{"id":92151,"date":"2021-01-13T12:41:40","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T16:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huddle.today\/?p=92151"},"modified":"2022-07-13T12:48:52","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T15:48:52","slug":"n-b-photographer-captures-close-ups-from-far-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huddle.today\/2021\/01\/13\/n-b-photographer-captures-close-ups-from-far-away\/","title":{"rendered":"N.B. Photographer Captures Close Ups From Far Away"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

SAINT JOHN – Mel Pitre did not anticipate she would drastically shift gears in 2020, from performing in her ensemble, \u201cThe Southern Comfort Band,\u201d with her husband, Mike Emmerson to driving across New Brunswick as part of a growing photography business.<\/h4>\n

\u201cI was doing photography here and there and everywhere, but it wasn\u2019t really a full-time job,\u201d said Pitre, who lives in Saint John and co-owns The Image Factory with her husband.<\/p>\n

The business grew out of taking their own photos and videos of the band, which led to other projects and spreading from word of mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do theme photoshoots as well, I have people here at the studio that come for backdrops or portraits or green screen,\u201d said Pitre, adding they can shoot in-home, in-studio and outdoors.<\/p>\n

With the pandemic resulting in the cancellation of their band gigs, Pitre pivoted to building up their side business. She learned from a friend about The Front Steps Project<\/a>, which encouraged family photos at a safe distance, taking pictures of people on their front decks, porches and yards.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was out five days a week, driving around the city from Hampton to Musquash, stopping in front of people\u2019s places and we took hundreds of sessions,\u201d she said. \u201cIt really spread the word for the Image Factory and I think that\u2019s a huge help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pitre says The Image Factory\u2019s clients are all over the province, from Fredericton to Moncton to Edmundston, and wherever Pitre was allowed to travel during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

One of her most memorable shoots was where a dad held his kids upside down by the feet as their mom hung out on the porch.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just perfect,\u201d shared Pitre.\u00a0 \u201cThe father was just like, \u2018Do you mind if I do this?\u2019 I said, \u2018I don\u2019t mind, show me what it\u2019s like to be with three kids in the house!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n