If Summer Paige Dunkley were to advise fellow photographers, she would tell them to focus on the emotion.
At just 14 years old, the young photographer encourages others to find the emotional side to things and look at things from a different point of view. “Emotion in a picture,” she said, “helps people feel attached to it and want to buy it.”
Summer has always been interested in visual arts, but photography became a real passion this past summer when she was visiting her father in Missouri.
“I went to a park and it had this really big fence. I just took my phone out and took this really cool picture of it. It started from there. I went back the next day and I started looking at my pictures more properly.”
Summer has gotten positive feedback from her family and peers, encouraging her to continue her passion. Her Instagram feed is filled with beautifully framed and well-lit photographs of many different things. One thing she loves to photograph is her mother’s figurines: fairies that decorate the garden in their home.
The first thing Summer does when shooting is find the best lighting. She uses the portrait mode on her phone and takes pictures in both color and in black and white.
Though her high school doesn’t offer photography as a main class, she plans to study liberal arts and theater. Once she attends college, she’ll minor in photography and videography.
Eventually, Summer wants to become a movie producer.
Tip 1: Emotion. People will look at a picture and think it’s nice. But to consider if it sells… people buy things that they feel attached to, and they feel like they’re going to want that and see it every day. Try and find the emotional side to things. Try to look at things from a different point of view.
Tip 2: Don’t take pictures in the moonlight. It doesn’t work out. Make sure you have the best type of lighting for what you’re going for. Make sure the air is still.
Tip 3: Don’t hesitate. If you think something will look good, take it. It’s better to go out of the box than do what everybody else is doing.
CONGRATULATIONS
Elton Callwood, publisher of VI Life&Style
Magazine presents a Nikon D3400 SLR
camera to budding photographer
SUMMER PAIGE DUNKLEY,
OFFICIAL WINNER OF THE 2019
BIG PICTURE CONTEST.