Photographer Spotlight: Ginger Unzueta
The Unzueta family. Photo courtesy of Amy Grimme Photography
Ginger Unzueta is a mother of three and part of a Marine family living in Central Florida. Ginger’s passion for life shines in her photographs, which capture some of life’s most precious moments. Her family and child portraits are stunning thanks to fantastic work with natural light, but it’s the photos Ginger snaps during military family reunions that simply leap from the screen.
My first camera was…
A point and shoot model I had as a child. I really don’t remember a time in my life that I didn’t have a camera. My first “real” camera was a Canon SLR. I was enamored with all of its capabilities in comparison to a point and shoot. After we had our first child, we bought a DSLR Canon Rebel. I currently shoot with a Nikon d700.
Photo by Ginger Unzueta
I got started in child and family photography because…
I wanted to share this God given talent with other parents. I realized not all families had the resources or time to capture the everyday moments of loved ones. I cherish these moments because time with our children goes by much too quickly. I feel like it is so important to record these events with your family and to “get in” the pictures, too. I need to be better about that myself.
I wanted to become a photographer because…
I don’t remember consciously ever deciding to become a photographer. I feel like it has always been a part of who I am. After we had our first daughter, I knew that I didn’t want to forget all of the milestones and amazing every day moments. I knew I had a lot more to learn to capture the type of images I was longing for. I began reading and studying and shooting as much as I could.
Photo by Ginger Unzueta
I would describe my style or shooting philosophy as…
Real, authentic, and a bit nostalgic. I am a lover of gorgeous light. I love sun and haze. I want my photographs to tell a story. I want them to evoke emotion and to inspire families to continue to make such loving memories together.
Some of my industry role models are…
This question is hard. There are so many amazing people in this industry. I can’t say that I have studied any one photographer and dream to be like them, rather, my hope has been to evolve into my own style. Over the last year, I’ve been involved with a forum called the Bloom Forum. I can’t say enough wonderful things about the moderators and members. It is an awesome place for growth and encouragement. In addition, I recently participated in a workshop called Finding the Light. This was an amazing two months for me. The techniques and knowledge I gained on natural lighting were phenomenal.
Photo by Ginger Unzueta
I think photography is important because…
We never get today back. It is a way to save all of those memories and, in an essence, re-live them over and over again.
One family I photographed that I’ll never forget was…
My friend’s reunion with her husband after his 10-month deployment to the Middle East. I knew firsthand the feelings she was experiencing. There is such a surge of emotions from nervousness, relief, and thanksgiving. There are not enough words to describe the surge of emotions both the deployed loved one and the family that’s been home are feeling. Capturing such a “real” and “intimate” reunion will allow for them to reflect years down the road on this life-changing experience in addition to sharing with generations of family to come. It is pretty amazing!
Photo by Ginger Unzueta
The one thing I want my child and family photographs to communicate to deployed mothers or fathers is…
I want each photo to be a vivid reminder that family members are back home waiting for them and that, most importantly, they love and support them. Throughout my husband’s several deployments to the Middle East, he always cherished receiving photos of our family. No matter how difficult or busy his days were, seeing photos of the children and me made “everything” just fine for a short few moments. Although thousands of miles away, he was with us again as he viewed each picture…priceless!
A dream gig would be…
My husband and I have always said we’d love to go on a mission trip together. What a privilege it would be to capture photos of families in other cultures. There are so many people around the globe that have never seen themselves through photographs. This would be an incredible gift to share.
Photo by Ginger Unzueta
Show Us Your Set-Up
In-studio workstation using the Tether Table Aero Master in non-reflective black with a Peel & Place Mousepad, TetherPro USB 2.0 Cable and Clip-On JerkStopper Computer Support. Photo by Sean Armenta
You searched for it. You found it. You put it to work. We want to see your Tether Tools gear in action! Send us behind-the-scenes shots of you using your Tether Tools equipment during a shoot and you could be featured in our upcoming Tether Tools Users video.
We’ll be collecting images (and videos if you’ve got ‘em) and creating a video using Animoto that shows all the creative ways fans put their Tether Tools gear to work. You’ll get a photo credit, of course, and you may be featured in a future edition of our newsletter.
And just for participating, we’ll enter you in a drawing to win a surprise gift from Tether Tools and a free membership to Animoto, one of the best ways for photographers to maximize sales and develop a creative word-of-mouth campaign. The online program turns photos and video clips into professional video slideshows that you can easily share with clients or across your social media networks.
To have your image included in the video and be in the running for the prize, send us your behind-the-scenes images
by Friday, May 18. Be sure to include basic information such as the location and concept of the shoot. We’ll post our video featuring your image and draw a winner at random on Monday, May 21.
Equipment and Accessories for Videographers
Mount your iPad with the Tether Tools Wallee Connect for video calibration.
Tether Tools gear isn’t just ideal for shooting still photography – there are various ways to put our workstation solutions to use when shooting video as well:
- Tether Tables – Having a laptop workstation on set is ideal for production managers who want a portable working solution to access files, update scripts, develop editing notes and keep an all-around organized workflow going for the crew.
- Studio Vu – Viewing footage on a monitor for the crew to see is important when on a film set. The Studio Vu allows you to mount any monitor to an existing c-stand.
Connect your iPad to the camera via the Connect Bracket and Zacuto Adapter for use as a teleprompter.
- Wallee iPad Mounts – Using the iPad as a teleprompter, clap board, time keeper, set reference chart, or complete video planner? Then you’ll need a place to mount the iPad to your film gear. The Wallee iPad system offers complete video integration using various options – our Zacuto Adapter for Wallee or the Easy Grip System used with the Wallee Connect. And Tether Tools new Connect Light makes it easy and simple to mount the iPad within a film production setting.
- StrapMoore – When it comes to cable organization and keeping gear from getting damaged, the StrapMoore is just about the best grip friend you can imagine. Keep powerbricks attached to camera stands, prevent cords from dragging or getting caught under rolling stands, or simply use it to keep anything you need nearby.
Use the StrapMoore to keep powerbricks, cords and cables from getting caught under-foot or under rolling camera stands.
Want to see all of these solutions in action? Tether Tools will be at the 2012 NAB SHOW April 16-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center showcasing workstation solutions for video and film. Be sure to stop by the B&H Photo-Video-ProAudio Booth #C11022.
This product seems right up my alley. When I am out shooting I like to be able to review my pictures right away in something larger than the screen on the camera. Not having to worry about finding a shaded area would be such a time saver!