Tracy was given her first camera when she was 16 years old, and has been taking pictures ever since. In 1992 she graduated from The Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelors degree in Fine Art Photography. She worked as a photography assistant for 2 years before opening her studio in 1996. Historic Downtown Toms River N.J. was decidedly the place for her business.
She has been downtown for over 10 years now and business is going very well for her. She works regularly with hair and makeup artists, and employs two photography assistants.
Clients can feel relaxed in Tracy's studio because the usual "instant photo" mentality doesn't exist there. People are so used to being rushed through transactions that it is a nice change for them to be able to receive individual attention. Tracy works with each client in order to capture just the right expression or gesture. She feels that every shoot has a defining moment, " I know when I’Äôve captured the shot that I’Äôm looking for, at the moment the shutter releases I can feel it. When this happens, the shoot is just about through."
When a client asks how many poses or frames she will shoot in the sitting, her reply is usually "I don't know, it depends on how the sitting is going." She may shoot two rolls or she may shoot four. There are not a set number of poses like most photographers; she shoots until she feels that she has the shot. "I don't like to rush through a session, I like to take time and get it right." Each portrait sitting is allotted an hour and a half, with some of this time spent getting to know the client and finding out what they expect out of the shoot. The time spent talking with the client before the session usually helps them to relax a bit.
When she photographs children she understands that in order to get the greatest shot possible she needs to be patient. She plays with the kids and makes them feel at ease, this way their personality will come through in the photographs. If a child is getting tired, she gives them a break and then works with them some more. Photographing children is definitely a most rewarding experience for Tracy; " Kids are great to photograph because they are usually completely themselves and not at all self conscious in front of the camera. This makes for completely spontaneous photography, it’Äôs genuine."
Tracy does not limit herself to studio photography; she also does location and environmental portraits. Beaches, parks, in home, offices, businesses, interiors, models, Kids and families as well as commercial work that has been used for magazines etc.
Within a week the client is scheduled to come in and view their proofs. After they have chosen their favorite shots and decided on the size prints that they want, the custom printing process will soon begin.
All prints are Custom Black & White and Color. She often sepia tones her black and white and she also offers hand colored photographs. Digital Photo retouching and Photo restoration are also done in the studio. Fine art prints such as Giclee (beautiful images printed on watercolor paper) are also available.
Tracy has photographed for many web sites, annual reports, and advertisements. Her work can be seen in Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Better Homes & Garden, Seventeen, Guitar, and Beachcomber Magazines. Clients include but are not limited to First Montauk Securities, Cybergenics, Cytodyne Technologies, Boston Chicken, Carl Schaedel and Co., Inc., Barrington Plastics, Bensen International, Barbizon Modeling School, Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, and the American Cancer Society. She has photographed for many law firms and Real Estate agencies, and Dialight Corporation, Hand and Stone Massage Spa, Appearance Workshop and Kamy Dental are some local business that use her photography services.