Channel8 New from Mediacorp recently interviewed me on my thoughts (as founder and photographer of Oh Dear Studio) on AI and its impact on traditional family photography. While AI certainly did disrupted alot of industries, I am confident it cannot replace the experience of a in-person photoshoot, specially one with your love ones (family members).
Related Read: Why AI can never replace a family photographer
However, I was pretty intrigued what will an interview with an Ai chatBot will be like, hence I input this prompt and got Claude to ask me 30 questions. A mixture of work and personal related questions.
I am wishing to interview the personal life of a 40 year old female family photographer. She runs a family photography studio and has two children and two pet dogs. Can you generate me 30 personal interesting personal questions for me to interview her? Such as about her family, some unrelated things to photography will do too.
my prompt to Claude, an AI chatbot
AI ChatBot interview with Melody, founder and photographer of Oh Dear Studio
Family & Parenting interview with Melody
Q01: How has being a mother changed the way you see and capture families through your lens?
I started photographing professionally 15 years ago, I was shooting outdoors couple photoshoots mostly because that was the stage I was in. I was newly married and was in love with the idea of love.
Over the years, my concept of love has evolved along with my age and I truly enjoy photographing families now. Because I understand the struggles, the emotional guilt, the happiness, the ups and downs of being a parent.
Of course, being a mother myself has taught me the patience as well as the skill to communicate with children and teenagers.
Q02: What’s the most chaotic morning routine moment in your household, and how do you handle it?
My children are 12 and 9 years of age and I had been teaching them independency since a young age. Honestly? My elder wakes herself (and her brother) up and prepare breakfast for themselves. I hardly need to bother. (in fact, I’m snoozing most of the morning when my husband sends them to school) So nope, no chaos for me in the mornings!
Q03: Do your children enjoy being photographed, or are they completely over it at this point?
Interesting question! I think they are just resigned to the fact that their mother love being infront as well as behind the camera. We just came back from Beijing and we did a period-drama photoshoot there. It was fun, a fun bonding time with the children.
Q04: What’s one parenting lesson you’ve learned the hard way that you wish someone had told you earlier?
That childbirth and breastfeeding are completely natural but that doesn’t mean they are in anyway easy. And that it’s okay if things doesn’t go as planned, any birth or any feeding is perfect as long as baby is healthy.
Q05: How do you balance being present for your own family while documenting other families’ memories?
I am guilty of this because even if I am not away at shoots, I will be tied up with editing photographs or answering enquiries day and night. I do my best to put away all gadgets during dinner time, I only accept (up to) half day shoots during the weekends and dinner times are strictly reserved for family only.
About the dogs
Q06: What are your dogs’ names and personalities like? Are they polar opposites or similar?
Mjölnir is my 3-year-old Löwchen and recently we had Molly, a standard giant size poodle joining our family when she was 3months old (Molly is 6-month-old as of writing). They are pretty similar in term of character, they are both pretty chill except for when they are not. HAHA.
Q07: Have your dogs ever photobombed a client session, and if so, what happened?
No way, for the comfort (and my own sanity) of my clients, I do not ever bring the dogs into the studio when there are actual client-shoots. So no way they can ever photobomb any sessions.
Q08: Do your dogs get along with your kids, or is it controlled chaos at home?
Oh yes certainly! My children adores the dogs and partake in bringing them down for walks (abit begrudgingly sometimes) and treats. They do help out when there are any potty accidents at home, so yes, controlled none-chaos!
Q09: What’s the funniest thing one of your dogs has done recently?
Molly (the 6months old poodle) adores her elder bother Mjölnir, and constantly follows him around like.. well the puppy dog she is. Just this morning, I was (lightly!!) smacking Mjölnir’s butt because he was unnecessarily barking at the window when Molly hurried over and pushed herself between Mjölnir and me. I think she was trying to protect him!
Personal Interests & Life
Q10: What’s a hobby or passion you have that has nothing to do with photography or your family?
I enjoy quiet time alone, such as reading, painting or sketching. I can use the sewing machine and when the kids were little, I really enjoying sewing clothes for them as well!
Q11: If you could take a solo vacation anywhere in the world for a week, where would you go and what would you do?
I would never take a solo trip anywhere because, I have too much commitments (the studio, my kids, my dogs!). But most importantly, I am scare of sleeping alone in a hotel room (ghost!).
