|
Karen began her life’s work as a two-year old by personalizing her mother’s kitchen walls with all the colours she could find. Her expression found a new outlet when she discovered the joys of a 126 pocket camera and became the family photographer. The love-affair blossomed into a career that Karen’s enjoyed for over 15 years.
Karen enhanced her intuitive talent with studies at university and with established commercial photography masters. Studies in theatre and set design, lighting, sculpture, and dance added yet more polish to her work.
Take a look at Karen’s portfolio and you’ll agree that the artist is firmly in control of her technique. A few others think so too. Karen’s work wins prestigious awards (see sidebar) that indicate above-average creative ability as recognized by Master Photographers around the world.
Her work is regularly published in both trade and general interest magazines. Pick up a copy of North American Inns winter issue or Arrington’s Inn Traveler for a few examples of Karen’s attention to detail.
Technical talent needs that extra something though, and after just a few minutes chatting with Karen her secret was out. Her clients look relaxed in their Amber Light photos because she is full of life and positive good energy that rubs off on everyone lucky enough to be around her.
She also has a firm understanding of human nature. Some of her basic tips are: a calm and happy bride can relax for the photos, a child having fun is easier to photograph, and everyone benefits from coaching and good lighting.
But the real proof of Karen’s professionalism and dedication to her art is her specialization in glamour photography.
“I work with women who want to see another side of themselves beyond the daily definitions. It means taking time to see how the women naturally move and how they express themselves.”
Karen quickly adds that, “This isn’t a quick process and clients need to expect two to three hours for a glamour session.”
Remember, lighting is important and Karen’s experience in theatre works to her client’s advantage. Since she doesn’t believe in heavy retouching, the real work is in the day’s shoot. The advantage is that the subject will recognize herself, better yet, she’ll be happily astounded.
Karen recalls one client who broke into tears upon seeing the results. It turns out they were tears of happiness and shock. “Her husband called a year later to tell me how much the session had helped his wife change her self-perception.”
Karen’s other great joy is working with families, especially kids. Her inner child is alive and well as she pulls out pirate and fairy costumes from her tickle trunk. This is a professional at the top of her game who invites folks to come in groups of two and three families. This brings the cost down and fun factor up. The kids get into character and forget all about the camera while romping about.
A favourite photo can be transformed into a painting through a computer technique Karen works with. Artistic distinction is also achieved with a mother-of-pearl effect produced by transferring black and white images to metal. This marriage of art and technology is a long way from Karen’s pocket camera days.
Karen’s blog site (currently at www. imagostudios.blogspot.com and soon to be incorporated at the Amber Light website) generously spills the beans for producing great photos. She is expanding her blog sharing with online photography instruction, but information sharing goes beyond photography.
A few years ago Karen experienced workplace bullying in a corporate setting. It isn’t something anyone likes to talk about because as adults, we’re supposed to handle disagreements in an adult manner, right?
That’s a fine theory but as Karen can attest, we are all works in progress. She joined forces with Stephen Hill to create www.nobullyforme.org to get this ugly workplace secret into the open. Their No Bully For Me work is featured in the October, 2007 issue of Chatelaine magazine.
Karen is grateful that she found her way back to making art and bringing people joy. She wants to get the word out that bullying and its nasty cousin, mobbing, is never acceptable and that it is possible to rebound from such treatment.
Word-of-mouth keeps Karen busy both at home in British Columbia’s lower mainland and as far afield as Toronto and Seattle. But the real loves of Karen’s life are at the acreage and studio where little Grace presides and husband Gary provides moral support and a second camera when needed. The acreage will one day also be home to Italian, Japanese and English gardens to provide beautiful wedding backgrounds.
For Karen and her family, the future looks as warm as the afternoon glow that Amber Light Photography is named for.
Written by: Gabriole Wilson
|
| |
|
