Let me tell you a little about myself. I was born in Brooklyn, and lived on Long Island, Manhattan, Hillsdale, and now Pittsfield, MA. I love Massachusetts but still consider myself a New York Girl.  

My love of photography started when I was 16, when my parents gave me a Kodak Pocket camera for Christmas.  My father was the family photographer, and he passed on this legacy to me.  Ever since then, photography has held a special place in my heart.  I love going outdoors, exploring, and capturing the beauty all around me.  I get lost in my photography!  It is a form of meditation for me.  I also love taking pictures of people at parties and other events.  The look of joy on their faces when I give them their photos, brings ME so much joy! 

While I lived in Manhattan I had a photography studio in SOHO, and participated in exhibitions, presenting a wide range of subject matter from cityscapes to boardrooms, from artistic nudes to household pets. I studied photography at The School of Visual Arts and The New School and was an active member of Advertising Photographers of America and Professional Women Photographers. I was even a photographer for Playgirl magazine for a short while!

For many years I traveled the world working with Fortune 500 companies in the pharmaceutical industry as an event planner. Photography has always been a hobby for me; one that feeds my soul. I feel blessed that I got to visit so many countries and have photos to remember each special place.

In 2000, I married the love of my life, Bill Schmick, at the top of Catamount in Hillsdale, NY, where we had a country home. While we were on our honeymoon in Africa, Bill had arranged another wedding for us in a Maasai tribal village! Our story is so beautiful and romantic and one that we love to tell.

We were still living in Manhattan when 9/11 happened. I found solace and a new meaning in life here in the Berkshires after losing my childhood sweetheart (a NYFD Lieutenant) that day.  I abandoned Manhattan and embraced the Berkshires, drawn by its beauty and people,  As a member of the Columbia County Council on the Arts and the Woodstock Artists Association, I exhibited my landscape photography in Troy and Hudson, NY.  I also did photography for a local newspaper, The Independent. At that time, “Berkshire Visions” was created.

In 2010, I moved to Pittsfield, MA, with my husband, Bill, and our chocolate lab, Titus. After looking at houses all over the Berkshires, we discovered The Clocktower Building! We knew right away it was the right place for us.

I joined Berkshire Money Management, where I was eventually promoted to President & COO, while continuing to do my photography on the side (and some of it as part of my corporate job). During that time, I opened a photography studio in Pittsfield with a group of photographers, called “Photo-Op.” I got to know many of the people in the Berkshires through my photography and my corporate job, and I enjoyed doing both.

In August 2019 my mother died at the age of 91, which had a profound effect on me and my attitude towards life and aging. My priorities started to change. A voice inside me said “life is too short.” I didn’t listen until the Pandemic hit in 2020. While working from home during the ‘great pause,’ I had more time to think, and that voice grew louder. I could no longer ignore it. In May 2020, I decided to leave my safe, secure corporate job and find out what was next for me in my life. So, I took a giant leap into the unknown!

For 2 years, during the pandemic, I was photographing families, children, pets and seniors. I consider myself a lifestyle photographer. To see and capture so much love and joy makes me very happy!

Once the lockdown was over, however, I started getting restless. I felt I needed to be part of a team again. While I will never stop doing photography, it just isn’t enough. So, in March 2022, I made another huge life change and got a part-time job working for The Berkshire Eagle as their Marketing & Philanthropy Coordinator. It’s one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had, and it’s right next door. My ‘commute’ to work is exactly 109 steps.

Sadly, in April 2022, we had to say goodbye to our beautiful chocolate lab, Titus. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make in my life, and was so devastating. Life has not been the same without our boy around. I am grateful for the thousands of photos I took of him. His memory lives on, not only in our hearts, but here on my website and on all of my social media accounts. He was my heart and soul dog. He had an amazing 13 1/2 years here, but it still doesn’t feel long enough.

In August 2022, through a series of events involving all of our dog parent friends, we adopted a 2 year old poodle named Atreyu. I never ever thought I could love another dog and certainly not so soon after Titus, but here we are. I love Atreyu so much, and in a different way that I loved Titus. I discovered I have much more love available in my heart than I imagined.

So, while I’m busy working at my part-time job and training a 2 year old poodle, I am still doing photography. It will always be something I love to do.

In addition to photography, my other loves are kayaking, hiking, running, bike riding, yoga, strength training and my Peloton bike! I can write a whole story about Peloton, but I won’t. It has changed my life! If you are part of the Peloton family, find me on the leaderboard - “TitusMomForever.”

I hope I get to meet you and create some beautiful memories for you!