PictureThe Artist Sandra Marshall
Many of you know me as Sandy the painter, but I’m also a photographer.  Like painting, photography has been a passion of mine since I was young, though photography as an art form has come a long way since my high school dark room.  
I learned much of my modern techniques from my mother, a professional wildlife photographer in Long Island whose photographs have been featured on the cover of National Wildlife Magazine, among others.  But while wildlife has been my mother’s inspiration, people have been mine.  

I first started professional photography to augment my painting, taking pictures of people and scenes from different angles and lighting to capture the subject for reference while painting my subjects.  

I taught painting in Tuscany, Italy and used my photos to help students see compositions that stand out for their paintings.  I use it in my classes today for references. 

 
Photography to me, is an artistic endeavor that not only encompasses good lighting, color and design, it is a mission to capture a moment that is REAL.  It is about a STORY.  Only you know your story, and I would LOVE to hear it.    A family portrait to me is  meeting you at one of your favorite places and planning out what you DO as a family, and capturing THAT moment however we can.  If your little two year old has a raggy old bunny and a binky,  I want to see that.  To me, that is what is beautiful.  Better yet,  if she LOVES pink ice cream, and holds her bunny with her binky close by, I want that in the photo with a messy face because at her age, that is WHO she is.  I like to keep it real.  I want to tell her story at that age.  School pictures are for the fakey smile, and pretty clothes  (:  (There is a place for those as well, and my mother told me to ALWAYS buy them!)  I want a moment that will make your heart stop for a moment ten years from now.  A moment where you look back at photo of Grandma dusting her Hummels because she is so proud that she will hand them down to you.  A moment where your little guy is playing matchbox cars and is so focused and close up, that you feel like you are there again watching him on the ground.  I get on the ground.  I get dirty to get the right photo. If you child is not in the mood, I come back until he is. 
 I want him to tell me his story.  I want to eat chocolate chip cookies with him if that is his thing.  (I taught kindergarten for a year before pursuing my art full time, and LOVE little people!)  

If your husband and your son play a mean game of chess, by all means, that is the picture for me to compose.  I want to capture them in a competitive, fun fashion that captures that moment FOREVER.  I don’t want them smiling at me.  I want them smiling at each other. 

You say... Gee, I have no hobbies.  Hmmmm  Well, do you LOVE your coffee, your wine?  Do you just like to hang out cozy at home? No worries here. You bet your bundles I could turn this into the most artistic photo you could dream of!  Here’s one for you ladies... Love Sunday mornings in your bathrobe drinking coffee?  That is your thing?  I could call that a ‘habit’ pic instead of a hobby pic.  Let’s get you drinking your coffee in pretty bathrobe, and give your husband another reason to cozy up on Sunday.  
  
I live and dream art.  If you dream it, I could paint it, draw it or photograph it.  If  you CAN’T  dream it, let me dream it for you and make it a reality.  It is what I love to do.