If you have so much as wiggled your baby toe into the world of children and family photography, then you have probably heard of, seen, and/or drooled over photographer Leah Zawadzki's work, better known as Lilyblue. She is an amazing photographer with a knack for making every photo she takes feel like an instant classic! And her actions and presets are the things dreams are made of! We are so grateful to have had a chance to talk with her about her style, what inspires her, and how you too can find your signature look.

MT: Can you start by sharing a little bit about yourself?  How did you get started in photography, and how long have you been at it?

I am a wife and mother to three beautiful children living in southern california.  When i was younger I studied interior design at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After working in the design industry for over ten years i had my first baby, four years after that i had boy girl twins. When the twins were in their first year i picked up the camera. I was inspired by photography sites such as flickr and found myself obsessed with getting just the right shots of my kids. In the beginning I was frustrated, because I would see other people do such beautiful things with their photography--i wanted that too. I didn't understand why i couldn't do it with the camera set to auto and the editing program that came with my camera. So I started asking lots of questions-- to others and myself. I began looking at EXIF data, examining camera settings and studying the lighting in photographs i saw. I bought photoshop, I took a class at a local camera store, and then i just started taking photos, a LOT of photos, that was about four years ago.

MT: One of the most distinct qualities of your work is your amazing post processing.  How did that style emerge? How did it develop over time to the signature look you're known for now?  What would you say to our momtographers who are struggling to find their own unique voice in their photography?

Thank you for your sweet words about my photography and processing. This is a very tough question to answer because to tell you the truth I don't really know, what I can tell you is that I have taken and still do take a lot of photos. In the beginning I would use other people's actions and presets and take hours editing one photo. I would look at the same shot forever trying to decide what it needed--what it needed to tell the story that I thought needed to be told. Style is something that comes from within you, it isn't something that can be defined or created out of a box or with the push of a button. I think the best way to find style is to stop looking and just be.  Do what you love, edit to what you think looks good to your eye, and your style will emerge from there.

We've followed Photographer David Bean for some time - both on twitter and on his Pro Corner group on Flikr for Semi-Professional and Professional Photographers.  We're big fans of not only his stunning images of celebrities and his commercial work, but his truly approachable and open desire to help other photographers along the way.  A few months ago, I was talking to a fashion-world friend of mine about stand out photographers who would offer something valuable to our moms - and David's name made the short list. We leaped at the opportunity to connect -and a phone interview (with SIX DISCONNECTS!) he was every bit the wealth of experience and graciousness we thought he'd be!

MT: David - I'd like to start with something I saw on the bio of your webpage.  It says "Art is not my life… Life is my art."  That's something that resonates so strongly with us and with our moms because of what the nature of a Momtographer is.  How did you get there?

Basically, I'm not an artsy-fartsy person at all - I don't like artsy fartsy people… someone who takes themselves way too seriously, like what they do is so important that without them the world would be this tragic place. I really appreciate arts and I appreciate the craft of photography, but it's not saving the world - I don't have any grand illusions that I'm saving anyone's life!