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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

What you need to know...

My name is Susan-but if you're here, you probably already know that. I live currently in Provo, Utah, with my beautiful husband and son. I started this business in 2010, after 13 years of doing photography as a personal hobby and creative outlet. From the moment I developed my first roll of film, and saw that first picture come to life on paper in the dark room, I was hooked. I didn't always know I wanted to make it a career, but I knew from the start that it would be a passion in my life forever.

I am a Natural Light, Lifestyle Photographer. I love what I do. To me, what I do is not a job, but my art. This world, and the people in it, are amazing, beautiful, and I want my photographs to reflect that. So much of the media today reflect the negative things that are going on around us. I want to show the other side. I want to show the love and humanity in this world that you don't often get to see on the 5 o'clock news. There is good all around us. Look for it. That's what I do, and that's what my work shows.

I was born in Oakland, California, and when I was almost 9, my family moved to the Paradise/Chico area in the foothills of Northern California. It was there, that I did the rest of my growing up, surrounded by loving family members and a quirky, off-beat, hippy community. Chico is drenched in art, theatre, music, and diversity. It is an open minded and interesting place to be. It supports it's local farmers, and artists, and there is never a night when music cannot be heard coming out of one of downtown's many cafe's or bars. This is my history. This is where I come from. I do not come from a cookie cutter household, and I didn't come from a place where everyone prided themselves on being like everyone else. I come from a place that applauded the individual and welcomed her with open arms.

Because of this-my past, I continue to strive to be individualistic in an environment that loves same-ness. I don't want my pictures to look like every other photographer's pictures. I don't want what I do to look generic and dated. I continually strive to improve and hone my abilities and my talents to reflect what I want it to. That being, timelessness, love, true emotion, goodness and to show real human relationships.

I have had the immense opportunity in my life to have really close, and wonderful people to love me. I have also lost quite a few of those people in recent years. Do you know what I treasure most now that they are gone? The photographs that I have of us. Not necessarily the photos where we are all smiling or looking at the camera, but the photos that help me to better remember what was happening the day the picture was taken. I love looking at old photographs of my family members whom I have lost, and remembering better how they used to smile, or the love that was in their eyes when they looked at others. THOSE are the photographs I cherish. My memory doesn't serve me as well without the help of pictures. That is what I want to give others. I want to stop a moment in time and give them that moment for the rest of their lives. I want to capture memories that will never get "fuzzy" or "cloudy" but will stay sharp and clear forever.

I am inspired by so much in the world around me. I love to photograph everything; whether it is architecture, people, nature, landscapes, or ranch dressing at a grocery store, I will photograph it if I find inspiration in it in that moment. Music inspires me. All kinds of music. People inspire me. Art inspires me. I love to draw and I love films. If I can walk away feeling more creative after witnessing something, I am a happy girl. I want my work to reflect that inspiration. I think my style walks the line between fine art photography and portrait photography nicely.

I would like you to choose me as your photographer for more than just because you think my work is "nice." I want you to choose ME, and the only way that you can choose ME is if you know a little more about me. When you pick a photographer, whether it is for your wedding, engagements, family portraits, newborn portraits, seniors, whatever, you are picking an entire package. You should consider someone not simply because the price is right, but because that person's photographic and artistic style BEST represents you. Because in the end, when your children's children's children are looking through these photographs, they won't know or care about a NAME that took your pictures, but how well that picture captured you... in that moment in time.

Come on, let's take a journey together.

3 comments:

Pattee said...

Very well put Susan. I love your thoughts. You are an inspiration to me. How did I ever get such a wonderful spirit to raise. I am so very proud of you.

Kristie said...

Well put. I like to get to know those around me. And you made me think, how would I describe myself to someone else? What would I want them to see about me?
You are an amazing photographer! I wish I had loads of money to get lots of memories taken! (One of these days...)

Susan said...

Thank you both so much! I appreciate the encouragement! :)

Kristie-It may be sooner than you think... ;)