Images by KathyPhotographer from Rockaway Park, NY

Before you can capture a special moment through the lens of a camera, you first have to "SEE" that moment. To know the look on someone's face when they are overwhelmed, or happy, or crying on the inside which has it's own look on the outside. My vision and what I am able to see, I believe, comes from my sensitivities to different people and situations that have developed over the years through my own life experiences. To anticipate what someone might do in the very next moment and have the camera ready and pointed... ah... that's a wonderful thing. Each day, even without my camera, I am constantly snapping pictures in my mind and saying to myself "there's a great shot," "wow, that's a special moment, I wish I had my camera," "look at the light reflecting off of the frame of that person's glasses lighting up their green eyes." This is how I see the world - always looking and seeing a photo composition of some kind, seeing something beyond what's there in - dare I say - "black and white." When I have the opportunity to take photos of an event, or headshots, or photos for holiday cards or a family photo with the family pet included, or musicians at a performance, I give it my all, and no matter what the time allotment on my end, I won't stop untill I feel I have "gotten the shot." The disarming tool that I always carry with me that seems to help people relax and allows them to forget that they have to "look at the camera" is not just my love for photography but my genuine love for people in general. This allows for those great "unposed" moments in between the "posed moments" that many times are the real keepers of the session. I want people to be comfortable, I want to know who they are, what their energy is like, are they comfortable smiling? We talk, we laugh, we have little conversations about things and before you know it their guard is down and now we are not just taking photos but having fun. One last thing, all the photos you see here were taken without a flash. My preference is to use existing light in creative ways. I haven't used a flash in years.