the me you maybe didn't know
I love the idea of Paris in the spring time. But it would probably rain. And then I’d be wet. But I’d just go with it.
It is, after all, Paris.If I had to choose between the mountains or the beach, the east or the west, I couldn’t. Every new scene takes my breath away, but for different reasons. I want them all.
Coffee is my sweet addiction. It’s my mantra in the morning. It’s my creamy, sugary, dose of caffeinated goodness wrapped up in a routine that I don’t want to walk away from. I like to grind the beans myself.
It is very important to me to find ways to give back. I’ve always wanted to change the world. I’ve always wished I could help people. So every day, in little ways, I try to involve myself in things that don’t benefit me first. I don’t often talk about them, because I feel to do so is not in the spirit of the deeds. But it’s a very large part of who I am and why I do what I do.
I sleep with the windows wide open even when it rains. I love the sound and smell of rain as it blows in on an overnight storm.
It lulls me under.I am determined beyond measure. If I say I am going to do it, it’s as good as done.
My favorite quote – “overwhelmed always precedes amazing”
My favorite question: what would you do if you knew you could not fail?
I love imagining what could be, comparing it to what is, and driving myself nuts with the result.
I am a retail therapy addict who is most fervently attracted to completely impractical high heels.
Fresh flowers in fun fall colors make me happy. All the time.
I love vanilla ice cream with caramel and peanuts. Or chocolate, marshmallow and peanuts. Or strawberry sauce and peanuts. None of those icky wet walnuts for me.
I grew up on Broadway plays, summers at my grandmother’s pool, movies and popcorn with butter, and fifty cent romance novels bought at the library book sale.
The most likely thing for me to leave behind in a hotel bathroom is one of those silly shower poofies. I think I could have blanketed the world with those I’ve lost.
I do not like bugs. Therefore I do not like to camp. If there were no bugs I would like to camp. I do love the smell of campfires though. And the sound – the crackle in the wide open spaces of the night.
I get cranky when I am hungry. Feed me now or lose me forever.
I am a voracious reader. If it strikes my fancy, I can finish it in a day, no matter the length. Maybe two.
I love tall, large, cold glasses of water, preferably with lots of crushed ice.
I do my best thinking, and worrying, in the shower.
I have lived in 6 different states. And travel is my drug of choice.
Sometimes I wish what didn’t happen did and what hasn’t happened would. I wish I could turn off my brain. I wish. Don’t you?
I have worked as a nanny (read: babysitter), a lab assistant, a short order cook for Toby’s Cup Hot Dog Stand, a file clerk for a Gastroenterologist, a checkout clerk at Happy Harry’s drugstore, and a public health evaluator - all before becoming a photographer who dabbles in graphic design. My undergrad degree is in biology with minors in philosophy and medical humanities. My masters degree is in public health. I rocked philosophy, logic class was an “ah ha” moment for me, I hated organic chem and physics and I loved environmental health science. The places I have been have taken me to this place.
I have been married for 10 years, but together with my husband for longer than that. He is active duty Air Force and therefore I am by association. We have a Russian Blue cat named Mordecai. And he is a very cool cat
the philosopher poet…
Photography makes me smile. Sometimes in that shy, delighted, just meeting someone kind of way. Sometimes in that broad ear to ear grin kind of way. Still. And hopefully always. This is a world that I belong to that I embrace fearlessly, distinctively, with just a touch of sparkle and a little bit more than a little bit of sass. Yes, photography is my business, but it’s also a love affair. A journey. A surprise around every corner. A connection with the unexpected. An opportunity to meet with people who share my drive. A chance to explore the sides of me that are vibrant, bold, colorful. An ever-shifting balance between what is unique and ordinary, simple and complex, real and imaginary. Photography is a challenge. And a delight. And it was a fork in my road, the path less traveled, but the one I’m glad I chose. This is my story. And the story continues because I don’t just do it. I teach it. To be inspired and to inspire, to seduce and be seduced. This is the heady thought that wakes me up every morning, that reminds me that today…today and every day… I get to do what I love. And pass that on to others.So if my style and personality resonate with you, we might be the perfect fit! Sessions with me are a lot of fun – I promise – but they also require some time. I want to spend time with you – getting to know you, photographing you as you are: as a family, as an individual, as a couple. Yes, I know that everyone likes one or two “look here and smile” pictures. But I love the candid captures, the impromptu deviations from the norm, and the moments where where I capture you looking at him or her looking at the child with no pre-planning or posing. That’s me.
