Judy Licht Photography

On Saturday, thanks to my lovely friend Sandy, I had the opportunity to photograph women with their pets for a calendar called Critters for the Cure.  The women all share the experience of breast cancer.   We met in a park in the Kentlands at nine o’clock in the morning, a perfect time to shoot, with diffused back light adding to the beauty of the women and their furry companions.  My husband, Rick, played a dual role — reflector man and model.  His is the only photo that I can show, because the rest are embargoed until the calendar is published in October.  In the meantime, I was thinking about what I shoot and why.  I can see my love in Rick’s face.  And for the rest, to me, my work is about relationships.  There always has to be a connection between me and my subject, and another within the group of people I am shooting.  Last Saturday, when Rick was sitting for me, I was energized by the generosity of his participation and his helpfulness.  And when the women came, they were all so upbeat, affectionate to each other and their pets, that the pictures reflect happiness, even though they were all facing personal challenges.  I love the gift of documenting how family and friends connect, and I always have my camera nearby, so keep me in mind while the weather is mild, and everyone is enjoying being outdoors.