My name is Cindi Kay. I look forward to meeting you! I am many things, one of which is a self proclaimed amazing photographer. Let’s begin with that and save the other areas of my one and only life for another post. My desire to become a photographer began far before I held my first camera or developed my first roll of film. I think it began with white paper and Crayola crayons and graduated to colored pencils and charcoal sketches. I would draw pictures of families walking together on sidewalks, girls with horses in green fields and white fences, and even hammocks strung between palm trees before I had ever seen a real palm tree up close. This could very well be attributed to Gilligan and his Island! I was the kid that would pass up trendy clothing stores in the mall for a walk through Hallmark to look at the greeting cards. There was something about words and pictures that fascinated me then and still does today.
My early photography consisted of animals, flowers, trees, and landscape scenery. I was the designated photographer for family vacations growing up and lucky for me, our family traveled to many beautiful places. I would include people in my photographs when asked, but I really believed that pictures were “ruined” when people got in the way. While in Junior High School, I learned about various advertising and marketing styles in Home Economics from Ms. Wilcox. I began taking photographs from a marketing point of view, choosing the best angle and lighting of each product and bugging my Dad (who also had an eye for photography) to snap shots of me in various dresses as if I were a fashion model.
In High School, I studied Journalism and Photography with Mr. Beene and Mr. Kozaliski. I learned the art of journalistic style photography and became very comfortable on this side of the lens. I envisioned that my photographs would someday be on the cover of TIME MAGAZINE or NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. In college I studied film photography and natural lighting with Wes Chapman at Southern Oregon University, shooting primarily architecture and still life. Ironically today, I think a photograph isn’t complete without people. I still enjoy scenery and architecture photography, however, an image of a beautiful flower is much more dramatic when it is being appreciated by an aging Grandmother or discovered for the first time by a toddler. An empty hammock isn’t near as interesting as someone relaxing in the hammock with a good book! Trees are even better when they have generations of families hanging in the branches! And those green pastures and white fences make an incredible background for people of all ages.
As a mom and a photographer, I want to capture those memorable moments that you can treasure forever and pass down from generation to generation. Some of the best moments with our children are when they think no one is looking. Those are the moments I look for. Smiles are overrated when they have to be solicited. I love little hands and little chubby feet. I love laugh lines on mommies and scarred up knees on teenage girls! A family photograph doesn’t have to be in a studio. Sometimes studio shots are desired, however, a “family” photo should represent the love for one another in the family and can be anywhere. Sometimes clothing coordinates, sometimes not. The most important thing is how the image makes you feel when you look at it. Do you remember the love for one another when you see it? I am here to help you document your life and the life of your family, your business or whatever may be important to you. Let’s capture one of your memorable moments today!
iamcindikay 