I go for daily walks with my pup Leo. He has learned to be very patient when I stop because I have found a flower that I have to spend time photographing. I live in the city, but it’s amazing the abundance of floral life amongst all the concrete. I will sometimes go to floral shops or even the grocery to find my next subject.

I constantly have ideas floating around my head of all the things I’d like to try. The things I want to get to someday but never seem to have the time. So I now have a spot in my notebook for a “brain dump”. The wishlist of ideas I’d like to do. Writing these things down and having them in front of me has actually allowed me to integrate them into other projects. Instead of it being someday, I can now figure out how can I incorporate them now.

People always talk about having “aha” moments during their creative career. I’m always having these moments. I am constantly discovering something new or learning a new technique, or trying a new piece of equipment. I’m a “knowledge junkie”. I can’t get enough of reading and learning and trying new things. I like all forms of art, art history, history, culture. I love taking in-person and online classes. Not that I want to be super smart, I’m just curious and fascinated with the world around me. I jump at an opportunity to travel. It can open your mind in such a positive way.

It’s very difficult to stand out in a world that is so inundated with photographs. I know that my point of view is completely different from anyone else. I make it a point not to look at social media when I’m working on a project. I don’t want it to influence me. No matter what you do in life, there will always be someone who does it bigger and better. There will always be something that makes you question yourself and whether your art is enough. My art comes from my heart and I’m not trying to be like someone else. I want to share what I see when I slow down and look at the world. I want to share my curiosity with others.

I think when you are passionate about what you create and you believe in yourself, it really shows in your art. I’m excited with what the future holds for me so I will continue to explore and nurture my creativity and curiosity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love when friends come to town! There are so many great places to visit in Denver. When it’s nice out it’s off to Leven Deli for breakfast and mimosas outside on their cute patio. In the Golden Triangle neighborhood we could visit the Denver Art Museum, Clifford Still, Kirkland Museum and a variety of galleries. We’d have to make stops at The Sacred Thistle and Wntr Rose Apothecary to pick up some unique accessories. We’d make our way through Civic Center Park to get the obligatory photo in front of the gold domed State Capitol Building. The park is looking so beautiful these days. Next stop, over to Stout St. for a stop at M.W. Reynolds for more shopping. My friends who love fishing and hunting love this shop. We’d work our way over towards RiNo with a quick stop for a drink at Deviation Distilling in the alley by Diary Block. My favorite cocktail is the Blood Orange Flip. In RiNo, we’d take a look at all the mural art and stop for a pizza on the patio at The Walnut Room. If it’s baseball season we could plan a game at Coors Field. Other times of the year it could be hockey, basketball or football. Denver has all the pro teams and all an easy walk in the downtown area. I’d have to include a stop at Union Station for a quick look at the beautiful train station. Maybe have a drink at The Terminal Bar or the fancier Cooper Lounge, hidden away upstairs. We’d come back to this area another evening for dinner at ChoLon on 16th St. Mall and afterwards a spot I take every friend, Lodge #1 on Champa St. A quaint pre-prohibition bar with some of the best cocktails in the city. A picnic lunch at City Park and a few hours at the Denver Botanic Garden are also a must for the week. Outside the city, drives to Rocky Mountain National Park, Garden of the Gods and of course a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater. The possibilities are endless and there’s never a problem planning a week of great activities. I feel very fortunate to live here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Trenda Roch was started because so many people in my life support me, and my biggest fans are my immediate family. My husband and two daughters are always there for me and always giving me encouragement to do what I love. I’m so lucky to have them all backing me. My husband lifts me up like no one else. If I say I want to do something, he’s got my back and keeps me motivated. So often he puts my needs before his. He continues to work and support our day to day so that I can pursue my own passion. I’m not sure how I got so lucky. It’s also a huge deal to have many close friends who admire my work and purchase it to support me. I can never thank them enough.

Website: www.trendaroch.com

Instagram: instagram/trenda.roch

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/trendaroch/

Image Credits
Portrait: Alicia Glassmeyer, Glassmeyer Photography www.glassmeyerphotography.com All others: Trenda Roch www.trendaroch.com

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