Q12: What’s the last book you read that you couldn’t put down?
I am currently reading “The Burnout” by Sophie Kinsella, that I bought from the Departure at the airport during my Beijing Trip. But one book that had me captivated and I couldn’t put it down was Empress Dowager Cixi by Jung Chang. I love the history and some tidbits found in it. One of my current photography setting, was in fact, inspired by a picture I saw in this book.
Q13: Are you a morning person or a night owl, and how does that affect your daily life?
Morning definitely. I am usually awake by 8Am and I need to sleep latest by 12Am. My body literally cannot stay awake any timing beyond midnight.
Q14: What’s your guilty pleasure TV show or movie that you watch when you need to unwind?
Anything with zombies or monsters with lots of killing and actions. Unwind? not so much, they kind of keep me awake at nights, worrying. But I do enjoy them.
Q15: What did you want to be when you were growing up? Was photography always in the picture?
When I was 6, I wanted to be a teacher because (I clearly remember saying this) “because then you can beat people”. I wanted to be an interior designer when I was in my teens and in my early twenties, I really wanted to be a Singapore Girl (air stewardess).
Q16: What’s a childhood memory that still makes you smile?
Countless. I had a pretty good and safe childhood. To name a few, my grandmother, my lego set, old tv cartoon shows, my pets.
Q17: Were you creative as a child, or did that develop later in life?
I guess I was, I crafted a dollhouse of out a tissuebox because I wanted one but my family wasn’t well0ff enough to buy me new toys. I had always love painting and crafting.
Q18: What’s something your parents did that you’ve found yourself doing with your own kids?
Spending weekends together as much as possible and having dinner daily no matter how busy the schedule is.
Dinner = Food = Love!
Daily Life & Routines of a Photographer
Q19: What does a perfect day off look like for you?
A day without any plans and I can do anything and everything impromptu without the need to time watch! Maybe a day with my family and dogs out by the beach or garden, somewhere cooling, without any crowds.
Q20: Are you a planner who schedules everything, or more spontaneous and go-with-the-flow?
Definitely spontaneous and go-with-the-flow. I would always have a rough idea on how and where but no details and I only start planning nearer to date or time.
Q21: What’s your go-to comfort food after a long day?
Home cook food. Hot chicken soup, rice, anything soupy!
Q22: Coffee or tea? And how do you take it?
I cannot do without coffee and I must have my daily two cuppa. Otherwise, I can’t function! (like seriously, I will have a headache and bad mood) I like my coffee lukewarm. Latte or flat-white.
Q23: What’s one household chore you absolutely hate, and one you don’t mind?
I am fine with household chore, I do not have any helpers and the entire family do chores. I honestly don’t hate any chores and don’t mind doing any so long I get to do it in peace and quiet without any distractions.
Dreams & Reflections
Q24: If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be and why?
My grandmother, because I miss her and wishes to ask how have she been and to update her on our lives.
There are so many people to choose from but I honestly have no other wishes to have dinner with anyone else apart from my friends and family.
Q25: What’s something you’re really proud of that most people don’t know about?
I am really proud of Oh Dear Studio and how far we had come, and I am (I know I have been repeating it) really proud of my family as well.
Q26: Is there a skill or craft you’ve always wanted to learn but haven’t gotten around to yet?
Horse riding! I do wish to ride, I need to make time for this. Thank you for reminding me.
Q27: What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?
You’re doing fine but please take as big a bank loan as you can and buy buy buy properties! The property prices in Singapore is crazy!
Q28: How do you define success in your personal life, outside of your business?
Having the luxury of managing my own timing and schedule, being able to fetch and pick my children up from school. Being presence. That is success to me – having my own time.
Fun & Quirky questions for Melody
Q29: What’s the most unusual talent or skill you have?
I assume we are talking about useless “talent”, I can roll up my lips and touch my nose, with my lips. HAHA.
Q30: If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Eye of the tiger.
It is an inspiring song, basically saying never give up on your dreams, even if you think that it’s impossible.
Afterthoughts
Oh wow, I had such fun answering these interview questions that were generated by AI Chatbot Claude. I used to enjoy writing and with life getting increasingly busy, writing got harder and harder.
Glad I took time out to pen this “interview”, it was quite a ride, having to think quite hard for some of the question. Rather self-reflecting you can say! And of course, if you had been reading up till here: Thank you for your time.
