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Boatwright's passion for photography may only be surpassed by her love of music, particularly heavy metal. "I feel like it is my responsibility to include information about heavy metal every time I have the opportunity," she says. This obsession was inherited from her mother, who photographed heavy metal bands in Ohio when Boatwright was growing up, and who gave her a camera when she was fourteen. "It was a Canon T50," she says. "I went to a lot of concerts and ended up shooting live bands and it evolved from there." Her big break was Ecko Unlimited clothing: "They had me shoot a ton of images that ended up on their huge tent at the Magic Trade Show in Vegas. I ended up doing a lot of their advertising as well." Whether or not the subject matter is music, Boatwright approaches all of her projects with the same obsessive zeal. "I'm just down to work. I absolutely love people and the best part of shooting is getting to meet them," she says. When Boatwright is not shooting for clients, she's creating personal projects or photo editing for Mass Appeal Magazine. When Seventeen Magazine asked artist Travis Millard to be December's cutest boy, he told them he'd do it if Boatwright took the pictures, having been photographed by her before. Boatwright now freelances quite regularly for Seventeen, sometimes booked for five shoots in a day.
In 1997 I quit my full time job at a professional photo lab and just started freelancing. I had a lot of money in the bank and before I knew it I had no money in the bank but I was able to do it. How would you define your style? I feel the more the photographer knows about himself or herself the less they have to worry about creating a style. It just happens naturally. I try to bring out every person�s personality that I shoot. I absolutely love people and the best part of shooting them is getting to meet them.
How has photo editing helped your photography?
I wish I had the luxury of choosing things more liberally. But basically it is usually you've got a half an hour and it has to be done here. A lot of what I do is 'make it happen'. If I have the luxury of choosing a location I tend to stay with really gritty wall backgrounds and I work with a lot of graffiti. I work with a lot of graffiti artists and I tend to use them when I can. I tend to acclimate my subjects to the environment; they tend to become part of the environment. I like to leave a lot of negative space. What drew you to graffiti artists? It's a combination of two of my favorite things, art and giving people the finger. I just like the whole attitude. They see things in words, patterns, and shapes. It started in the 70's and 80's, these kids didn't have anything and they were taking back the streets. How does one find a graffiti artist? I was shooting for Mass Appeal, which is a graffiti magazine. I slowly started becoming involved in it. I began paying attention and soliciting. I've used a few legendary graffiti artists so now I know a lot of them.
I don't know man. I have a sick drive. When I want to do something I do it, even if it takes me four years to get it done. I do not stop. I have an unreal amount of energy. If I am not constantly producing something I get depressed. Is there something specific that will make you want to shoot something? It is definitely music. When I hear songs that I love it gives me chills and I go crazy daydreaming. I love it. What is it about music, particularly heavy metal that attracts you? It's the energy that I'm attracted to. People go crazy for these bands and will throw themselves at the stage. It's crazy. I just love being in the middle of everything. Once a guy flew over the barrier and I got hit and after that I was really woozy the whole day. How does shooting for a fashion magazine like Seventeen compare to what you usually shoot? I love shooting for the teen magazine and I have no idea why. I actually bring my Mamiya RZ with my telephoto lens and make sure everyone is smiling. It's a blast. The last shoot was for a column called 'Would You Date This Guy'. They photograph a guy and interview him and talk about him. I've done four of them so far. Where do you see yourself in five years? I'd like to have kids. I'd like to still be photo editing or maybe become an art buyer for an advertising agency. Maybe I can have a nice place with a porch or a backyard
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