Eclectic Shades Magazine July Issue 2016 | Page 10

Zelinda: Where are you from?

Anna: I was born just outside of San Francisco and raised near Yosemite. When I was 19 my family moved to the Midwest where we lived in several states before I moved to Texas after meeting my husband.

Zelinda: What did you want to be when you were a high school senior? What changed your mind? How did you get started in your current field?

Anna: I didn't know what I wanted to be in high school - photography was a hobby at the time. After I graduated my family began moving around, so I didn't go to college at that point. After moving to Texas I considered going into dental hygiene but truthfully I was torn between what I thought I should do, and what I wanted to do. My husband's encouragement was what convinced me to go into photography full time.

Zelinda: What was the biggest obstacle(s) you had to overcome to get where you are today? How did you overcome it(them)?

Anna: Not knowing where to start. In the words of Shia Labeauf, you have to just do it. You have to start somewhere. It's like a blank piece of paper - just put down a mark. The rest will (slowly) start to come.

Zelinda: If you were not doing what you do today, what would your dream profession be? (and why?)

Anna: I would be a writer and photographer for Conde Nast - heck, maybe I'd be the editor. Maybe I'd start my own magazine and write about places and people and take their photograph. The magic of so many different flavors of life intrigues me. I'm amazed by the lives of other people and capturing them by words and camera is the way I process my own thoughts and views, at the same time memorializing them for this lifetime.

Zelinda: Who or what inspires you? (and why?)

Anna: Light. My son. My husband. Family. Good stories. (What is a portrait comprised of, other than light, love, and a good story?)

Zelinda: Outside of your profession, what are your hobbies and passions?

Anna: I love to travel and don't let having a baby stop me from going places. I can't wait to travel internationally with him. I also volunteer as a barista at Brookwood in Georgetown, love decorating my home with unique art and family photographs, and I'm dabbling with the idea of taking up scrapbooking.

Zelinda: What is your escape? (and why?)

Anna: Being outdoors with my husband, camping, hiking, sitting in cafes alone with a book or my iphone, and, not going to lie, some good window-shopping-therapy does wonders..

The ANNA KRAFT INTERVIEW