We are pleased to announce Guest Speaker 

Susan E. Bouchard

The Art of Storytelling  

Take your imagery to the next level. Learn from visual artist Susan E. Bouchard as she shares her approach to creating impactful photographic stories. She will discuss mixing both posed and photojournalistic-style imagery, lighting and design to create impactful pieces for a wide variety of uses. She will walk participants though her thought process from guiding her subjects into great light, helping them relax and be themselves and capturing these perfect moments. 

It is not just Bouchard's photographic skills, but her ability to quickly make people feel at ease, that has made her a much sought-after photographer, marketing consultant and speaker.

I n the early part of the 20 th Century, the most famous and recognizable person on the planet was comedian Charlie Chaplin. Despite not uttering a word, he could bridge vast social divides and sidestep language barriers the world over simply through his use of visual story telling. The importance of which has only increased in today's instant, communicative world of social media.

Susan E. Bouchard has worked her entire professional life telling stories of people's lives through the lens of her camera. Originally a news reporter, she learned early on that written stories, no matter how intriguing, don't get good play without equally intriguing art to draw in the reader. In response, she picked up a camera and quickly learned how to make her own photos to accompany her words. This skill changed the course of her life. Soon she concentrated solely on the imagery and accepted a job as a photojournalist, in the truest sense of the word. Recognizing her potential, the Associated Press with its worldwide audience, tapped into her skill set to cover some of the most pressing issues of our time.

Bouchard's ability to tell clear, concise and interesting stories under constant deadline pressure cannot be understated. Her ability to quickly read a situation, capture flattering light and pour her heart and soul into the most significant and deeply personal moments of people's lives, has made her one of the area's most sought-after photographers. Following the tragic events of September 11 th , she turned her focus to telling more personal stories. Drawing on her journalistic background she built a lucrative portrait and wedding photography business. Her unique talent has endeared her to thousands of clients throughout the years. Sharing their most private, heart-felt moments with her 

so that they can relive them  time and time again through her imagery.

A master at controlling light on location, Bouchard's signature style was so cutting edge, that wedding photographers now strive to emulate her creativity. As one of the first photojournalistic wedding photographers, she established a unique rapport with her subjects. Her unassuming approach is critical in gaining their trust, allowing her to weave in and out of their special moments to capture stunning, natural and unrehearsed imagery. Drawing on her newspaper background she thinks of covering a wedding or photographing a family portrait as a story unfolding before her lens.

 But that's just half of the story... 

The second, and equally important aspect to creating her art, is to present a complete package to her discerning clients in such a way that they are awed by their own images. Just as her written stories, she takes them by the hand and leads them through the day. Presented with a distinct beginning, middle and end, most clients hadn't before viewed themselves as subjects of incredible stories. Given the excitement they feel, they often remark that they rarely take the time to stop and truly enjoy the beauty of their surroundings. But by having every detail unfold before them, emotions run high when her clients view their images. And since the relationships she creates run so deep many clients return year after year to add another chapter to the story of their lives. 

Having earned a Master's Degree in Media Studies, a discipline that encapsulates all types of digital media, Bouchard's eye for aesthetics governs everything she does. The seamless blending of images, type and design have also made her very respected in the corporate world. Digital media marketing combines words and images for maximum impact to drive sales in today's fast-paced business environment. Her expertise in all these areas has earned her so much respect by her peers that she now teaches these skills to the next generation as a professor of marketing. Whether passionately capturing once-in-a-lifetime memories, beautiful portraits or creating advertising campaigns, her art spans a wide variety of creative fields. As was true in the days of Charlie Chaplin, what once was old is new again. Time-tested traditions of visual storytelling are more important today than they ever have been. In this increasingly fast-paced world taking the time to pause and stop time for a moment is exactly what art of storytelling is all about.

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