Name: Joanna Puza
Owner, Joanna Puza Photography
How long have you had the studio here in Concord?
One-and-a-half years. I had a studio in Henniker for two years, and I was thinking of eliminating my studio altogether because I do so much shooting on location. But I was coming to Concord a lot and I found this place, and it's just been great.
How long have you been a photographer?
For about 10 years. I started out of my home, and I would just bring all my gear to people's homes and shoot there. Then I started working for Maclean-Stevens. After a while, I broke out on my own and had the studio in Henniker before I came to Concord.
What is your style as a photographer?
I figure “Why not capture life like it is?” I try to have a relaxed, chill approach. Part of me wants my clients to like that sort of thing, because that's what I love. But I want to give my clients more options to choose from. I show them a lot of pictures. A lot of times, I'll put up a gallery and there will be three photos that look really similar, but they are all different, and I prefer to let the client choose.
Do you use different cameras for all the different kinds of shoots that you do?
I use one camera with a bunch of different lenses, like a telephoto and a wide angle.
Are you brand-loyal to any particular camera?
I've always shot with Nikons, but only because I started with a Nikon and accumulated lenses over time. So when I buy a new camera I stick with Nikon because all the lenses are interchangeable.
Who is more hesitant in the maternity photos, the men or the women?
I think a lot of the people who come in, especially the women who have had kids before, are open to it. But the men are into it, too. I try to have a pretty laid-back style. Sometimes at first the women are a little modest, but by the end they are usually really comfortable.
Do you have any tips or tricks for keeping young children still or looking at the camera during a shoot?
One of the things that helps is when the parents step back so the kids can focus on me and the camera. When parents can step back and let me do my thing, it makes it a lot easier for the kids to focus on just one thing.
Of all the different genres and categories you shoot, which is most difficult? And which do you enjoy the most?
I love doing the maternity shoots, but I also love shooting family photos outside, where everyone can relax and move around. It changes seasonally for me – I love doing indoor studio stuff starting in November or so, but come spring I can't wait to get outside.
Have you ever dealt with any “bridezillas?”
Knock on wood, I have the nicest clients in the world. I get most of my business through word of mouth, so I end up feeling like they are my friends when I'm shooting at their wedding. And I only do about nine weddings a year. I've been to Bermuda for a wedding, and this year I'm going to Baltimore. But if I had my way, I would do backyard, hay bale kind of weddings, with brides on rope swings.
If you could photograph any event or person in history, what would it be?
If I could shoot one event, it would be with my grandparents, if I could go back in time. I always tell my clients, “You can always do more photos, but you might as well capture the moment now.” That's one thing I really wish I had, was a real shoot with my grandparents. To me, that would be the best gift in the world.
But I also lived in Asia and visited Africa, but it was after college and before I was a photographer. You would see all these people that are just beautiful, and I wish I had been there with the knowledge I have now – all the fish markets and open air markets and sarongs and temples.
Are there any famous photographers who influenced you or inspired you?
I like Irving Penn. One style I really love of his was he did a series where he froze food in Tupperware to create different shapes and colors and then arranged them for pictures.
And I love Joyce Tenneson. She does gorgeous work, a lot of photos of women that are very angelic. I've done a series of shoots with mothers and their children from Henniker, called Jo Mama. It's sort of a yearbook of local women. and it was inspired in part by Tenneson.
Puza's studio is located at 9 Pleasant St. She can be reached at 491-9645.
