Unraveled Expert Artist Interview | Meredith Frye, UEA
We are so thrilled to welcome Meredith Frye to the blog today!! As one of our latest Unraveled Expert Artists, we cannot wait to see her grow and lead in this community.
Meredith is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, military spouse and momma, sometimes potty- mouthed, tequila loving, light lover and passionate human being. Her husband John, along with their 2 sons Christopher and Taylor are the absolute best part of her life. She loves photography and capturing moments since her first camera given to her around the age of 8. She loves people and life and building connections with those she meets. Her hope is that she can bring some light and hope into your life. Photography has opened this space where she can create and visually see beauty in you and in her surroundings. While growing up in a dysfunctional environment it made her just that more aware of how finding the light, beauty and love in our everyday lives is one of the most important things she can do. There are moments as they are happening that she feels intensely aware that time is slipping. It is her desire to capture those moments and give them back to you. There is nothing more precious than to savor our families, friends and loved ones while we are still here to do so.
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Here is Meredith, Unraveledβ¦
What inspires your art?
People, Music, My hometown and my beautiful state of Kentucky. As a child but especially from middle school age and on I always had a camera with me. My friends knew I would be taking photos of everything. I was drawn to not wanting to miss a thing and somehow capturing that moment so I could hold on to it. A sense of nostalgia but I think maybe it is even deeper than that. There is something in my soul that just calls to me. Photography gives me a way of expressing it.
What do you shoot with? Camera body and favorite lens?
Fuji XT4 and XT3. 35 1.4 All day long! I also use Fuji 56 1.2 and 10-24 4.0.
What other ways do you express your creativity?
I love home decor and plants. My husband and I started redoing our home during Covid and we both love it. John does all the carpentry, building and I am usually assisting him and painting. We both love Pinterest but John calls it the devil because we both see all these ideas that we want to try to bring to life. Last year he finished most of our outdoor area where we both love to spend most of our time. I have garden boxes, plants and flowers. We plan on adding more this year and a bigger garden.
How do you de-stress at the end of the day?
When it's warm I love sitting on my back patio, listening to music and a cocktail. In the winter its usually Hot tub time and netflix.
What kind of music do you listen to while editing?
Grace Potter, P!nk, Stapleton, Maroon 5 I absolutely love music, so I am always looking for new people to discover when it comes to music. This past year I am loving a new artist, Bee Taylor. She is straight fire!! Look her up, you won't be disappointed.
What is your favorite book?
Eat, Pray, Love! My all-time fav!! Where The Crawdad's Sing from this past year.
Name one movie that inspires you.
There are so many it is hard to say just one. I love baseball movies!! Somehow, they always seem to inspire me. Also, anything from the 80's like Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, The Outsiders, Goonies.
How do you handle self-doubt or creative slumps?
There have been times when I just needed to take a break from SM so logging out for a few days to maybe a couple weeks at time. I will try to do yoga, walk and mediation to get out of my head. I use some different apps for yoga and meditation. Then of course there are those times where drinking tequila and blasting some music while I dance like a crazy person in my living room helps.
What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey?
Self-doubt and imposter syndrome was bad those first few years and I think because so much of this we do on our own makes it somewhat lonely at times. It isn't like you are creating or working with large teams or assistants so it can feel a bit overwhelming at times. Thankfully I have found some local photogs in the last year plus having our online UA community has been huge in getting through those difficult times or creative slumps when they happen.
What is your favorite pizza topping?
I absolutely love PIZZA and can eat a lot!! I love Chicken, Mozzarella, Spinach and Mushrooms. I love White pizza!! And of course, just Pepperoni and extra cheese.
What is your most favorite kind of light and why?
I love golden hour, but I have come to appreciate all kinds of light. Kentucky weather is crazy, and you cannot depend on golden hour yumminess so I have learned to adapt and use what I got. I will say I do prefer natural light over studio or indoor.
Who is one of your favorite photographers?
There are so many...Dani Ford, Stormy Solis, Meg Loeks, and so many in UA. I find inspiration in them all.
What is your favorite course or lesson at Unraveled?
That is hard to say. This past year I have loved the Creative Practice. It just allows you to do whatever, no expectations and just have fun. I also think this has helped me learn and push myself to try things that maybe I wouldn't have without it.