Place you live: Des Moines, IA

Can you sum up Des Moines? We’re the Midwestern underdog, commonly referred to as “fly-over country” but next time stop and stay awhile and we’ll far exceed your low expectations.

What is a perfect day in Des Moines? The weather in the Midwest can be extreme. The perfect day is in the spring or fall and includes a fresh-squeezed orange juice from Zanzibar, a picnic from South Union Bakery in the Downtown Sculpture Park, a concert at the Vaudeville Mews, and then taking in the Iowa Cubs fireworks and a six-pack of tallboys from a rooftop with a view.

How long have you been using Instagram? 1.5 years

Do you shoot with your phone or other cameras?  I do both. I appreciate the challenge of working with limited tools to tell stories. But at the end of the day, it’s still just a tool. So I believe you should share what makes you proud and happy, regardless of the tool used. If I’ve just shot a subject with my camera phone and my DSLR camera, I’m obviously going to select the image that turned out the best.

What is your editing process? Afterlight and VSCO if I use anything. Usually just slight adjustments to contrast and color.

Do you create images outside of Instagram? I do. I am a freelance photographer so most of my images are created outside of Instagram, but I try and include a selection of all the things that I’m working on.

Has Instagram/phoneography affected how you shoot? It’s trained me to see more in squares. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.

Can you give a couple of tips to aspiring Instagram photographers? It’s easy to follow trends and hack what “works” but we have enough of those accounts. Do something different. (And quit jumping.)

Who are your three favorite Instagrammers? @brockdavis @adamscarpenters @moneal

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instagram.com/reallykindofamazing