Christine Reilly Photography

Christine Reilly Photography

By Candace Birkelbach Friday, 26 September 2008

Christine Reilly’s passion for photography comes alive in her work, turning regular photo shoots into one-of-a-kind, magazine-style portraits.

Reilly previously worked in New York but decided to move to Austin for the small-town feel of the art scene here. Once in Austin, she opened her own photography business in 2006 to create custom products for people wanting to capture a special instant in time. Reilly said she concentrates on the entire portrait experience to portray each client’s personality.

“I focus on each shoot like I would an editorial job by using the surrounding assets to describe a person or family, keeping everything natural and in the moment,” Reilly said. “I keep the natural elements instead of manipulating [the image] into something I want it to be.”

Reilly then adds finishing touches to a portrait through different lighting styles and color enhancement to produce a final tangible product upon which the family can reflect. While she has done work for national publications like People magazine, her business started as a grassroots effort of satisfied customers who spread the word about her talent. Reilly works with clients at her home photography studio and at off-site locations throughout Austin. Alternating between small businesses, big companies and proud parents is sometimes difficult for Reilly, but she likes keeping busy and feels more productive when there is a lot on her plate.

“I sometimes wish there were more than 24 hours in a day, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t wish that,” Reilly said.

Reilly said the lines between the avenues of photography are becoming blurred, giving her creative flexibility to produce more realistic-looking images.

“Looking like [people] are in a magazine is becoming more popular on the consumer level with portraits,” Reilly said. “This unique style sets me apart because I am documenting the event for families rather than having them pose.”

Reilly strives to understand her clients and create a professional product, whether it be a birth announcement or coffee table book, to address their specific needs.

“I’m creating a product that’s so valuable in their eyes because it captures a moment in time they can’t reproduce,” Reilly said. “It’s something you can look back on and have the tangible moment, and that’s just powerful.”

Birth announcements are one of Reilly’s specialties because the parents reflect on the photos to see how quickly their child is growing and changing.

“It’s such a pleasure to be able to produce something that has significant emotional effect on people and is so important,” Reilly said. “That’s why when people [experience] a house fire, the first thing they think about losing is the photographs.”

Reilly has an extensive art background in painting and sculpting, but photography has always been her favorite medium. She studied at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and soon became intrigued by photography and eager to learn about the shift toward digital imagery.

Reilly, her husband, Jeremy, and Chihuahua Roo have lived in Austin for four years. She teaches classes at Austin Community College and is compiling a Chihuahua coffee table book, which includes shots of more than 60 dogs. A portion of the proceeds will go to dog rescue organizations.

Services available:

• Family portraits
• Birth announcements
• Weddings, including destination
• Coffee table books
• Commercial
• Editorial

Christine Reilly Photography, 417-7405, http://events.christinereilly.com, http://christinereilly.com, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it