Photographer opens Gardnerville shop

Martha Flynn said she has photographed many subjects in her 26 years as a professional photographer but people are her forte.

"I have always been intrigued with sharing stories and finding creative visual ways to tell them," said Flynn. "I understand I must be flexible and to always expect the unexpected."

Flynn describes her vocation as a portrait and wedding photographer. She specializes in children and high school seniors' portraits, photos of teams, pets and special events. She offers passport photos at two for $7.95.

"High school seniors are my thing to do," said Flynn.

She's also done portraits for California senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein and photographed the members of the Plumas County, Calif. sheriff's office.

Her portfolio includes photographing weddings in Lake Tahoe, Santa Cruz, Calif., and Hawaii. She has an assignment for a family reunion at a dude ranch in Klamath Falls, Ore., and a trip to Malta coming up in April.

"I travel a lot for my work," Flynn said. "I enjoy my work and find it exciting because I love people."

Flynn started her career when she opened retail photography stores in Quincy, Calif.

"In 1981, I realized I didn't want to just sell equipment but be behind the camera capturing images," she said.

Flynn said she began her journey to become a professional photographer by enrolling in various photography schools.

"At first I studied portraiture and high school senior photography," she said. "A few years later, I studied wedding photography and attended the University of Nevada to study photojournalism. Now I work with client-friendly digital photos."

Flynn was born on the Island of Malta and grew up in San Francisco. She and husband Patrick Flynn lived in Quincy, Calif., and raised four daughters. The Flynns moved to Gardnerville to be close to her 81-year-old mother and open a studio in Carson Valley. Her sister, Mary Gonzi, displays and sells custom lamps in the photography studio.

Flynn is photographing families for St. Gall Catholic Church's directory. She has displays of her work in Minden at Sweetie Pies and the new Pizza Factory.

Flynn said what brings her the most enjoyment as a photographer is to capture her subjects' diverse personalities and emotions.

"I believe I have become in tune when photographing the unique story of each individual," she said.

Martha Flynn Photography is at 1402 A Highway 395 in Gardnerville. Call her at 782-2776 for an appointment or visit her Web site at marthaflynnphotography.com to see examples of her work.

What: Martha Flynn Photography

Where: 1402 A Highway 395, Gardnerville

When: By appointment

Info: marthaflynnphotography.com and 782-2776