About

STUDIO THIRTY SIX EAST is an Eastern North Carolina-based photography business for family portraits, senior and wedding sessions.

Hi there!

I'm Karen and this is my family.

During your photography session I will be directing you through posing and expression to get you comfortable in front of the camera so we can incorporate both posed and candid moments during your session. I'm open to any ideas that you have for your session and encourage anything that makes your session unique to you! If you have any questions or just want to throw around ideas about your session, send me a message. I'm yours for the duration of your session, so always be comfortable about any photo requests that you have!

A little bit about myself.How did your photography journey begin?

People often ask how I got started in photography, and while I could sum it up in a paragraph, the truth is, it’s a story that’s been unfolding for over eighteen years, when I first started my photography business. But really, my love for photography started much earlier, around the age of 13. As a child in the early 80s, I was given my first Kodak Disc camera. Back then, every shot mattered. There was no digital screen to check if an image turned out, no option to delete and try again. You simply composed your shot, clicked the shutter, and hoped for the best. Days later, you’d pick up your prints from the local photo lab, flipping through them eagerly—sometimes thrilled, sometimes disappointed, but always learning. Blurry images, glowing red eyes, or an unexpectedly perfect shot all taught me something.Years later, I upgraded to a film DSLR, still choosing my shots carefully because every frame counted. The camera settings were intimidating at first, but I was determined to master them. Then came the game-changer, the 10 megapixel, Nikon D80, a digital camera that finally allowed me to experiment freely and refine my skills without the fear of wasting film. It opened the door to a whole new level of creativity.I spent years capturing my boys as they grew, learning how to freeze movement, find stillness, and chase the perfect light. I began adding new lenses and equipment, to intensify my creativity. My boys were my first true subjects, teaching me patience, precision, and the magic of storytelling through images and editing. People began noticing my photography and started requesting me for their family photos. Looking back, I now realize that’s where my “eye for photography” really began, as a small kid with my very first Kodak camera. It wasn’t just about taking pictures—it was about learning to see. And that’s the vision I bring to every session I photograph today. Whether it’s a 30-minute session or a full day of capturing a wedding, my goal is to photograph you, the real you, in the best light possible, preserving that exact moment that was truly worth the click of my camera.

Favorite Photographer Quote

“A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people.”— Annie Leibovitz