hello! i am gina weathersby (gigi) and i’m the other co-founder of lemonade and lenses. i have been a little absent lately as i’ve been busy with a whole other magazine venture for the food/lifestyle side of my business….513{eats} ~ in fact, our spring issue is live tomorrow, march 1st!
lexi, who also happens to be my daughter, has done an amazing job of keeping things moving along and interesting pretty much by herself. Is it alright to tell you all how very proud of her i am, on so many levels?
since this post is about getting to know a little about the girls behind l&l, i’ll start off by saying that i, like many, started out by having a camera placed in my hands at a young age. i am proud to say i came up through the discipline of film and have made a return to it….albeit slowly. i actually didn’t start photography as a ‘business’ until 4 years ago. up until then i shot pretty much for my own indulgence as well as working as a freelance stylist for tv, features, print. my family means the world to me and they are my biggest supporters. i am quiet, but driven. i prefer lower case, warm weather, and i greatly dislike being cold. i love food, friends, laughter (i’m greek) gardening, all kinds of design and am always looking for art and beauty in my everyday life.
i run my business, kiwi street studios, out of cincinnati, ohio where i specialize in children’s portraiture, children’s editorial, fashion and most recently adding travel/food/lifestyle to the mix, thus creating 513{eats}.
between my family, friends and my many creative outlets…i am truly grateful and most blessed.
As for lemonade and lenses…we are so thrilled at what this teeny tiny little idea has grown in to (greatly due to lexi’s vision) and there is still so much to come. thank you all for being a part of this amazing community!
why did you become a photographer?
i’ve enjoyed all forms of art growing up, but i was never a ‘great’ painter, or an exceptional sculptor. when i expressed an interest in photography my father (who had an amazing eye) gave me a camera.
i quickly found that it was the vehicle that allowed me to express myself the best and something that i felt amazing at.
If you were not a photog what would you want to be?
a creative director, a director, a designer, a chef…anyone or all of them.
Who are you loyal to… canon or nikon? and your fav
my father placed a canon in my hands when i was 15. sentimental, perhaps. but that sealed the deal for me. my fav camera(s) are my original canon ae-1, my hassy and my iphone. for most of my work, i shoot with the original 5d…waiting impatiently for the 5d mark3 to arrive!
What do you shoot and why? (what is your niche?)
i have, like many, tested the waters in most things. what has stayed consistent for me since the beginning has been fashion and beauty. these days i tend to spend more time photographing children-both ‘real’ and equally, very much styled. i still work with models on a regular basis as that is where is do much of my
personal work…and they are usually up for most anything!
recently, i have given in to the fact that i also love preparing. styling and photographing food. think uber luscious cookbooks and travel.
Where do you find inspiration?
absolutely everywhere. there’s a game i’ve always played…i purposefully make myself stay away from where i think everyone else is looking.
Favorite photogs?
helmut newton, irving penn, herb ritts, richard avedon…i grew up devouring their images in the fashion magazines. i also love recently discovered icon, vivian maier as well as other icons like diane arbus, sally mann…really, there are so many that i love.
Explain your dream shoot?
i am lucky enough to say that most of my personal projects are dream shoots. i’ve conceptualized them, art directed them, work together with a crew if need be. it’s a great feeling to see a finished product next to your original sketches.
What would you say is your weakest point in photography?
artificial lighting. i truly feel i avoid it to a fault. something that i am slowly working on.
What is the scariest thing in the world to you?
to wake up without my family.
Name one wacky fact about yourself.
in high school, i was awarded the minnie mouse sound alike award. needless to say, i didn’t go up to receive it and even though i have ‘worked’ on making my voice lower…it’s still pretty high.
*i’ll be producing our july issue which will be themed…children! more details for submissions to come.
website: kiwistreetstudios.com
blog: kiwistreetstudios.com/blog
facebook: facebook.com/kiwistreetstudios
blogsite: 513eats.com
facebook: facebook.com/513eats
Digital Darkroom Photography - So cool to see who is behind this great magazine that I’m sure will continue to grow. How cool that it is mother and daughter as well. :~)