My Story

My photography journey began as a young girl when my grandfather put a Nikon camera in my hands. Grandpa excelled at a variety of artistic pursuits, including photography, and he recognized my creative drive. From the beginning I was fascinated by the whole process of creating an image. In those days, becoming a photographer meant learning to load film, measure light with a hand meter, capture the subject, and develop the film and prints in my home darkroom. It was a complex process.

My first formal instruction in photography came through a high school course that I found very exciting. Thanks to this class, I began to consider photography as a career option. At Stephens College in Missouri, I was fortunate to study photography for two years with Rosalind Kimball Moulton. Rosalind had apprenticed under Minor White, so she knew her stuff and became a treasured professor to me. She was tough and pushed me to re-think my approach, urging me to slow down and take more time to truly see an image. I wasn’t allowed to use my trusty 35mm Nikons but instead was thrust into a very different world of large format cameras. It was challenging and frustrating, but it deepened my understanding of the elements of photography and moved me forward.

Utah and Wyoming

My career as a professional photographer began in Jackson Hole

After two years, I wanted some time off from school. I felt ready to strike out and find my story. So I headed west, remembering the mountain and ocean views that had won my heart as a child. Jackson Hole, Wyoming drew me to explore its wildness and mountain life. I began my professional life there, photographing my first weddings and portraits for clients. Of course this area offered endless scenic backdrops for photos, and I learned the important skill of focusing my portraits on the human spirit expressed in the moment, letting the surrounding natural beauty enhance (but not overshadow) the human image. I still return to Jackson on photography assignments and always find its beauty a re-boot for my creative soul.

Park City immersed me in sports photography while I grew my freelance business

When the time came to push my skills further and refine my technical knowledge, I decided to enroll in the Fine Arts program at the University of Utah and complete my photography degree. This is where I tried my first digital camera, a Nikon D1. I couldn’t fathom that digital would ever replace film, but I knew there was a lot more to learn with this new medium. It was all about new technical elements and learning to edit in Photoshop instead of in the darkroom. From the University I gained a launch pad into the revolution that was about to happen in photography.

After graduation I held photography jobs in several fields -- photo labs, journalism, event photography, and ski and sports photography. That last one shaped my next step in life. I moved to Park City, Utah where for nearly a decade I photographed skiing, ski jumping, bobsleds, slope side portraits, and corporate groups for Park City, Deer Valley, and the Utah Olympic Sports Park. During the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, I was fortunate to work for one corporate client throughout the games and enjoyed the privilege of front row access with my clients.

For the first 25 years of my freelance photography business, I created images set in the rugged mountain beauty that is Park City, Utah. I followed many families on their life journeys -- photographing their weddings, taking family portraits, and eventually holding photo sessions for their high school seniors. My corporate and business clients include several I’ve worked with since my first days in Park City. Other valuable client connections came to me through professional relationships I cultivated with ski lodge event planners, church coordinators, and local and national businesses in the Park City area. I love their trust in my services -- they know exactly who and what they’re getting when they refer me to their client.

Washington

The Pacific Northwest is a new opportunity to grow

In 2016 I made a big move to Washington State and started down a new road in my photography business. Exceptional beauty surrounds me here, just as it did in Jackson Hole and Park City, and I love capturing this amazing world around my lens. Building a business in a new market has been exhilarating and drives me to improve every time I take a photo. I continue to work in Jackson Hole and Park City as well as in the Pacific Northwest – and I feel very fortunate that this trio of prize locations is the focus of my professional life. My journey is still being written, and I look forward to the ongoing adventure.

Client List and Testimonials

Partial List of Clients include Morgan Stanley, American Express, Putnam Investments, Kaiser Family Foundation, Sundance Film Festival, Destination Services Corporation, Volkswagen, Screen Actors Guild, Talisker Corporation, East West Partners, Unique Beginnings Wedding Planning, Done To Your Taste Catering and Events, Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Ski Resort, Park Meadows Country Club, Kimball Art Center, 2002 Salt Lake Organizing Committee, Utah Olympic Sports Park, Vogue Magazine, Shape Magazine, 2000 Tour De France, Sotheby’s International, Evolution Design, Yukon Construction, PetZen and DogTread Products …and countless families and happy new couples.

“What an incredible job you did in photographing our wedding. I’ve been mesmerized by the pictures, looking at them for hours on end every single day since you dropped them off, as has my family. You really were able to catch some priceless moments and you delivered exactly what I was hoping to receive. I truly cannot thank you --  Madeline, bride

“Our photos are absolutely spectacular! You did an outstanding job of capturing every moment of our special day. We never even realized you were taking photos! Thank you for all your hard work and professionalism! You were great to work with from start to finish. You are truly awesome at what you do! -- Haley and Scott, bride and groom

"We chose Cynthia as our wedding photographer and we couldn't be happier that we did! She met with us ahead of time to go over our schedule, was available all day (and stayed late), and even visited the venue a week or so before the wedding to look at the location. She captured everything we had in mind, and more! We absolutely LOVE all of our pictures!! :)" -- Bailey and Bryan, bride and groom

“Cynthia, you were fantastic with our guests for the Salt Lake Olympic games. They were all so pleased with the efforts you made to stay with them through the skiing, snowmobiling, the parties and all the Olympic events, even when the days were so long! You were professional, friendly, and the photos are exceptional. Our guests couldn’t be more pleased to have the incredible memory of the games in photos.” -- Tiffany, Morgan Stanley event planner

“Thanks so much for your beautiful photos. I appreciate your hard work knowing how busy you were throughout the festival. The photos really capture the spirit of the festival!” -- Virginia, Sundance Film Institute

“Big Wags Cynthia - Thank you so much for helping us put together an amazing video! We are so excited to share it!!” -- Krista Wickens, Co-Owner/Founder of PetZen and DogTread Products

Want to read more reviews...Check out Cynthia's Google Reviews here!