7 Questions • Sue of FirstlightPhoto

Sue is the woman behind FirstlightPhoto, headquartered in Elgin, Illinois. The dreamteam caught up to her recently, during a rare moment when she was actually standing still.

Poppy Feathers, firstlightphoto

1. Where do you live?
I live in Elgin, Illinois. It's a city 35 miles northeast of Chicago. I've been here all my life — not that it's a great place, but my family is all in the area and we have never talked much about moving. We're near the country where our horse, Herbie is. We acquired him last summer. My daughter, now a freshman, has been riding horses since she was in the third grade.

2. What are you obsessed with lately?
I guess I'd have to say my business. Last school year I got laid off, and so I started my business. (I did get recalled for this school year, though.) That camera goes with me everywhere. Sometimes I just keep it in the car. And I love the photo editing part the best. I usually do have something in mind when I take a photo, but with all the different possibilities on the computer, things can really change. I hardly ever watch TV because I'm always on the computer, working my website. That's going to have to change now: summer is here and I want to get outside.

Horses Grazing, firstlightphoto

3. Coffee, tea or both?
Coffee, definitely. I don't drink alcohol except on a holiday. I'll drink regular or decaf, I don't care, I just like the way it tastes. I could drink it all day!

Blue Ford Fairlane, firstlightphoto

4. What is your favorite thing about being on Etsy?
I'd have to say joining a team. I discovered teams last year and have loved them! I have made some e-friends on the teams and would love to sit down for that coffee with them, too! I've also made wonderful friends with some photographers from that team, too. They're a great bunch!

Care to share a photo of you when you were little?

5. And what is your least favorite thing about being on Etsy?
Hmmm. Selling fine art anywhere is a huge challenge. What sales I do have, I think are because I've worked so hard to get them. It's not Etsy's fault. I just have a medium that is hard to sell. The Etsy admin does seem to like a certain kind of photography, and that's about all they promote.

6. What are you afraid of?
Easy to answer ... spiders! Any kind, any size! Next question!


7. Who are you in love with?
I've been married for 24 years to my husband, Dave and we have one daughter, Gillian! Oh, yeah, I also have my miracle cat, T.J. (that's another story).