Q & A with Stephanie Makosky

Refreshing photographer and passionate professor as well as fellow Two Birds blogger, Stephanie Makosky shares a glimpse into her life.

Q: Tell me something you love about yourself.

Stephanie: I like to think that I am willing to try almost anything {laughs}. I’m adventurous – like I can pack up and move tomorrow if that’s what I feel like doing. I’m not afraid to take a big leap.

Q: What are your current career goals?

Stephanie: I would like to develop a nice freelance career. I would also like to continue teaching. In the near future I hope to either become a full-time professor or continue in the journalism industry full-time.

Q: What are your favorite scenarios for taking photos?

Stephanie: It depends on what hat I’m wearing that day. If I’m doing a child portrait, it’s great when the kid cooperates and I get that priceless smile or personality. I love when parents say ‘that’s so him’ or ‘that’s so her.’ If I’m covering a major event, I love [taking in] the general feeling and energy of the event. I also love the rush of deadlines.  

Q: What inspires you? In what ways?

Stephanie:Gosh, there is so much that inspires me that it’s hard to nail down. My husband. It sounds weird, but he really does. He inspires me to be a good person and kind and patient as a human, as a person. Career wise, visually just life. I love to experience life, meet people, hear intelligent stories.

Q: Describe what life was like growing up.

Stephanie: I had an interesting child hood. It was a lot of fun! I’d say it was different than some because my brother and I were with our parents all the time. I grew up on a drag strip, in a garage, by the pool, camping… I lived through my parents. I had a Grandmother that doted on me in ways I can’t even begin to explain. I feel I had a really lucky childhood; one of those where I grew up on a street with a bunch of kids of different ages and in summer you’d go out and wouldn’t come home until your mom yelled your name down the block. 

Q: Is that why you’re so adventurous?

Stephanie: No… I think I’m just a huge dreamer; I’m always thinking of what’s next. Aside from my mother, I had two other very strong-willed influences growing up – my grandmothers. One who always told me to be something, and the other lost her husband when mom was 16. My mother was a force to be reckoned with at home. I think it stems from that.

Q: Describe your ideal date.

Stephanie: {laughs} I haven’t had that many to know. It would be my husband; we would probably get dressed-up because I never get to. We would go somewhere great to eat and would have great food and great conversation. And maybe a walk for ice cream after.

Q: What do you love about marriage?

Stephanie: I love just having someone there – a teammate and a constant. Matt and I are always laughing, even when stressed and sad. There’s always someone there to pick you up – a team member in life. We love to go out and be full of life and have fun. There’s always something to do.
--Dislike?

Stephanie: I’m a private person, and sometimes I like to be alone. Sometimes we’re so in each other’s way, like if I need to use the bathroom and he gets in before I do. It takes a lot of patience, a lot of give and take and I can be a little selfish.

Q: Tell me about your hobbies.

Stephanie: I just learned to read {laughs}. No, I love to read and I’ve been reading a lot lately. It’s great at the end of the day to pick up a book and read. I like to the think I’m the next coming when it comes to playing guitar – I play classics on the weekend. I collect antique cameras; I love to go antique shopping. Anything crafty. I have a new hobby every week. I have a buttload of stamps that I don’t need.

Q: Describe your favorite season and why

Stephanie: Summer, definitely. Spring going into summer. Everything smells so great outside, flowers are in bloom and it gets dark late. It’s still bright at eight and warm. I love camp fires, love being outside all day. I love the feeling of sun on my skin; I don’t bathe in it, but just that warm feeling. I don’t like bugs though.

Q: What issues do you think as Americans we ignore too often?

Stephanie: I think we ignore each other. We as humans ignore each other. We live in a society where we build our own little world around us and don’t have to worry about what’s happening outside our doors. Whether it’s an individual needing help or a bigger issue like healthcare, it’s just so easy to only worry about yourself and that’s something that needs to change.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Stephanie: I love Julie.