Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheri Root.
Cheri, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
My love for photography began as a very young girl with her Kodak 110 camera snapping away and always making sure I had enough flash cubes with me. When I was 16 my Dad brought me my first DSLR camera back from a trip he took to Japan and I began shooting black and white film and spent all my free time in the darkroom; which lead to what I thought was the coolest position on my San Diego high school campus–head yearbook photographer. I was hooked…that was in the 80’s and then my journey took many twists and turns and a lot of unplanned “life” happened. Fast forward to 2009 living in Orlando, Florida and feeling something was missing. I was happily married; my son was in high school and I had been working in higher education for years but photography had taken a backseat with all those twists and turns and it was time to find “it” again-that space that needed to create. It was a shaky start getting my confidence back and overcoming the stifling fear in this new world of digital, Photoshop, social media marketing and the fact that I was now in my 40’s and starting something new. I dove in regardless and started my business that year. Almost ten years later (and a move to Texas) and my soul is now in a constant state of renewal because of forcing myself to get past the fear and knowing that I did this to fill something I knew was missing and is now continually found.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am a family, newborn and senior photographer. I believe each family and their lives are perfect just as they are and that is what I create-life happening. Every time I photograph a family, newborn or senior it is a unique experience (for those I am photographing and myself) as I feel the energy and connections that naturally happen and use that to move through my sessions. I am at heart a lifestyle photographer. I want my photographs to evoke emotion and feeling. I recently photographed a high school senior and her mother sent me a message of gratitude sharing with me that she could “hear her daughter’s laugh” right through the images. That for me is what it is all about-that feeling that a photograph can awaken. I am inspired by the people that I photograph-especially children. Children are my favorite humans to have in front of my lens as there is nothing more authentic than their emotions and I embrace that in my sessions. My message is that in this big beautiful world we somehow all fit together as we experience real, imperfect and raw moments in life.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
In addition to my family, newborn and senior photography I photograph a few very special events each year that revolve around and celebrate artists and creatives. One of these events is BroadwayCon in New York-honoring all that is Broadway. I will also be photographing two events in Dallas this year-Con of Thrones (for all those that love Game of Thrones) and LeakyCon (the largest Harry Potter fan convention). It is inspiring to see artists and creatives supporting each other and providing a community to come together to share thoughts, ideas and provoke continued growth in the arts. I’m not sure if there is a concrete answer to the question of life being easier or harder for artists. Each artist is on their own path and what that means for one creative may look and feel very different for someone else. I have lived in the Dallas area for four years and feel that Dallas embraces the arts and provides opportunities for artists. Working in education I feel it is important that we support and keep arts in schools-it is a vital piece of exploration for kids and young adults and contributes more than some think to a true education.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cheriroot.com
- Phone: 407.247.7009
- Email: cheri@cheriroot.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/cherirootphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/cherirootphotography
Image Credit:
Cheri Root Photography
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