|
Photographer (and adoptive mother) Cathy
Maier Callanan
Cathy Maier Callanan, co-founder of the Santa Fe Photographic
Workshops, is a versatile professional photographer and instructor.
She has run a successful commercial photography business for 30
years and is known nationally for her portrait and wedding photography.
Her images have been published internationally and Cathy's stock
photography is represented by Getty Images.
Cathy first conceived the idea of the Heart Gallery and the New
Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department took off with the
idea in 2001.
She is the proud mother of Emmanuel and Isabella and lives in Santa
Fe, NM.
I am thrilled to have been a Heart Gallery Photographer since
it's inception in 2001 and to play a part in finding "forever
families" for these amazing kids. There is nothing like seeing
the joy in the eyes of these children when I photograph them. Their
confidence explodes as they see themselves presented with style,
grace and beauty. As a photographer, I am honored to focus my camera
on these young stars and see the photography session lift their
lives and their self-esteem. When I am photographing, I experience
a deep and profound connection and love for each child. I love to
share the images from my digital camera with them during our session,
and work with them to discover their own unique personalities. We
really become a team.
In my professional career as a photographer, nothing has touched
my heart more than watching the transformation in these children's
attitudes from the beginning of the photography session until the
last image is captured. I observe them walking taller, smiling brighter
and feeling stronger, just in the course of our time together. They
begin to understand how special they really are. What a gift this
has been for me to be a part of The Heart Gallery, knowing that
one photograph can make a huge difference in a child's life.
 When
I began photographing Austin at the zoo in Albuquerque, NM he was
quite shy. As he became more comfortable with the camera and with
me, he became energetic, animated and relaxed. His sense of humor
and kind heart emerged. His photograph was chosen for the National
Heart Gallery Exhibit in Washington D.C. in 2005. This was deeply
gratifying for me, especially knowing that others would see the photograph
and be inspired by the incredible gift that The Heart Gallery has
provided. Through the art of photography, the unique spirit of these
children shines, engaging the hearts of prospective families.
|
