Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Willingham.
Hi Anne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story starts with being asked if I wanted to go to grad school. I said sure because I didn’t have a job lined up and more school sounded like fun. So I kind of accidentally got a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Production with an emphasis in set and lighting design.
After school, I moved to Nashville because my parents had moved here, and stayed because it had so much work available. I started as a jack of all trades doing scenic art, set design, and lighting tech work. It was as much fun as it sounds! There was always something new to work on, and I was constantly surrounded by other artists and creative people. Eventually, I settled into a job designing lighting for weddings and parties. Also, so much fun! Now I design lights for opera, dance, musicals, Shakespeare, and the occasional academic performance.
My photography world started about five years ago. Photography and lighting are more or less the same things. Theatrical lighting is ephemeral- it is in the moment and gone almost immediately. Photography is a way to capture that magic and put it on paper forever. While I shoot digitally, I love printed products for their timelessness. I love the idea that this art we create today will still be around for a child’s grandchildren to enjoy. Photography was a way to make my lighting art last.
I began Brown Bunny Photography to specialize in newborns and childhood photography. I have coached and taught swimming for decades and love playing with little kids. It was a logical move to combine all the things I love into one job. While I still take equine and actor/dancer images under the brand Anne L. Willingham Photography, most of what I focus on is creating beautiful art for parents that captures their child’s personality at each stage of childhood.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like many creatives, I am very right-brained! I love the art of photography. I do not love the business of photography. Marketing and social media impact are a constant struggle. For an artist, it feels like a waste to have most of your time taken up with things that are not art.
I firmly believe that everyone has something that they are really good at, whether they realize it or not. So I am working to build partnerships with people that love the business parts of my world so that we can all use our talents for good.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love storytelling. Each child I photograph is unique with a unique story, so each image should be special to them. I really like to meet my families before the photo session so that we can build something creative that speaks to their families. Plus it helps kids to know what is going on. It makes the session fun and not scary.
My photo sessions are really laid back and calm. We play. We tell silly jokes and make silly faces. We sing goofy songs. I bribe them with candy. Kids should have a blast while we are photographing. Otherwise, how do we get real smiles and giggles? I am low volume specifically so that each family gets my undivided attention and care.
I love capturing kids at play. I always ask mom to bring their favorite toys and loves with them. Someday that little boy is going to be a hulking, smelly teenager. Pictures of him with his lumpy little teddy bear will pull at her heartstrings forever. That sweet little girl with a much-loved baby doll might grow up to be a mother herself. Or perhaps CEO of the world. It happens so fast. My goal is to catch all those little moments along the way.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
“The role of luck” is a tricky question!
I believe that we are each created as a powerful individuals with talents and gifts that are unique to ourselves. My calling then is to use these gifts and talents in such a way that other people are blessed. When I am using my gifts to the best of my ability, I believe that God blesses that action by benefitting others and satisfying my artistic needs. I don’t know that it is luck, so much as an awareness to be looking for opportunities and a willingness to jump in and work hard with the tools I have been given.
When we say that someone is lucky, we are indicating that they have undeserved success. To answer that question we then have to define what success is and that is different for us all.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@brownbunnyphoto.com
- Website: https://www.brownbunnyphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brownbunnyphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brownbunnyphotography
Image Credits:
Brown Bunny Photography, a division of Anne L. Willingham Photography
