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Sensitive Photographic Images Are Specialty of Robin Resch

Robin Resch is a talented photographer, whose work covers a wide spectrum. Her projects include portraits, flowers, weddings, products, and architectural photos. It has been seen in magazines, including Victoria magazine, and has taken her to Italy, New York, Maryland, and soon to Arizona.

In addition, Ms. Resch is an architect, having received a Masters in Architecture from Princeton University last year. Although not pursuing architecture full-time, she believes it is a comfortable mix with her photography.

"I knew that architecture was something I wanted to do, but not as my sole profession," she explains. "I went back to graduate school to study it because I think architecture provides the ultimate design education. Once I began, I realized that good architecture is based on an awareness of a project on all its levels – be they social, cultural and so on. And that awareness is the basis of good design, which, without a doubt, has influenced me as a photographer."

Her interest in photography was evident early in her life, she adds. "I had always been involved in photography. I enjoyed it, and studied it on my own. I had my own dark room. For the most part, I was self-taught. I took some courses in high school and college, and later some evening classes when I lived in Holland."

Growing up in Connecticut, she went on to graduate from the University of Michigan, where she studied art history. While a student, she also lived in Paris and Italy. After graduating, Ms. Resch worked in the fashion industry in New York City, then lived several years abroad in Holland.

After returning to the U.S., she decided to pursue a degree in architecture, but at the same time continue her work in photography.

Word-of-Mouth

"I was doing my photographic work all through Princeton," she recalls. "People I knew saw my portraits and asked me to do portraits for them. By word-of-mouth, work kept coming.

"I put together a press release for A Touch of Ivy (the work of Princeton designer, Ivy Weitzman), which led to a photo shoot for Victoria magazine and later to a collaboration on a book in Italy. I also photographed items for a portfolio/website for Matteo & Co. gift shop."

At Princeton, she felt fortunate to study with Emmet Gowin, then Director of the Princeton University Art School. "He is an amazing photographer and an incredible person. I studied photography with him for a year and a half, and then I had a digital course with Andrew Moore."

Ms. Resch opened her own studio last September at 217 Nassau Street, and opportunities continued to come her way. The book on which she collaborated, "A Romantic's Guide to Italy," will be published in July. She will travel to Arizona in the fall to photograph a large wedding, and she continues to have projects in New York, including photographing a New York City apartment for an interior designer.

Her work, in both color and black and white, is very varied. She enjoys the diversity, but has a special love of portraits, especially of children.

"I love portraits of children – I have a love of being with kids and an awe of childhood. There is so much about childhood that is special.

Familiar Images

"When I do a portrait," she continues, "I try to find the essence of each subject, whatever it is – be it a person, product shoot, or a flower. I try to portray something more than appearances." In the case of her portraits of children, she sometimes focuses on hands or feet, and in doing so evokes certain familiar images of childhood – chubby fingers, brand new shoes – and in other shots, spontaneous moments, such as little girls sharing secrets.

"I'm capturing precious moments," she explains. "I feel I am creating something with my photography. The actual creation can be a mystery. With some shots, I know exactly what I'm getting, but with each roll, there is always a shot that surprises me. Whenever I get the film back from the lab, it's almost like Christmas!"

Ms. Resch adds that she uses the computer as a dark room in her work, noting that it is an efficient tool.

"I think this came out of my architectural education." she points out. "I shoot film because it is important to have a negative. I work with that as a canvas. I want it to meet my standards. I use the computer to control the quality of the final product. There are incredible printing techniques today, which can only be utilized with a computer."

Ms. Resch's studio is filled with a fascinating assortment of her photos, which includes a series of beautiful images of Princeton's spring blossoms.

Diverse Fields

She hopes to see her work continue to expand, and she wants to pursue projects in diverse fields.

"I look forward to evolving, and I hope somehow to fuse my architectural training with the photography and do some design work.

"Princeton is a fabulous town. An amazingly savvy, cultured population lives here. I've begun to tap into different kinds of markets. I want to collaborate with local businesses. I have found that new opportunities continue to come up. For example, I have worked with Joy Cards, and our collaboration evolves all the time."

Reflecting on the success of her career, Ms. Resch is grateful to her clients. "They have said they really appreciate my eye for the moment, especially with kids and weddings. I try to be very unobtrusive and work as simply and naturally as possible. It is also important to make people, particularly kids, comfortable before the shoot.

"People have said they appreciate my aesthetic eye, the way I work, and the quality. I am grateful they have been so supportive and have given me the opportunity to do the work I love."

Currently, Ms. Resch's work is on display at the Pringle Gallery in Philadelphia through June.

The Robin Resch Studio is open Wednesday through Friday 11 to 2, and by appointment. (609) 658-1585.