Today we have the transcript of a little chat we did with one of our favorites, @michellebishoff! Michelle’s portraiture is without a doubt some of the most gorgeous Mextures portrait imagery available. Her creative edits - adding surreal elements and colors - truly set her work apart and we wanted to shine an even brighter spotlight on her and her beautiful pictures. Read along!

Hello! I’m Michelle and I’m from North Carolina.

WHAT WERE YOU LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL?

Oh my! Well I was an athlete AND in the band! Which wasn’t normal! These two groups never hang out together! Which shows I pretty much can hang out with all.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

I’d like to not grow completely up! That would be boring!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD?

I love cheese!! All kinds!  But as a comfort meal any pasta dish will do.

WHAT IS YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?

I had to take a test just now to find out. Haha! The Butterfly!!! I was soooo excited to learn this! If you look through my gallery I have put butterflies allll through it! Many photos I have added butterflies! And for the last two days I have encountered amazing interactions with them!

WHAT TWO CELEBRITIES WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO BE YOUR PARENTS?

Actually I’m pretty sure none would be qualified... but Will Smith seems like a cool guy and Meryl Streep seems to have much wisdom.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

Wendy’s!

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT YOU THAT WE WOULDN’T LEARN FROM INSTAGRAM?

Oh gah! Maybe that my children ARE MY WORLD! I feel like they are the only thing I’ve done right! Second would be that I love to create beauty in every arena there is to create beauty! Whether through photography, home decor, gardening, fashion, or food!! It has to be beautiful! And I LOVE beer!! I’ve only been drinking it for two years now. I’m half of a hundred so I’ve missed out a lot!

I asked my Husband and he said, “You’re really good at using power tools!”

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY?

I started a fashion blog with my daughter! Thus her becoming the model and me the photographer. Then I realized I liked telling a story or evoking an emotion with my images! And then I branched into some writing to couple a caption with my image to carry the viewer further. I also use songs and other quotes.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU TRY TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH YOUR WORK?

I always tell a story. Whether it be light and feel good vibes or dark and emotive. I go with what I feel that day or share something that is on my mind or heavy on my heart.

HAS SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYED A ROLE IN YOUR WORK?

Absolutely! Instagram has everything to do with my photography and art now! I have been so inspired by so many images I see and by such talented artist! And using Mextures has taken my images to the next level! Without Mextures I would not be able to set the mood right on my photo! It’s ALWAYS my final go-to app in the finishing of the edit!! I’m an artist first, then photographer! So Mextures was a perfect fit for me! I am a HUGE addict of the app!!

HOW DO YOU GENERALLY APPROACH YOUR EDITING PROCESS?

I start with SnapSeed. My basic go-to for crop, detail/sharpness and contrast as well as exposure.  Then to Mextures where I’m able to achieve mood. Mextures takes my photos to the next level. The possibilities are infinite and I’m always excited to see how my photo comes alive in a Mextures Edit.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT MEXTURES THAT MAKES IT A VITAL PIECE OF YOUR EDITING PROCESS?

Mextures is my final stroke of the paintbrush! Without Mextures all my photos and feed would look entirely different! Since I’ve always been an artist, Mextures allowed me to reach that next level of editing that my artist-eye needed in order to make the photo come alive for me. The possibilities are endless and the moods, depth, and creative avenues help create a masterpiece in my opinion!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO CREATE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE?

Its always been in me! Even as a child, I was always drawing or painting . I’m not sure that I have to be inspired to create or if creating Inspires me to constantly create. It’s a drivenness in me. I have to or I become sad actually. It’s just who I am.

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOST INSPIRED YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY?

Actually I’m self taught. I haven’t been mentored and no particular person has inspired my photography. Mostly I’m inspired by all the creatives and photographers on Instagram. So much talent and creativity there!

See more of Michelle’s work here!