Arielle Doneson Photography | New York and Ohio lifestyle photographer – Personal: Favorites03.31.11

I went to hear one of my heroes, superstar photographer Jasmine Star give a talk in Akron two nights ago (yes, she’s that gorgeous woman giving the talk in the photo above.)  Before I even got in the car to begin the 45 minute journey to the venue I was oddly nervous about attending this event.  I think it was the thought of being in a room filled with hundreds of other photographers.  Even the idea of such an experience seemed reminiscent of my days at cattle call auditions in NYC, squished together with masses of other girls who looked, talked, and sung pretty much just like me.  In other words: demoralizing.  And yet, when I arrived at that Hilton in Akron to hear Jasmine’s presentation I was immediately taken out of that negative headspace.  You know why?  Guess who I met seconds after I entered the room: Jasmine Star herself and her husband, JD!  I was amazed that such a huge force in the photography world would be right there at the door having conversations with EVERY PERSON WHO ENTERED.  We chatted about books  And where those negative expectations lived moments before I now had the feeling that I was going to hear a friend give me some useful advice.  It felt so personal, so different, so opposite-of-anonymous!

The blurb about the event claimed her talk would be about “Social Media and Marketing,” and yes, that was covered, but the thread that came through to me like it was made of steel was that I, Arielle, have something completely unique and different to offer the world of photography.  (Wow! Not exactly like the message sent to the huddled masses of sopranos in the murky corners of NOLA studios in NYC.)  Part of showing that individual specialness is being personal, vulnerable and honest in my blog posts.   So, for anyone online who’d like to know, here is a bit about me in the form of a list of my Favorite things:

BOOK:

Anna Karenina

I know I’m reading the work of a great writer when I find myself thinking the following:

“I have had this very thought a hundred times in my life but was never able to put it into words until I read them here on this page.”  Reading Anna Karenina I had that thought countless times.  Not only do I love Tolstoy’s famous(ly long) novel for the incredible psychological insights into his characters, but the first time I ever met my husband we discussed this book so it will always hold a particularly special place in my heart.

DESSERT:

Profiteroles.  With coffee ice cream, of course!

I first had Profiteroles in my college years while studying abroad in Paris.  They are awesome.  If you ever see these gorgeous choux pastry creations on a menu you should order them.  There’s a restaurant in my native state of Michigan called The Common Grill where they make them with the most gorgeous coffee ice cream and homemade chocolate sauce….  It’s also especially fun to say the word profiteroles with an obnoxiously bad French accent…just sayin’

STORE:

Anthropologie or Target.

Basically, most of the things I own come from one of these fine establishments.  I can easily spend an hour wandering through either.  Well, maybe two in Target…

MOVIE:

Amélie or Pride and Prejudice (And yes, I’m not ashamed to say that I mean the new one with Keira Knightley.)  I would basically like to live inside these movies.  Or at least have their respective set designers come and decorate my home.

TV SHOW:

Mad Men!  I’m obsessed with the adventures of Don, Peggy, Roger, Joan and the whole crew…  and with their wardrobes.

I also have been known to watch marathon sessions of most BRAVO reality shows.  Though, try as I may, those housewifes are just too much for me…

PUNCTUATION:

I put this in because you may have noticed that I over-punctuate.  It’s, like, problematic.

But I especially love the ellipses…for various reasons…because it implies…so much…stream of consciousness…or something.

WHEN I’M NOT SHOOTING, I ENJOY:

Reading or Cooking.  I actually have a cooking blog called desperate housediva. It started out as sort of a journal from my last days as a New York opera singer and chronicles some of the adventures I had as I began to identify less as a NY opera diva and more as a photographer in Amish Country, Ohio.  Those first few posts are painfully honest about what I was feeling at that time in my life.  Sometimes I am amazed at how fearful I was at the prospect of leaving my New York life and trying something unknown.  As a person who generally hates transitions I find it comforting to be reminded of how much good can come from leaving what I knew and exploring the road less traveled.  I know now that packing up that life and starting a new one with my love in the Midwest was the best decision I have every made.

ALBUM:

Jazz singer Lizz Wright is my favorite recording artist in the world.  I have had the opportunity to see her live 2x and the second time I totally cried.  Like  12-year-old-girl- seeing-Bieber-cried.  I went to see her performance with two of my dearest friends and we sat in the first row.  I could have reached out and touched her (I didn’t, though, just in case you were feeling anxious…)  I just felt so moved by her beautiful, soulful voice and presence that I found myself tearing up.  On the one hand I was of embarrassed to be blubbering like a tweenybopper but at the same time I felt awestruck by the reminder that music can have such a deep effect on us.

PLACE:

My favorite place in the world is the Leelanau peninsula of Michigan in August.  It’s where I spent every Summer as a kid.  It’s where/when I got married.  To me, Leelanau = family, friends, love,.. good times all around.  That gorgeous azure shore of Lake Michigan in late Summer is more beautiful than any sea in the world.

PERSON:

My husband, Yuri.

Photo of us laughing from our wedding, by Melisa McKolay.  How could I resist those dimples!?

I have so much to share from a video on how to make your own SLR Purse to a sneak peak of some shots with a fabulous Baritone named Greg coming up.  But for now I am going to go cuddle up on the couch with a cup of Earl Grey tea (another favorite!) and read.  There are literally 5 inches of snow outside my window and tomorrow is the first day of April.