When She Makes You Cry, Her Job Is Done!
DomDee Photography
By Zelmon Johnson —-
It’s funny how you think you know a person, but you really don’t until you actually have a conversation with them. That was my experience with Denise Stewart. Although I knew Denise as a radio personality with WTCC, 90.7, I learned a lot more about her as she celebrated moving into her new location, Dom Dee Photography, 34 Front Street in Indian Orchard. Given the era of technology, I was very interested in how a professional photography business could survive the “selfies,” instant Facebook pictures, and staged poses. Her answer was “photo images are authentic and last a lifetime.” As I continued my conversation with Denise, it became clear that she has a love for using “the camera and plans to share her gifts.”
Although photography was an integral part of her childhood, beginning with her father who used a Polaroid camera, it was a gradual discovery for Denise. The strong desire to take photographs actually surfaced about seven years ago at her daughter’s wedding. Being the mother of the bride left little room for her to take photographs so she handed the camera to Dominique, her 10-year-old grandson. To her amazement, he perfected the art of taking pictures, a partnership called DomDee Photography was formed, and the rest is history.
When I asked her, “Why the passion for photography?” she mentioned she had always had a camera and been the “family keeper of photographs,” documenting milestones and successes. Her philosophy is that “photographs show an image that lasts forever, and everything is deserving to be remembered.” She reflected back on a time when as a young adult, all her family photographs were lost. As she spoke of this experience, it was clear she never wanted anyone, including herself, to experience such a loss again, commenting that “the images lost had their own meaning in time.”
It was easy to see how deeply she felt about using photography to tell a story: maybe a smile, a touch, an embrace or even a glimpse of a person can be captured in a single photo. Her passion for what she does was revealed in her statement, “When you look at a photograph and you cry, my job is done!”
Photography includes many different subject matters but DomDee Photography focuses on “people” not objects. This includes proms, family celebrations, funerals, including military funerals, and anything that will remind you of the person’s existence. Her client base includes repeat customers, referrals and mostly clients over the age of 30.
Denise is very humble in acknowledging those who have helped support her passion. Among them are Lenny Underwood of Lenny Underwood Photography, a colleague, trainer and friend who is not afraid to share his knowledge, and Rosemary “Tracy” Woods of Art For the Soul Art Gallery who gave her “tough love and advice” as a mentor during the very challenging early years. In return, Denise is giving back to the community by providing camera instructions to groups such as “Ladies Who Love the Lenses.”
DomDee Photography is a unique photography business. It is a business that combines talent, passion, family and memories. “Every passage in life is noteworthy: Life, death, sickness, joy and a photo image will create a lasting image of the moment in time.” Visit DomDee Photography at Domdeephotography.zenfolio.com. ■
