Looking back at 2021…was not like looking back at 2020…which was not like looking back at 2019. These past two years have seen a world disrupted by the global pandemic, and it has affected pretty much every aspect of our society. For a photographer that specializes in portraiture and event photography/documentary photography, it has been two years of struggle, caution, determination, hunkering down, and trying to keep calm.
In the effort to bring down coronavirus case numbers, a lot of the work I do evaporated in 2020, 2021. Many non-profits were struggling to stay afloat, and didn’t have much money to spare for professional photography. Luckily though, 2021 DID see slow improvement as more and more people got fully vaccinated, and slowly began to return.
Something that stands out in my clients, and has been common for me in many of my working years, is the presence of organizations working hard to make the world a better place, and organizations that are either women-founded or women-led. A number of years ago, I read “Making a Living While Making a Difference”, and its influence still stays with me. I’m a photographer who wants to use my skills to assist organizations committed to positive values, and help them to advance their own missions!
One highlight last year, was continuing to make photos for Cardinal Stritch University. I attended this school, founded by Franciscan nuns, from 1991-95, and earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree there. A new university president was installed in 2021, and it was an honor to be there to document it for them. I look forward to making more images for Stritch in 2022!
I also did work for some small local business clients – a hose/tubing company who needed a website refresh, and a civil engineering firm who would call on me for headshots of their new employees.
For a SE-WI trade magazine publisher, I visited the company, Portapainting. It’s led by the founder’s daughter, Amanda, who grew up around the business.
She has spent time in corporate America, and that experience is shaping how she runs the company: “I think I needed to have that corporate experience to understand the magic of small businesses.” Her company really values their workers, as she also said, “You don’t need to know everything…if you have incredible people (working with you)”…and “Our people are why we get the work, why we keep the work and why we get MORE work.” It really was great to hear her talk about the company.
I also got to make portraits for two women-led/founded companies – Allison and Co., a financial investment/management company led by Rebekah Allison, and MKE Food Tours, a tour, gift-box, and hospitality group, led by Theresa and her staff!
My year also included the festive and spooky KRAMPUSNACHT, an early December celebration of a Not Quite Saint Nick tradition, and went behind the scenes at MKE FOOD TOURS as they packed thousands of gift boxes with locally-produced products!
Two more highlights were the annual report project for UMOS and the costume-fundraiser for Renaissance Theatreworks. UMOS is a non-profit that provides a lot of services for immigrants and migrant workers in Wisconsin, and many other social needs. For Renaissance, I photoed a few of their actors, nearly naked, to help raise funds for them to buy costumes! They are Milwaukee’s women-founded theatre company: “Theatre by women, for everyone!”
Lastly, here are a few grab shot that are just darn fun. So often, people pose for pics and I usually see their “camera face”. But sometimes…something unexpected happens and you get a real, sincere, unposed, and completely authentic moment – I love those – and look forward to catching both kinds of photos in 2022!
