A picture is worth a thousand words

MILFORD — Through the lens of camera, Kelly Horn captures moments in time with a simple snap.

Returning to her roots, Horn a Pike County native, has opened her business Kelly Horn Photography in Milford — which specializes in head shots as well as creative senior, family and engagement portraits.

"I grew up around here and I just love it," she said. "I love the area. It has a nicer pace of things. It's just a simpler area."

Love of photos
Horn has been interested in photography for years.

"I've loved photography since I was about 12. I just graduated from school for it and I just really love the art form of it. I love to be able to show my vision in my pictures and tell other people's stories in my images. I enjoy photographing people."

Horn graduated high school in 2012 and recently graduated from the Hallmark Institute of Photography, in Turners Falls, Mass., where she studied under several renowned photographers and was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award for Highest Professional Portfolio Excellence.

"I graduated in the top four of my class," Horn said.

As for equipment, that has changed a bit over the years.

"I got my first real digital camera when I was 12," Horn said. "Before that I had a few kinds of not great cameras but my very first good digital camera was an Olympus. Now I use a Nikon D800."

Horn's personal photographic preference is apparent in the business.

"I like editorial photographs and just very detailed images," she said. "That's what I want to do with my business. It will be things like senior portraits and family portraits."

Horn hopes that customers will appreciate her unique take on portrait-taking.

"I like to do creative portraits, not just your typical smile at camera," she said. "I want to shoot more in-depth and show what they like to do, who they are, tell a story. I mainly like to tell a story not just have a pretty smile."

Photography tips
While she enjoys taking the photos herself, Horn is more than happy to dole out a few tips to newcomers as well.

"I think I'd say don't stick people in sunlight. It will blow out highlights and people will have squinting faces," she explained. "You should make them face away from the sun and shoot toward it to get light in the background. Another good idea is to shoot people under trees so you get natural light and really good shots without overexposure."

For more information on Kelly Horn Photography or to see sample shots, visit kellyhorn.prosite.com or on Facebook.