8 Questions and 2 Imperatives for Jana Frandsen

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Who are you?
I’m Jana Frandsen. I own Wink Photography, a Vancouver-based company that specializes in wedding, portrait and life event photography.

Who is your role model?
My 20 month old daughter, Quinn. She sleeps 14 hours a day, has every meal brought to her on command, and has people convinced that everything she does is adorable. That kid has it figured out!

But seriously… I’m not terribly into idolizing celebrities – I like to approach role models like I approach photography: by finding small bits of inspiration in many places. I’m inspired by the everyday actions of people around me.

Describe your management style.
It’s a funny thing in my industry when we talk about management; photographers need to be aware of and directing both what’s happening in front of, and behind the camera. My job is to make people comfortable and happy. During a shoot, I’m focused on my subjects – but I’m also never afraid to delegate or ask for help from my team. At events or weddings, it is critical that everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves. Humour helps, especially when it’s at my expense… we always have a good time!

What is your biggest professional accomplishment?
Launching Wink Photography in 2007. I absolutely love my job – helping tell the important stories and capturing the special moments in people’s lives is the best feeling in the world.

What was your first job?
After high school, I was a Barista at a Starbucks store in Coquitlam. I quit when they promoted some young know-it-all to run the place.

What are you reading right now?
I belong to a fantastic book club called Sparkle Motion: Your Local Gay Book Club. We’re currently reading The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. I love the friends I’ve made, and I certainly don’t have the heart to tell them I’m married to a guy.

Tell us one thing about yourself that might surprise people.
While working as a set decorator in film, I was responsible for constructing all of the corn seen in Children of the Corn VII: Revelation. It took me five days in a warehouse with a hot glue gun. Every time I accidentally glued my hand to the stalk, I could only ask “why didn’t they shoot this damn movie during corn season?”.

What is the last conference you attended?
The Digital Wedding Forum 2010 in Nashville Tennessee.  I was pregnant. Have you ever been to Nashville sober? (Not to mention vegetarian. Yikes).

Blackberry or iPhone?
iPhone. (and iMac and iPad, oh my.)

What’s your Internet guilty pleasure?
I am obsessed with Pinterest. It’s a great way to get sucked into the internet for five hours at a time, caught in a complex web of DIY pillow-making, dogs wearing seatbelts, and Moroccan quinoa recipes.

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Jana Frandsen is the owner of Wink Photography, the Official Photographer of the 2011 Art for Life fine art auction. She can be reached at Jana [at] winkphotography.ca.