Randomly chosen photographers find peaceful repose in Polson
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POLSON —With a retreat in mind, six young women with six cameras arrived in Polson on July 19.
The group of young photographers call themselves Alpha Kappa Camera. Pulled from all over the country, the geographically-improbable friends have more than a few things in common: They’re all females, all young professionals with a growing photography business, and all of them have a passion for the craft.
Kara Purtell of Michigan; Shea Halliburton of Tennessee; Cristi Owen of Phoenix, Ariz.; Amelia Strauss of Birmingham, Ala., Leean Adams of North Carolina; Lisette Price of Tennessee; Joanna Garcia of Houston, Texas; Samantha Warren of Maine and Trina Knudsen of Salt Lake City, Utah, comprise the entire traveling sisterhood of photography. But only six of the nine could make it on this trip.
The group is the brainchild of Strauss and Owen. While at a photography conference in Ireland in 2008, the two met each other and another group of women who called themselves the Photo Girls. The young photographers were taken by the idea and began contacting other young photographers around the country who were just starting out with their own business.
And fellow women, of course.
“We like the girly factor,” Owen admits.
She added that sharing a suite at a photography conference might be tough with a male photographer around.
The crew met for the first time in South Carolina and gained more steam at a conference in Las Vegas. They try to meet twice each year — once for a serious photo conference and once for a fun photo retreat to swap trade secrets and help each photographer grow and develop.
And in such a competitive market, the advice of another photographer across the country makes a world of difference.
“When we get together it feels like we are getting together with best friends,” Knudsen said.
The sisterhood shares more than just photography.
Photography was the common bond, of course, but the relationships have evolved into a friendship, especially in the relaxed ambience of their photo retreats.
They talk about marriage and dating, while treating themselves to massages, scenic side trips and karaoke — camera in hand.
Each of them takes a turn organizing a photo retreat. And this year Owen planned the retreat in her husband’s hometown, Polson. For five days, the young wmen prowled the streets looking for lighting, inspiration and sharing a common artistic bond.
On Thursday afternoon, they met at the Old World Delicatessen in Polson. With only one retreat day left, it was obvious that the artists were happy to share the day together.
It’s on these trips with other photographers the women are able to express their artistic genius — and take the time to follow through.
In Polson, they strolled around town, spending a good chunk of time at each spot that inspired them.
Waiting for a half-hour for a photographer to find her muse and the correct lighting requires the patience of a saint, or maybe another photographer. The faux photo sorority giggled and laughed, cameras in hand as they meandered through alleyways, posed near abandoned buildings and rested on second-hand sofas.
They look like they could be real sorority sisters or lifelong friends.
But they’re just a few like-minded women, picked randomly from across the country.
“It’s surprising how well it works,” Knudsen said.
