Look mom - I'm in the paper!

(This article ran in the Statesman this morning. I'm pretty happy with it. Must admit getting interviewed was a little nerve racking, but Helen did a great job. As for the Gen Art shows... there were only 1200 people at two of them. The others only had a couple of hundred people.)

GlossyFuture

Sledd trained her eye on photography at young age

Mary Sledd

Age 26

Status: Single, but taken

Austin connection: Lifelong Austininte. Her parents, Melissa Sledd and the late James Sledd, founded Sledd Nursery on West Lynn Street, and her grandfather, James Sr., was a well-known Enlgihs professor at the University of Texas.

Schools: McCallum High School:University of Texas bachelor of art degree, honors humanities. Additional photo courses at Austin Community College.

Current Position: Self-employed photographer. She’s also a partner in the entertainment Website do512.com

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was really little I wanted to be a vet, but later I wanted to be a lawyer so I could wear a three-piece power suit and carry a briefcase.

How’d you get into photography?

I started taking pictures at 14. My Aunt Laurie, who’s a photographer, gave me her old camera, and I fell in love. Then the (Austin) Chronicle found me when I was 16 and I started taking pictures for them. Then word got out I was 16 and I was demoted to intern. While I was still in college Gen Art (an organization that promotes emerging artists) repped me, and I had a few art shows with 1200 people in attendance. And I was still shooting for the Chronicle and shooting bands.

What did you study at ACC?

While I was still at UT, I took some photography courses at ACC. The portrait photography teacher hated me. The olan mills thing, I could never get. Or didn’t want to get. I made a C.

So your work took on a life of its won while you were still in college. What happened when you go out?

When I graduated (in 2003) I thought I wanted to go to law school. School is sort of addictive. So I applied to Whittier College and go ta full scholarship. I showed up for registration and never went back. Then my college boyfriend dumped me, and I saw a Craigslist posting for a reality show called ‘Faking It..’ I auditioned, and I got it. I went to L.A. for five weeks. I have to admit I invented a person I know they would cast. I won, on the show. But the show never aired. They decided it was too far from reality, I guess. All this time (sinche college) I’d been working at the nursery. After the reality show, I knew I only wanted to be there one day a week and I wanted to make the photography thing happen. So I just started making calls.

Were you worried about being able to make a living at photography?

I thought I couldn’t. Then I decided it just didn’t matter. If it didn’t work, I’d move home. But it did work.

You do all sorts of work, right? Even weddings?

I have a separate company that does weddings, so yes, every Saturday between now and December I do weddings.

How does the family nursery business play into your life?

I love the nursery. I don’t want to work there 40 hours a week, but it’s a beautiful place to be. And you meet so many people there. It doesn’t hurt when I’m (shooting) an event that I already know the key players because they shop there.

Who or what is your all-time favorite photographic subject?

There’s this one definite person who changed my life: Janean Garofalo. I’m 17 at SXSW. The Chronicle assigns me to shoot a star. And I ruined the film . I was so nervous about getting it right and I got it wrong. I called and (Garofalo) said OK; I could have 5 minutes at Firth and Congress. I ddi it again, and everything was OK. Had she said no, it’s very possible that the Chronicle would’ve fired me and I would’ve give up on photography and become a lawyer.

- Helen @nders

Alicia

The rain just would not stop! We had to reschedule these photos so many times we decided to just push through despite the rain. We wanted to take some photos in the Peacock Lounge, but the bar tender never showed up to let us in. :(

Mike and Gen

Thanks you two! I had fun walking around down town. Wish I could photography your wedding! (For you readers Mike is in the Military so they are going to have to shift there wedding date... such is life. )

Convetion

BUSY BUSY BUSY! I keep thinking things will slow down around here, but the work keeps pouring in. This is from a photo shoot for a magazine about Conventions. They are doing a story about Austin. I'm not sure when it will run... BTW if you live in Austin and you've never done the bat thing get out there and do it! I splurged and spent the $16 so my assistant and I could go on the cruise for the photo shoot. It was worth every penny. We had a great time. I don't think the other folks on the cruise were very excited about the huge amount of gear we brought, but you can't always make everyone happy. :)

Picnic - ing

Talk about a good time. This weekend I photographed the company picnic for a big local tech company. It was a great time. I much prefer company picnics to holiday parties. There are way fewer drunk people and more kids. :)

Colleen and Chris

Colleen was an amazing sport! She kept her cool when we got kicked out of the church before we started formal photos AND she was a great sport when her shoes fell apart during her first dance. She simply asked a guest staying at the hotel if she could borrow some socks and went on dancing the night away!

Video Vows!

Wow. The New York Times video vows are ADDICTIVE! Check out this one about two Santa Clause impersonators. :) LINK HERE.

Annie and Jonathan

Ceremony was at Riverbend Church
Reception was at the Omni

Annie

Annie was a great sport with all of the tromping around at the botanical garden we did on Saturday. Annie wanted something very formal for her bridal so that is what we did. :)

Colleen

Another fun day of shooting at the Zilker Botanical Garden. Colleen looked stunning! She has a knock out smile and was a great sport about walking in her heals. :)

Disco

discos
Originally uploaded by SleddPhotography.

My aussie pup is starting to get BIG!!! We went out to the family farm yesterday and he loved chasing all the other animals.

Ms. Yurko

Ahhh!!!! I got to photograph Ms. Yurko's wedding. This is my first mother of a brides wedding that I've photographed. :)

Overlooked

Just filling a print order and found this photo. Something about it really strikes me now. I don't remember taking it or editing it, but I really like it.

Nice light...

Photographed another sweet little baby today. This little guy is impossibly sweet.

Annie and Jonathan

Could it have been any more windy today? Makes it tricky! Y'all do great.

Jeff and Jessica

Congrats you two! These are some VERY quick snap shots from when I ran into the two of them at Green Pastures brunch while they were celebrating there new engagement. Jeff and I know each other because we lived together in the same hippie coop Royal House.

Fun times with the girls!!!

What a fun IDEA!!! Annie had the great idea of doing a photo session with all of her girls! We had fun tramping around down town. Would have been better if it had not been soooo windy.

Litte People

Another little person.

Cute!

I thought this was too cute not to post.