What’s your business name and what do you do?
My business name is Maine Photo Works and I provide high-quality inkjet printing services to the southern Maine area and beyond. The kind of printing I do is also commonly referred to as giclee or archival pigment printing. I focus primarily on working with artists and photographers, but I also work quite a bit with folks in the community printing snapshots, digitizing family archives, and restoring old photographs.
How did you learn your craft?
How I got here is a pretty 50/50 mix of formal training and being self-taught. I earned my BFA in photography from Maine College of Art, so what I learned there provided a spectacular foundation. First and foremost, how to make a good print! A lot of the other aspects of the business–like scanning and reproducing works of art, restoring old photographs, and actually printing the work of others–were self-taught. Google is my friend! Failure is my best friend! (I’ve thrown out a lot of prints).
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
I really, really, like the challenge. Most days! Not only is there a challenge in that I am handling many different kinds of media–so almost every order needs its own specific handling–but each client is completely different in what they expect out of that final product. So, I really like to get to know my clients and make them as happy as I can. My artists and photographers are really the ones that help me hone my craft, though. Complete perfection is not possible, but it feels so darn good to get close to a reproduction. It’s such a beautiful relationship to have with another maker!
What do you enjoy least?
What I enjoy the least about what I do is most definitely the technology! A lot of people expect me to be very techy, but I’ve never been the gearhead type when it comes to my own photography. That kind of stuff just doesn’t excite me. I’d rather talk about how you are making something extraordinary happen with an ordinary piece of equipment! However, in this business, it’s extremely important to not only know your equipment well but to upgrade it consistently. So, I’ve got a couple techy friends who I call on when it’s time for an upgrade!
What’s one thing you wish people knew about your work?
It’s a lot harder to make a good “copy” of something than you might think. Even with all the right equipment and a fully color-managed system, it’s my eye and a lot of test prints that make for a good print. There’s nothing automatic about it!
What’s one artist you look up to?
Without a doubt, the artist I look up to the most is Michie O’Day. Michie is a client of Maine Photo Works who has become a dear friend of mine. She’s a very talented painter who got her start when she bailed on her career in retail management, moved to Stonington, and started making oil paintings at the age of 30. Her mentorship has meant the world to me over the years.
What do you do when you’re not at Maine Photo Works?
I spend a lot of my days off in central Maine with my extended family eating good food, taking pictures of my grandparents, and playing The Game of Joker (a marbles game my paternal grandparents are obsessed with). When I am not there, I am most often out for a walk with my dog or on a bike ride with my partner Chris. I am also always taking pictures with my film camera (and then rarely making time to scan or edit them!).
Night owl or early bird?
When I can, I absolutely love going to bed at 9 PM. If you see me out in public after 8 PM, I really, really want to be there!
What's your favorite place in Maine?
Right now, there’s a special little swimming hole in the Carrabassett River that really has my heart. Literally, though, any body of water will do! I grew up on a ‘lil lake in a tiny town in Maine and spent most of my summers in the water. Anywhere I’m swimming feels like home!