Delaware Photographer, Misty Dawn Pfeil
My Story
To say that photography is my passion may sound cliche, but I can think of no better way to describe what it truly means to me. A camera in my hand feels like HOME.
The seed was planted with one of my very first jobs as a teenager, working in a one-hour photo lab. As I developed film for my more experienced customers, I marveled at the images before me. It created a hunger in my soul, to create the caliber of photos I was developing. It was hard to put down the camera once I'd picked it up. Eventually, I became the manager of that photo lab, processing my own work in between customers as I taught myself photography. I became so experienced at color correction that customers even followed me across town when I changed stores, wanting only my hands on their precious memories.
After I married, my husband encouraged me to return to college to dive into the world of digital photography. The resulting visual communications education enabled me to get a job in graphics production and start my own photography business on the side. I then found myself freelancing for the local newspaper AND doing weddings on weekends, in addition to my day job. The juggling act had me soon realizing that something had to give! So, in 2008, photography became my full-time job when I decided to leave behind the comfort and security of the 9-to-5 lifestyle in favor of pursuing my career as a visual artist.
Fast forward a few years...Misty Dawn Photography was successful and flourishing. My photojournalism work was published locally in The News Journal and Signature Brandywine magazine. My wedding work was published in Delaware Bride magazine and on popular national wedding planning blogs. I was also teaching photography as an adjunct visual communications professor at Cecil College (which I continue to do, to this day). Then, in 2013, I won "Best Photographer in New Castle County" in the annual First State Favorites contest, just months before giving birth to our first child.
After we welcomed our daughter into the world, I became passionate about documenting her many milestones and creating an archive of our family memories. I made the difficult decision to scale back my business to be home with my daughter (and later my son, as well). Though I continued teaching and doing photography part time, I took on the primary title of Stay-at-Home Mom.
Photography has still been part of my day-to-day as a mother. Many days I record our family moments with an iPhone, for ease of sharing, but I still love to pull out my Nikon regularly. Now that my children are older and both in school, I am eager to turn my focus (pardon the pun) back to my photography business once again.
My Skills
My photojournalism experience has given me the ability to anticipate decisive moments before they happen, pressing the shutter at just the right second. The years I spent managing an Express Photo Lab and working as a Graphics Production Specialist have made me a proficient photo editor, allowing me to quickly process images for accurate color and density. In college, I learned the careful arts of digital imaging, lighting, and posing from professors who were ahead in their fields. Through the years, I’ve also attended advanced photography seminars, as well as worked with dozens of fellow creative professionals, picking up little tidbits of knowledge at every turn. All of these experiences have contributed to my diverse set of skills.
My Style
Authentic, Evocative & Artistic are the three words I feel most accurately describe both my portfolio and my approach to photography. My unique style is a culmination of 20+ years experience in many areas of visual communications, including photojournalism, graphics production and managing a photo lab. Relying heavily on my background in photojournalism, I take an unobtrusive approach to storytelling - striving to capture the most authentic moments as they happen without directing or interfering with them. When a bit of direction is needed, I apply my posing skills and supplemental lighting skills, and produce evocative portraits and dramatic detail images. Always thinking creatively, I strive to find artistic angles from which to portray my subjects. I like to strike a balance between documenting my subjects in a way that is largely unscripted, while also posing my subjects in good lighting for a wall mountable portrait. Sometimes I'm a fly on the wall, quietly capturing the tears, laughter, and action without influencing what's happening before me. Other times, I take control of lighting and posing when needed, directing my subjects on where to stand and what to do.
I’m inspired by so much around me – a creative angle from a movie scene, the lyrics to a song, the lighting on a nature walk, or my experience as a mother, observing my children.
My Personal Life
Outside of photography and #momlife, I'm just your average geek. I love movies & music. My brain devotes entirely too much space to song lyrics and random movie lines. My husband and I often communicate via movie quotes. I adore animals of all kinds, but especially have a soft spot for cats & kittens. My family passionately fosters kittens when we can and I have volunteered my photography skills to help shelter animals find their forever homes. Fostering brought me face to face with my soulmate cat, who rescued me more than I rescued him.
Other things that bring me joy, in no particular order:
· Harry Potter Wizarding World (and Butterbeer!)
· Disney & Universal theme parks
· My iPhone camera, for capturing daily life
· Singing loudly in the car alone
· Starbucks Cold Brew
· Taylor Swift (my daughter and I are both Swifties!)
· Fantasy stories, both in print and on screen. Harry Potter, MCU, Star Wars, LOTR, ACOTAR...you name it, I’m probably a fan.
· Pumpkin season
· Pedicures
· The beach, especially at sunrise
