By Gary Geschwind
Photographer: Virginia Felch
Silverlining Images
Photographer: Virginia Felch
Silverlining Images
What is your field of photography?
Actually, I have several fields I’m passionate about. Primarily, I am a children’s photographer, but I also do family portraits, landscapes, photo montages, mixed-media with collages. My passion is seeing the light and its sculptural effect on all things.
Why 
did you choose this field?
did you choose this field?When I was a child, my father, who was a journalist, told me I had a great eye. The seed was planted.
When did you first become interested in photography?
I started when I took a Kodak Brownie camera to Girl Scout camp when I was seven years old. I think I developed my eye for beauty from my mother. About 35 years ago I met a woman who owned a local children’s clothing shop and I asked if I could take photos of the children who came to the store as a business opportunity. I would consider myself as a professional photographer ever since.
What was your academic training in photography?
I took classes at a community college, when I was about 22. Since that time, I have basically thrown myself at the feet of photographers, famous and not so famous, whose work inspired me.
Has your photographic work been influenced by the work of other photographers? How?
From Ruth Bernard, I learned to see light and its transformative effect and the power of being in the moment… As an example of her teaching, she would ask her students to take one roll of film and shoot all of it within 20 feet of their bed.
Another early mentor was a Nova Scotia photographer, Sherman Hines. After he spent time walking us through a "seeing the light" experience, he suggested setting the camera at 1/60, f/4 using ASA 160 film. With a low, broad light source look at the way the light falls on the subject and the way it sculpts the features of the person. The simplicity of this "formula" made it easier for me to focus on the people rather than the camera.
What was the biggest break in your career?
I have been fortunate to have a number of "breaks" as my career has progressed. As a professional photographer, being a woman was fairly unique in the field. My innate sensitivity (for better or worse) and focus on feeling rather than technical elements has served me very well.
Also, becoming a Master in Photography in the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) organization was a very powerful learning experience. I started competing locally and accumulating points in the local contests, then moving onto national contests. Through PPA I started teaching classes, which also gave me points. When you accumulate enough points from the competition and teaching you become a Master, which opens doors for lecturing.
What would you say is your most important accomplishment in the photographic industry?
To have created a successful career as a portrait photographer which supports me well financially and in all other ways. When a client writes me a check for a significant amount of money, with tears of joy in their eyes, it just doesn't get better. Right now, secondarily, I am mentoring online on my Facebook Group Photographing Children, and will soon begin mentoring one-on-one online. It’s a very exciting innovation for me. I love helping other "moms with cameras."
What was your most interesting or memorable shoot? Why?
When I learned about High-Key photographs taken at the beach (by Leon Kennamer). In these shots, everything is light and the skin tones on the people are the darkest. The photographs are painterly and moody. As a result, I became a photographer of people on the beach, which is now one of my signatures. 
Please describe your workflow after transferring your photographs from the camera to the computer.
I shoot with a digital camera in RAW, with the camera in aperture priority. I use Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom to manipulate the photos. I also use NIK Color EFEX pro 3.0 and do my best to make the people I photograph look as natural and 'unphotoshopped" as possible.
Do you have any parting wisdom to share with young photographers?
“Fall in love with light” and realize that everything that is YOU creates a filter through which you photograph. Follow your heart and what is appealing to you. When you photograph children, consider them your teachers, not your subjects.
