Mobile Photography Interview – A Day in the Life of Kristie Benoit from Culpeper, Virginia, USA
Welcome to our very exciting interview column on theappwhisperer.com. This section entitled “A Day in the Life of…” is where we take a look at some hugely influential, interesting, newcomers as well as accomplished individuals in the mobile photography and art world… people that we think you will love to learn more about. This is our 138th interview of the series. If you have missed our previous interviews, please go here.
Today we are featuring a highly accomplished mobile photographer, Kristie Benoit, we have long been admirers of her work. You will love this!
If you would like to take part in our A Day in the Life interview series, please send an email to myself at Joanne@theappwhisperer.com and I will get back to you.
Contact Details:
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
Let’s start at the beginning of the day, how does your day start?
If it’s not a weekday, I like to lounge around and have my coffee. I will also browse all my social media sites and catch up on everyone’s wonderful art. During this time, I also like to edit, if I’m feeling inclined to do so.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
Do you like to head out and take photographs early on?
If it’s going to be a foggy,moody morning, I love to get out early and shoot. Otherwise, I’m more of a late afternoon/golden hour shooter.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
How did the transition from traditional photographer to mobile photographer develop?
It was actually the opposite for me. I started out as a mobile photographer and then got into traditional photography. I use both, pretty evenly. I favor editing everything on my mobile device, though. There are a lot of wonderful and amazing apps out there for us.
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Do you like to download new mobile photography and/or art apps regularly?
Yes, if they are free. I try and keep up with the latest editing/art apps. Some I’ve grown to love, and some I didn’t like at all. It’s got to be pretty fantastic for me to pay for an app.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
What is your preferred platform, Apple iOS, Android, Windows?
I’ve always been an Apple iOS gal. I’ve never used anything else.
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Would you consider changing platforms and why?
I love my Apple device. I pretty much follow that age old adage…. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
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How often do you update your existing apps?
I check for updates once a week, and if there are any, I will do them.
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What are your favourite photography/videography apps and why, what features do you look for in a new app?
My favorites are Mextures, Snapseed, Lightroom mobile, VSCO, RNIFilms, 1967, Retouch, Tadaa, and Splice.
I love Snapseed & LRmobile for simple edits, small tweaks, bnw’s and to finish off photos. Tadaa I only use for masking. It is the best app, for me, to use when I’m looking to achieve a masked look. Splice I find the easiest for me to edit videos with, although I don’t do a lot of those.
The other apps, are great for my preferred style of editing, which is often moody. You get great fade, textures, and tone from all of those.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
Where’s your favourite place in the world for a shoot and why?
That’s a tougher question than I thought it would be. I’ve never really thought about it either. I suppose anywhere in Europe would be lovely. I’ve always wanted to shoot in the desert and any tropical location. I’m not really picky. I just need natural light.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
Where do you like to upload your photographs to – Flickr, Instagram etc?
I primarily upload to Instagram and Flickr. I’ve got a Facebook photography page and I’ve recently joined 500px.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
Do you use your mobile phone everyday to take images?
Yes, as it’s always available to me, at any given moment. It’s the most convenient camera I have.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
Do you like to use external hardware products with your mobile device for image and video capturing, such as lenses, tripods, external storage and battery packs?
I have a gorilla tripod for my phone and a remote shutter device that works with an app I have downloaded.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
Do you edit images on your mobile devices or do you prefer to use a desktop or laptop computer?
I prefer to edit on my phone. I do use Google Nik and Lightroom sometimes too.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
Where do you envisage your mobile photography passion will take you? Have you been involved with exhibitions etc.
I really do this for fun, as a hobby. I never envisioned my work would go anywhere, but I am happy to say I have been exhibited several times over the last 3 years with my mobile artwork.
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Where do you see the future of mobile photography?
I think it’s only going to continue to grow. It’s not slowing down anytime soon. I believe the equipment will only get better, as technology does, and so will the apps.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
What do you think is the most popular area of mobile photography?
I’m not really sure about this, but if I had to guess I would say street photography and portraits.
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Do you think it is country Specific, are some nations more clued up?
I’m not sure about this either. I suppose some countries would be more clued up depending on their technology levels. I think it’s more about the individual users and the access they have to all of this.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
If you could select a specification for a smartphone, what features would you select, photographically speaking?
One of my favorite new things, on the iPhone, is the portrait feature. It gives great DOF, which I love. Especially when using it for portraits, which is what I mainly do. I can’t think of anything else, other than that.
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
What do you think of Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?
Is there enough time and space to write all the things I love about Joanne and theappwhisperer.com?! The tireless amount of hours that are put into this website, by Joanne, is incredible. She has given us a platform to create, share, and learn from. A place where I have met so many incredibly talented artists who are always more than willing to share techniques, positive criticism, and their time. Joanne is loving and caring human, who deserves all the accolades given to her. I am very thankful for the numerous opportunities that have arisen for me, from the connections I’ve made through theappwhisperer.com’
Untitled ©Kristie Benoit
While you’re here…
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Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
