About Me and the People who Support Me on this Journey
Hello and welcome to my site. I hope you enjoy visiting and hope you will come back frequently.
I have done quite a few things in my life, but none as gratifying as creating heirloom portraits for my clients. It truly is my passion – at least one of them. I think you can see this as you browse the images. At one point I strayed away from this gift I was given – as far as to create a Wall Street career, but I came back. These days, I travel between New York and the small Norwegian town of Poulsbo, Washington. I am actually quite enjoying it. I can go to New York to feel the stimulation and get my “big city fix” and then return to my 6 acre farm, complete with a 100 year old farm house, several barns, ponds, beautiful gardens, orchard and two remaining llamas (down from 30 llamas and 2 camels). How good does life get! I also have a gallery and studio – a different property. All of my consultations and photo shots are conducted at my gallery while I am in Poulsbo, unless we are doing an outdoor shoot.
I am so very blessed to have an amazing graphic designer and great friend Carol Kaufman, http://www.CarolKaufmanDesign.com, who creates and watches over my every product productions like a hawk! Her heart is in everything graphically produced for my business. Not only does she do the design work but the “heart” work as well which goes into creating these beautiful products. She so cares! If ever you need print design work – she is “the one”.
My friend Patrick critiques my prints. He is so talented and has an amazing ability to see details I did not see, and lends a critical set of eyes in reviewing composition, lighting and impact of my portrait work and does so with joy. In addition, he is full of great ideas – you know, the “you know what you should do”… and I should.
I have two talented writers which support my efforts, Dave Kragen http://www.KaveDragenInk.com. and Rex Olsen, both published authors who keep the words “straight” and provide me with the wisdom of their experience. During the past year, I created a book of my art work which was fully supported by this amazing collection of talent. You can read about the book when you click the “Publication” tab.
There is also the indirect team of care and support. At the top of this list is Betsy Hill, a long time friend from my Wall Street days. I cannot imagine my voyage into New York and the transition this required with out her support. And where will you find me while in New York – living in her home.
I have the best life. What is better than doing what you love? I left all of that other stuff behind and concentrate my energies, focus and passion on creating portraits which will bring you joy forever.
And then there is David Hunt, an internet media designer, http://www.okso.com and Michelle Rumney, fine artist, etc. etc., http://roomattheedge.com who also support me in so many technological, marketing and spiritual ways. Take a look and you will better know who they are.
We are all so connected in so many ways. There was simply no way to write “about me” with out including “about them” – my family of friends and support.
So now, I will include a bio and resume which other people have written about me. Sometimes I find this very flattering but I want you to know that when I had 30 llamas at my farm and two camels, I scooped lots of POOP!
Biography/Resume
Photo artist Winifred Whitfield sees the goddess in every woman. Her intimate portraits reveal “the unique emotion of a person. It is a portrayal, a story about her. It reflects her inner and outer beauty—her essence—and it becomes her personal piece of fine art.”
Winifred has always been an artist at heart-commencing oil painting in childhood, As an adult she traded her palette for a successful career as a vice president on Wall Street. Living in artist communities and frequenting New York City’s many art galleries and museums fanned the flame of her artistic spirit—but it was not enough. Yes, she gained satisfaction from the several flourishing businesses she founded in the Northwest (where she was a llama-breeder and a camel-owner), When she landscaped her six-acre farm, using plants and petals as living media with which to repaint her environment, there was a sense of artistic fulfillment.—
Then Winifred discovered the possibilities held by digital photography and, employing her business acumen, launched a custom boutique studio/gallery. Blending her love of painting with her expert understanding of the mysteries of handcrafted printing and her mastery of the computer, Winifred’s long dormant artistic spirit blossomed. Intimate Portraits for Women was born.
Winifred’s ability to not only hear what her clients are saying but to intuit their desire results in a collaborative piece of art that reveals her subject’s inner person. “It is unlike any image a woman has likely seen of herself,” Winifred says. In an atmosphere that is warm and elegant, she creates a sense of sophisticated sanctity and trust that inevitably is reflected in the final work. Setting, atmosphere, lighting and emotion – Winifred designs a scene like a classic movie director. She treats each client as the carefully casted star of the story which is about to unfold. “Creating the vision of the image before I shoot is the real key for creating empowering and beautiful images.” Like the artist of yesteryear, she escorts her clients on an adventure that is at once gentle and soul searching. Winifred is now dividing her time between New York and Washington State. She owns and operates Intimate Portraits for Women and Portraits in New York.
In addition to her work as a portrait artist, Winifred conducts workshops anywhere in the work on Photoshop Creativity and her style of lighting and posing.
EDUCATION
- Master’s Degree in Urban and Region Planning from University of Southern California.
- Master’s Degree in Social Work from University of Southern California.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University.
PHOTOGRAPHY CERTIFICATIONS
Wedding and Portrait Photographers International
· Accolade of Photographic Mastery
· Accolade of Outstanding Photographic Achievement
· Accolade of Exceptional Photographic Achievement
Workshops and Speaking Engagements 2009 – 2010
Image Explorations, Richmond, Canada
Professional Photography Society of New York State, Albany, New York
Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers, London, England
Professional Photographers of Greater New York, New York, New York
The John Greengo Show – Training Podcast, Seattle. WA
Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, Las Vegas, Nevada
Awards
Perfect Print Award ~ Northeast Photography Convention ~ 2010
Kodak Gallery Award
Print Judging
Print Competition Judging in the United States and Great Britain
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