Featured Explorer: Madison Shoemake, aspiring photographer.

I would like to introduce Tandem's photographer, Madison Shoemake. If it were not for Madi, there wouldn't be an Autumn look book for me to brag about!  This lovely miss also happens to be my sister. The jury's still out on our level of family resemblance. Madi has shared my childhood and put up with my personality flaws. She's loyal, sweet, excitable, and shares my sense of humor. We have an absolute riot. Literally, at times. (We beat each other up, but that counts too.)

We shot these photos at one of our favorite spots. I have been so excited for this interview! 

Tell us about yourself.

I have blond, curly, semi-tamable hair; and greenish, slate-blue, gold eyes. I live in rural Northwest Washington (you know, the rainy part with absolutely no reliable weather forecasts) Nature is my thing. So are animals; at one time (in my earlier childhood) we had over seven cats all living under the same roof. 

None of my socks have a mate (they are always filing for divorce somewhere between the washer and the dryer) so my feet never match, but I like it that way. 

My favorite food is steak. (Ha) And I am quite partial to the Winter season (I start listening to The Sinatra Christmas Album shortly after Halloween). Most importantly, Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of my life.    

               

What was your favorite part about shooting Tandemʼs just-released autumn look book? 

Hmm... we had so much fun. Where do I start? Simply put, I love being around happy, willing, humble people. And to top that off with spending the most amazing of days with the most amazing of cameras? Enough said. <3

Any habits, hobbies, addictions, or obsessions? 

One of my favorite things (I have many favorites...) is creative writing. Reading, editing, composing, scribbling. Someday (in the nearest of futures) I hope to have my initials on one of those books engendering the Historical Fiction section of a local library. And- obviously- I have a passion for photography. (You would hope so!) 

I also have a nasty habit- and quite pleasurable, I must admit- of pestering a certain person who just happens to share my last name. (Smooch! Forgive me!) 

(Actually, she’s usually punching me. But I digress.)

She’s a pretty good person to watch old movies with; 

even though she appreciates actors like Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant,

and I usually lean towards Gary Cooper and John Wayne.    

Okay, Dead Reckoning and Action in the North Atlantic are pretty good shows- but Reap the Wild Wind and Sergeant York are still my favorites. (To see my whole history of viewing, go here)

Describe your style. 

I don’t really tie myself to any trend or style.

 I suppose I could be described as miscellaneous. 

I can be feminine but I can also be the jeans-and-sweatshirt type.... it depends on when or where you catch me. ;)

Any major ambitions, projects, or goals? 

Well, first things first. For my thirteenth birthday I had asked for a camera. A nice camera. Yes, unrealistic, but I did it anyways. To my surprise, I got one! A Nikon Coolpix, yes, but I cherished that beauty. Every time I saw its slim little black body sitting atop my desk, I couldn’t resist. Within two months I had taken over 2,000 pictures. Three months after my fourteenth birthday, my beauty broke. I swear pieces of my heart fell with my tears. Resolving not to let her death drag me down, I set my eyes on a better, more expensive prize: the Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD. A truly handsome fellow. This was, is, my dream. For now, I use my mum’s Panasonic. It shoots fairly well, but I am slowly- surely- making my way up to The Goal. 

If were sentenced to a desert island for the rest of your life, 

what is the one thing you would take with you?

Hmm... A Costco Wholesale Warehouse?

That’s cheating.

Once again, love and kudos to Madi! Thanks for reading, peeps. :)