Kate Melton

Kate captured this shot at Charlotte beach at Ontario Beach Park in Rochester.A good story. Great light. Soulful eyes.

Those are the simple, powerful building blocks of this Rochester photographer's work.

“Behind every person's eyes is a story to be told,” Kate says. “And it's my job to tell it.”

A photographer who emerged just as the Digital Age was first shaking the world of imaging, Kate has lived through all the change first hand—from her education at Syracuse University's Newhouse School, to a yearlong stint in Los Angeles, to the Messenger-Post Newspapers that serve suburban Rochester. And later at Kodak as an Information Center Digital Specialist.

This shot of the unmistakable Stonehenge is from Kate's fine art collection.A corporate downsizing eventually catapulted her into the world of full-time self-employment.

“At the time, the digital transformation was just really taking off,” she says.

Since then, Kate has embraced the revolution freelanced for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle while continuing to build the commercial side of her profession.

She serves a client roster that includes ad agencies and direct relationships with companies.

“The key to commercial photography is in capturing the personal. Every product has a personality,” she says.

Erik Sveden of Sennett, NY, portrays Sheriff Enoch Puddiphatt during the 2007 Dickens Christmas celebration in Skaneateles, NY.“Every company has a culture. And every business person has a story to tell.”

While her photojournalism background has clearly served her well, Kate freely admits being uncomfortable as the subject of a photo herself. But she's found a way to use that insecurity to be a better photographer.

“In an effort to understand my subjects—to make them feel more at ease—I'll take self portraits every couple of years,” she says.

“It gives me a chance to experience what they experience, in terms of being in the spotlight. The exercise lets me feel all the feelings of vulnerability, insecurity, and in some cases, vanity.”

Hey, the camera doesn't lie.

KateSee more: www.katemelton.com, on Facebook and on LinkedIn

Say hi: kate@katemelton.com

Bobs Lake, Ontario, Canada.

Rochester artist Sarah Rutherford in the train yard near her studio.