Location
Here’s where it gets interesting. Born and raised in Easton, Pennsylvania, I am actually located everywhere now! As a result of my husband’s job, we move around every three or four years. I have connections in NC, SC, PA, VA, DC, DE, CA and OH and now GA. But the good news is that no matter where we live, I always go back to where we’ve been. So don’t let distance keep you from contacting me. I’ve done portraits up and down the east coast, across the nation and even in Europe. I travel and am available for destination portraits and weddings.
Professional Associations:
WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International),
PPA (Professional Photographers of America) and
Current Gallery Representation
Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta GA
Photo Credits/ Publications
Rangefinder Magazine July 2010 Edition or on my RW blog
- Oregon Arts District Website, Images
- Camera Arts Magazine Jan/Feb 2007
- Author Photo: Sara Holmes as published on jacket of her book “Letters from Rapunzel”
- Coffee Table Book Design chosen for display at MPIX Trade Show, April 2008
Exhibits
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Upcoming: Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, GA
display of Fine Art Photography and Real Women Portrait Work (September 26-November 2, 2011)
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Real Women Photography Show, Color of Energy Gallery Dayton, Ohio
display of Real Women Portrait Work (September 8-15, 2010)
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Turner Center for the Arts: 2010 (23rd Annual) Spring into Art Exhibition. Two works accepted. One work juried into the "Best of" Exhibition. Spring into Art Exhibition runs through June 2 and the "Best of" Exhibition runs through August 4, 2010.
- Synesthesia Gallery Dayton OH Solo Exhibition, July/August 2009
Dayton Visual Arts Center Short Show : Solo Showing of “Real Women” Exhibit. Also presented two sessions of my “Real Women Photo Collage Program” Dayton, Ohio (August / September 2008) http://www.daytonvisualarts.org/exhibitions/shortshows.html
- Bears Mill in Greenville, Ohio (August 2008) www.bearsmill.com
- Visceral Gallery, Oregon Arts District Dayton, Ohio (March 2008)
- Color of Energy Gallery, Oregon Arts District Dayton, Ohio (February - March 2008)
- Centerville Police Department Gallery, Centerville, Ohio (April & November 2008)
- Image auctioned at the AIDS Resource Center Dayton, Ohio Masquerage Art of Life Silent Auction (October 2007)
- The Little Gallery: Christ United Methodist Church in Kettering, Ohio (January 2007)
Contests/Awards/Accolades
- Master's Class Instructor: WPPI 2011 “Thinking Outside the Boundaries of Boudoir”
- 2010 WPPI Award of Excellence in the 16x20 Print Competition
- My high school senior studio sample album was chosen for display at Azura Album trade show booth / WPPI 2010 trade show in Las Vegas
- Dayton Women Photography Contest: (three images juried and hung July/August 2009)
Rosewood Art Centre "The View" Landscape Competition (juried and hung, June/July 2009)
Rosewood Art Centre 19th Annual Works on Paper Contest (juried and hung, March 2009) - Rosewood Art Centre 18th Annual Works on Paper Contest (juried & hung, February 2008)
- The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins Colorado (juried & hung, published in Camera Arts Magazine January 2008, on display at the Denver International Airport for 3 months)
- DVAC Member Art Show August 2007 & 2008 (juried & hung, achieved judges choice cash award 2007)
- Capitol Arts Network/Washington Gallery of Photography, Bethesda, Maryland (juried & hung)
- Greene County Museum, Snow Hill, North Carolina (juried and hung, awarded 2nd place)
- The Arts Council of Wayne County, Goldsboro, North Carolina (juried and hung, achieved Best of Wayne County Award June 2006)
- First Place for Billie's photo shoot in downtown Goldsboro, North Carolina (Winter 2006)
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Author photo for book jacket, inside back cover.
Letters From Rapunzel, by Sara Holmes, published
by HarperCollins. |
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 "Looking for Work" |
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 "All That Remains" |
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2006 Billie's
Photo shoot & Contest in
Downtown Goldsboro. |
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2006. National
Juried Camera Club Show. |
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Windowledge Remembrance was taken while I was in Brugges, |
