Like a Fine Wine...
From Portfolio Magazine:
Photographer Leah Martin Adds New Flavor to Robert Charles Photography
By Jaclyn C. Stevenson
Leah J. Martin said when she first joined the photography team at Robert Charles Photography (RCP) in East Longmeadow, Mass., she felt as though she hadn’t been recruited, but rather imported.
“Like a fine wine,” she joked. “When I got the call asking if I’d like to join the Robert Charles Photography team, I was excited about the opportunity, and I feel very positive about my decision.”
Originally from Rhode Island, Martin has been an active professional photographer in New England for several years, and joined RCP as an associate photographer earlier this year. She has photographed in all 50 states and abroad, in locales such as Australia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, and said she now looks forward to bringing her global view to RCP’s client-base, offering the unique photography styles and skills that have become the studio’s trademark, as well as Martin’s signature strength – capturing life in motion.
“The countless ways images can be created keeps things interesting for me every time I photograph,” said Martin, offering some recent, favorite examples. “At a recent wedding, I was able to create an image with the look and feel of a café scene, by taking advantage of a quiet moment at the reception.”
Not long after, Martin was able to stretch her creative muscle again, this time during a session with an engaged couple at a local park. In addition to more traditional portraits, Martin captured the bride laughing while the groom break-danced on a picnic table behind her.
“Dancing has always been a part of their life, so it was important to provide them with an image that celebrated this part of their relationship,” she explained, adding that she has always enjoyed offering images that capture a moment, but stray from traditional posed photographs.
“I look forward to learning more, trying new things, and continuing to challenge myself,” she said, “and Robert Charles is absolutely the kind of studio that will allow me to exercise my artistic talent.”
Martin began her career with Stephen DiRado at Clark University in Worcester, Mass., and later studied her craft further through the prestigious Maine Photographic Workshops at Rockport College. She’s also worked on the management end, in retail and in digital printing and production, at Kodak KICK store Maine Coast Photo & Digital, before moving to Portland Maine to found her own business, SoMe Studios.
Since then, Martin has continued to hone both her skills and her presence in the photographic community. She attended her first national-level photography conference, sponsored by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), in San Antonio, Texas, in January and her first international film conference in London, England in February of this year. Her work has also been featured in Professional Photographer magazine.
Currently, Martin is working toward a master’s in photography through the PPA’s program, which awards the distinction only after a series of points and merits have been earned.
“It can take people a lifetime,” said Martin, “but the shortest amount of time anyone can finish the program is two-to-three years, and I’ve made that goal for myself.”
She said she’s also aimed to learn as much as possible about the photographic industry, from lighting to layout, through her day-to-day responsibilities at RCP, where she works closely with the studio’s lead photographer and co-owner, Robert F. Zemba.
“I have learned so much from Bob already, and I hope to keep learning, keep up with international market, and eventually, I look forward to being more involved with the company as it grows,” she said.
Zemba was recently named photographer of the year by the PPA, and said he looks forward to both teaching and learning from Martin as her own career progresses.
“Leah is an asset to our company,” he said. “She has a vision that is her own, but also understands what we strive to offer our clients – thought-provoking, emotion-evoking images.”
Martin is about to complete her first year at RCP, and the ‘imported’ artist said she feels right at home in the bucolic hills of Western Mass.
“The team at Robert Charles Photography has become my family as well as my co-workers,” she said, “and everyday I get to do what I love - create photographs.”
About Robert Charles Photography
Robert Charles Photography has been in business since 1984. Clients of Robert Charles Photography, who typically hail from Greater New England area, have long recognized the businesses’ one-of-a-kind depictions of life in motion, which capture a moment as well as the spirit of that moment. The business specializes in wedding, engagement, portrait, and corporate photography.
About PPA
Professional Photographers of America has been in existence since 1880. In addition to providing a community for professional photographers, the association offers business and personal protection, business discounts, and professional recognition. Today, PPA has more than 14,000 members in 64 countries.
