In the United States, the state of North Carolina
is nestled sweetly between the Atlantic
Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains-a cornucopia of gorgeous scenery from
mountaintop to shore, and a dream for any
photographer; however, there is something
even more beautiful and picturesque to be
found here, and Michelle Bishoff, wife, and
mother of five, wakes up every day with the
intention of capturing it.
“I started with my iPhone, shooting
landscapes,” said Bishoff, “But when I got a DSLR,
I quickly moved to photographing people. My
family is the most important thing to me and
my daughter, in particular, is a huge inspiration
to me because she has encouraged me to go
after my dream of being a photographer.”
Some people joke about breeding a hockey
team, and Bishoff--while close--has bred a
“dream team” of muses instead. With her
daughter as her main muse and her other four
children no strangers to the lens, Bishoff is never
left wanting for a subject, or with the inability
to produce the beautiful pictures she conceives.
This is a fortunate circumstance for which Bishoff
is ever grateful, because once she sets sight on
an image in her head, she is driven by a deep
need to produce it through photography.
Often inspired by the circumstances in her
life or a loved one’s life, self-taught Bishoff
knows that her keen eye will only take her
as far as her technical skills when it comes
to producing her vision. “I have a lot more
to learn,” reveals Bishoff, “Photography has
become my passion, an ou tlet that is all mine
and extends past my limits of creativity. I’m
a very transparent person, real and honest,
and therefore all my work is the same - you
get all of me in my work.”
Energized by the images she sees on
Instagram, Bishoff took the leap from
hobbyist to professional photographer two
years ago. Although she does acquire paid
gigs, her desire to put her family first has kept
her from going full force. Despite this, Bishoff
enjoys her artistic journey as is, reveling in
motherhood, artistic creativity, and being
a valued member of a larger community;
she has the pleasure of spending time with
her children, capturing all of their precious
moments, and she considers the support
from family and friends to be nothing short
of a beautiful gift.
Bishoff imparts, “I love inspiring others
and hope that my work sparks something in
people, more than just looking at a photo.”
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