“We started meeting regularly to play with and learn more about the digital style of photography,” said McChesney, whose primary profession is as a special education preschool teacher with North County Consortium. “After a few meetings, we decided that we were good enough that we should form a business and get paid for our work.”
Since its stellar beginning, the five friends have been shooting everything from calendars of canine companions to sessions with kids of all ages in Santa’s lap. They each sparkle when shooting their favorite type of event. Carroll, often assisted by the others in the group, shines as a wedding photographer. The talented women, who are all educators, find working with their youngest subjects both enjoyable and challenging.
“Having raised 3 children of my own and now being a grandmother, I feel very comfortable photographing babies and children,” said Morrison, who moved from San Francisco to Sonoma with her parents when she was 2. “It helps to have the edge of knowing what it takes to make the little ones smile and how to be in the right zone with teens. It’s kind of a Sponge Bob/hip-hop rule of thumb.”
While in their early teens, Carroll, McChesney, and Morrison became interested in photography. Carroll and McChesney said that they spent most of their high school years in the dark room. They developed photographs the old-fashioned way, because digital technology was light years away. Hill and Lambert took up their cameras while in college. Hill studied both psychology and photography while at the University of North Carolina.
“I studied Ansel Adams a lot in college,” said Hill, who later received her Masters in Education from San Jose State University and is currently an administrator in special education for the Sonoma County Office of Education. “It was great because the emphasis was on black and white photography and dark room work. I remember my professor saying that if you get one good shot out of a roll of 36 you are lucky.”
All five said that it is the other women in their tightly knit cluster who inspire them the most. They learn from one another, support each other, and have a whole lot of fun. They each nudge, not only themselves, but also their fellow celestial beings to get even better at their craft. They continuously take classes in photography and explore new software applications in their effort to make heavenly art.
“I’m learning to see light, texture, lines, shapes and, most importantly, emotion,” said Lambert, who often invites her second grade students’ parents, several of whom are also professional photographers, to share their photographs with her class. “A favorite photograph of mine is of a ballerina, wearing a purple tutu, holding a bouquet of purple and white posies, while standing next to her smoky white horse.”
“We went out in the mustard a few weeks ago and within a few minutes I was busy photographing all these people in the mustard,” said Carroll, who with her daughter owns Wedding Photography with Heart. “I love photographing engagement parties, weddings, mothers-to-be, births, kids, senior portraits, and just people’s everyday lives.”
Five Shooting Stars is hosting a Glamour Party at Carroll’s home in Santa Rosa on Sunday, April 5, 1–4 p.m. For $40, one of the Five Shooting Stars will take the subject’s single or group portrait in a variety of settings and in several poses. The price includes one 5×7 photo and other prints may be purchased for an additional charge. The event was designed for women of all ages to experience just how beautiful they are.
“The five of us are having a wonderful time working and playing together and our connection and friendship deepens with each other every time we get together,” said McChesney, with a twinkle in her eye. “I hope we can build to the point of generating enough income to allow us to retire from our full-time jobs and pursue our photography.”
To see the photographers’ work, go to fiveshootingstars.com. Contact Mimi Carroll at 707.537.8295 or Kathryn Hill at 707.695.4066 to learn more about the group’s Glamour Party.
