bio

Mary McGrath is a photojournalist who contributes to a number of magazines, newspapers, web sites, and has been published in a number of books. Some of her credits include: Newsweek.com, Good Housekeeping, MSNBC.com, Copley Newspaper, Shutterbug, Petersen's Photographic, Rangefinder Magazine, WPPI, After Capture Magazine, Professional Photographer, etc.

As a photographer, she is largely self-taught, preferring to bend the rules in order to obtain unusual imagery. She has been shooting for about 35 years, with her interest in photography beginning at UCSB, where she started experimenting in the darkroom with a friend's camera. From that point on, she was hooked, eventually working for a small newspaper, and contributing to a number of other publications.

Aside from shooting, Mary delights in interviewing professional photographers who constantly challenge themselves creatively. Some of the notable personalities she's interviewed include: Joe Buissink, Anthony Vasquez, Roberto Falck Ash Gupta, Kelly Munce and Chris Conrad. In her interviews, she has learned about some of the nuances involved in becoming a successful photographer. Beyond talent, luck comes into play, having good connections, and the importance of marketing yourself effectively to your client base.

Betterphoto.com has helped Mary utilize her web site to attract other writing assignments and sales of her artwork, and has helped her secure invitations on a number of press trips to cover exotic travel destinations as a photojournalist.

"By visiting my web site," she says, "my clients can see my work, as well as read some samples of the pieces I've had published in a number of magazines. My web site makes it easy for them to see if I'm suitable for the job for which I'm being considered. I'm working on a press trip to France right now, and I hope I make the cut!"

Mary is a Canon fan, and soon plans to upgrade from her Digital Rebel XT. "I like how light this camera is," she says, "but a more sophisticated Canon would be really nice."

For her dining column, her Panasonic Lumix (12 megapixels) comes in very handy. "It's quite small, and the photos are outstanding, probably due to the Leica lens," she adds.

Inspiration, she says, "comes from anywhere - from that 'aha' moment when I think I've captured a good portrait, seeing something from a new angle, when I'm on a travel assignment, or just seeing something new across the street. You don't have to travel far to find a unique image."

She adds: "I am humbled by the multitude of talent that exists today, but those photographers from earlier times resonate much more with me. I can't paint or draw, so I gravitated into photography, and it's opened up so many worlds for me. To see remote destinations and to bring them to life in print is something that is endlessly exciting."

My goal is to better "see" the world around me and capture New England's unique beauty in a way that can be shared and provide inspiration to others.

Betterphoto.com has helped Mary utilize her web site to attract other writing assignments and sales of her artwork, and has helped her secure invitations on a number of press trips to cover exotic travel destinations as a photojournalist.