Educational Background
- Bachelor of Arts, Santa Clara University
- Photography degree- New York Institute of Photography, Fall 2004
- Coursework -Cabrillo College, Aptos, CA., 2003-04
- Extensive self-study - Digital photography, Photoshop, Web design
- Studio and professional lighting experience-product and portrait
- Software-Photoshop, Dreamweaver, PrintShop
Occupational Background
- Owner of freelance photography business since 2003. Areas of work include commercial, events, portrait and web photography.
- Lifetouch Studios as portrait photographer, 2006
Published Work
- Photo of the "Santa Cruz Clock Tower" on the cover of a book entitled History of Santa Cruz: the Santa Cruz Clock Tower by James Franks, available at the McPherson Historical Museum in Santa Cruz. (Team project between Nick Filice and myself.)
- Jewelry product shot used in an ad for Diamonds by Filice in Explore Silicon Valley: 2005/2006 Edition.
- Several product shots chosen by Diamonds by Filice for 25th annual jewelry show publication, December 2006.
Art Exhibits and Awards
- Photos chosen by ATC Photo Contest received awards: "Turtle Rock" received Second Place award and "Self-Reflection" received Honor Mention, 2007.
- Photo chosen by ATC Photo Contest entitled "Play on Light" received Second Place award, 2005.
- Mt. Hermon Conference Center's Christmas Fair exhibitor, December 2004 and 2005
- Scotts Valley Art and Wine Festival, August 2004
- Photo chosen by the International Open Amateur Photography Contest entitled "Natural Bridge" published in an upcoming anthology entitled "Endless Journeys."
- Santa Cruz County Fair, placed Honorable Mention for photo entitled "Early Morning Rain," September 2004
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did you become a photographer?
I have always loved art, ever since I was a little girl. I have tried all the mediums out there. But I'm what you would call a "frustrated artist," as I could never imitate real life in art form as perfectly as I would like to. When I began to work in photography, it suddenly came clear to me: why imitate life when you can capture it instead......What are your particular preferences in photography?
My personal favorite is outdoor nature photography, especially macro (closeup) shots. I love capturing God’s incredible creation with all its intricacies, textures, hues and beauty. But I also enjoy many different types of subject matter as well. Photographing products for businesses, portraits of people of all ages, real estate/architecture, for example, are all areas of interest I particularly enjoy. My primary focus lately, because of my web design work, is commercial work. I truly enjoy working with business owners to help them market themselves more successfully. Photos for them can be used in a variety of ways (web sites, mailings, flyers, cards, newsletters, manuals, etc.) Anywhere "visual impact" is desired.What setting do you use for your portraits?
I prefer the lighting and scenery of outdoor portraits. But where weather, time and preference are the determining factors, I use an indoor studio setting.What kind of camera equipment do you use?
I use an 8 mega-pixel professional camera. The camera produces beautiful photographs that can easily be enlarged without degrading the integrity of the photo.I prefer digital photography to film for a number of reasons. During a photo session, I can instantly see how my shots look and make changes as need be at that moment. I can also later edit for issues like blemishes and extraneous distractions. When you receive your final photographs, they will be of professional quality.Do you travel and if so, do you charge for travel expenses?
I will gladly travel to your location of choice. I do charge for travel expenses and will discuss those with you beforehand.Why is there a difference in the visual quality of printed photos vs. web photos?
Printed photography is produced at a completely different resolution than web photos. Because web photos need to be compressed and optimized for faster download on the internet, at times a "web photo" may not appear to be crystal clear. But the original will be. You are also dealing with the differences between viewing a photo on hard copy (photo paper) vs. viewing it on an computer monitor.