Meet Debra Boyette of North Raleigh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Debra Boyette

Hi Debra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a North Carolina native from Ramseur in Randolph County and went to college at UNC-Chapel Hill. I received my degree in journalism and held various editing roles at newspapers in Sanford, NC; Jacksonville, FL; Kansas City, MO; and Raleigh, NC. After leaving the Raleigh newspaper in 2011, I edited promotional content for a pharmaceutical company.

I met my husband, John, at the newspaper in Jacksonville, where he was a news reporter. We got married in 1982 and moved to the Midwest, where our two daughters were born. We lived in the Kansas City area for 15 years and moved to Raleigh in 1997 to be closer to our families in North Carolina and Virginia.

I was a quiet child. I focused on schoolwork and loved reading. My best friend was a good book. At some point I picked up a camera, taking snapshots of the outdoors and family gatherings.

My interest in journalism began in high school, where I contributed to the school newspaper. I chose to attend UNC because it was one of the top J-schools in the country.

In college, I participated in the Black Student Movement and worked on its newspaper, Black Ink. I also joined a sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, where I met women who are my friends and supporters to this day.

A Kodak Instamatic film camera was among my first cameras; later, a Fujifilm FinePix; and now, an Olympus mirrorless.

As life happened, I took photos that chronicled college, jobs, marriage and kids. Somewhere along the way, I began to notice nature. Flowers, trees, the way sunlight hit the leaves, reflections in the water, and the small, intricate details that make up a flower or an insect. I captured those images of God’s creations with my camera.

Social media has played a big role in my photographic journey. I posted my photos on Facebook and Instagram, and comments from family and friends (and from people I didn’t know) encouraged me to keep going. I took a class through the city’s parks and recreation department and learned just how much I had to learn. I joined a photo group at my church and learned some more.

A member of my church group suggested that I enter a photo in the JC Raulston Arboretum Juried Print Competition in Raleigh. Imagine my surprise when my photo was awarded 3rd place in the 2014 contest.

After I retired from full-time editing in early 2020, I spent more time taking photos. There’s always something interesting on the greenway trails in Raleigh. Look up, look down, to the left or the right. The Triangle’s nature preserves, nature parks and arboretums are full of things to focus on. I also found subjects in my own yard.

After hearing from several people that I should sell my work, I started to think about doing just that. It couldn’t hurt to try. I formed Debra Boyette Photography, and my work has been displayed and for sale at exhibits in my hometown of Ramseur, N.C., at the Festival for the Eno in Durham, and pop-up markets in Raleigh. A friend from church has offered her beautiful space in Durham for a one-woman show for the past two years. In February, my work (along with my sister Gloria Spinks) will be on display at Randolph Arts Guild in Asheboro.
These exhibits help me to reach one of my goals – for viewers to See What I See.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I can’t say I’ve faced many struggles. The challenge is turning my passion into a business. Even though I’m an introvert, I enjoy talking to people about my photography and what I get out of it. I never want the business – going to shows and deciding what to print – to take away the fun of going outside to take pictures.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I enjoy macro photography, where I get really close-up views of flowers and other plants – as well as insects. I can show things in my photos that most people don’t see with the naked eye or when they walk by a garden. If you look closely at a lantana flower, for example, you can see what looks like colorful little pillows.

It’s interesting to look at a flower at different stages. For some, it takes days or longer, for the changes to take place. For others, such as the moonflower, you can see the different stages over the course of a few hours. I also love capturing plants from different angles.

At the beach, I enjoy getting up before sunrise to photograph the changing colors of the sky and to get long-exposure shots in which the waves appear smooth.

At shows and pop-ups, I sell giclee prints, prints on canvas and greeting cards.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My most important resource in life: the Bible. I enjoy attending Bible studies with other women and learning about the One who created me and the things I love to photograph. I see His intentionality in the patterns, shapes, and textures of His creations.

I don’t have any one favorite photography book or podcast.

I have several books by Bryan Peterson that I find helpful.
I also have listened to various podcasts and webinars, including:
Outdoor Nature Photography with Brenda Petrella
Olympus (OM System) instructional videos on YouTube.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.debraboyettephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debraboyette/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debra.boyette/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debraharrisboyette/