BY GINNY PRIVITAR
It all started that Christmas when Lori Doherty was 12 years old and her aunt gave her the coolest present ever: a brand new Polaroid Swinger camera. She was entranced — as were many of us — with the ability to get a finished photograph almost instantly. For those too young to remember, with the new Polaroid instant cameras, you took a photo and a piece of chemically treated paper was ejected from the camera and you pulled it out. After about a minute, the image would develop and magically appear on the paper. You didn’t have to wait two weeks to get the finished photos back from a lab! Doherty was hooked and turned her love of photography into a business.
Her first film camera was a Minolta. “I remember the frustration of taking a roll of 24 or 36 shots and some wouldn’t come out well,” she said. “There was no control over the processing.” But digital cameras changed all that. “I got my first digital camera in ‘97-98; it was a two-megapixel Kodak that my boss bought as a Christmas present for everybody.”
Over the years, she’s used several Nikons; now she uses a Nikon 7100. “I prefer it; I’m just very happy with the results,” she said.
Nature photography is a favorite of hers, and it shows in her work. What she most enjoys, though, is shooting families on the happy occasions in their lives.
“I’m not a ‘big’ wedding photographer — I’m not set up for that,” she notes. She likes to do more intimate celebrations, like the 60th wedding anniversary photos she took of two friends she’s known for years. There were about 30 family members celebrating the event at a restaurant.
“I like to photograph families. Last weekend I took photos of a couple who were celebrating their 40th anniversary; all four kids were there and their families. It was a blast. And one (photo) came out better than the other because they were happy and pleased to be together.”
During her career as a photographer, Doherty has taken several courses and workshops. She particularly enjoyed taking workshops with Nick Zungoli of Sugar Loaf, N.Y. “He’s amazing, absolutely amazing,” she said.
For those just starting out or who would like to improve their skills, Doherty would recommend a community college and/or a photography club for beginners.
“Find the artist that you admire…follow them and (sign up) if they’re willing to run workshops and share one-on-one.”
Family gatherings of any kind are a favorite for Doherty. She recently did a shoot in Greenwood Lade of a close friend, her visiting daughter and grandchildren. “It’s fun to be able to see the results of happy families,” she said.
Nature provides a beautiful backdrop for many of her photos and Doherty takes full advantage.
“We live in such a beautiful area; so many opportunities to capture that,” Doherty said. Does she use a tripod? “I can’t stand tripods. I’m more comfortable with a camera in my hand.”
There have been no real photo mishaps, Doherty said, but photographing young, antsy children can pose a challenge. She remembers a family with a daughter who was about 10 and a son who was 4. “He was having a very difficult day,” she said. “It was a challenge to get him to sit still.” The parents were concerned that his antics would ruin the photo shoot. But, Doherty said, “When they got the proofs they were so shocked; you never would have thought this little 4-year-old was having a meltdown. I was just able to catch him at a moment where it worked. That’s often what happens with large families with children of different ages; the challenge is to get everybody.”
Doherty is grateful for the gifts photography has given her.
“I’ve been able to turn a hobby into a profession and I truly enjoy it — meeting all the new families and the people I come in contact with,” she said. “I continue to grow and my love of photography will grow for the rest of my life.”
And that original gift that led her on this path? “My Aunt Mary Ann gave me cool gifts. She’s still cool.”
Lori not only has an eye for photography, she has an eye for a good recipe. She shared her recipe for “the world’s best Pasta e Fagioli.”
See her work on facebook under Lori Doherty Photography or on her website, www.loridohertyphotography.com or contact her at 973-506-7103 or 973-767-7985.