Photography studio coming to Clifton Park Center
CLIFTON PARK (Oct. 21) — When Jaime Pawlinga was thinking of a career, photography wasn’t in the picture.
She knew what she wanted, and that was to be a professional firefighter. She was already a volunteer, and the fire company paid for her advanced training. It was something she loved.
Jaime Pawlinga started her road to professional photography by taking pictures of her children, Thomas and Samantha.
“I thought my life was done,” Pawlinga said. “I had to step back and decide what I was going to do.”
But she didn’t choose a new career. Instead her new career chose her. She had always taken photographs of family and friends while she was growing up. So when she was pregnant with her first child, she bought a point-and-shoot camera to record his baby years. When she shared her photos with friends, they started asking her to photograph their children. This started happening more and more often.
“Finally my husband came to me and said, ‘I think you might have something here,’” Pawlinga said. “It really picked up from friends to friends of friends to friends of their friends.”
Just 4 years later, Pawlinga will be opening a photography studio in Clifton Park Center. Photography by Jaime will open Nov. 12 near Boscov’s.
“It’s been a pretty quick ride,” she said. “But I love it and wouldn’t change it for the world — even on the bad days.”
Pawlinga credits her success to caring about the people she photographs.
“Families were coming to me because I took extra time with kids,” she said. “Instead of just posing kids, I’ll sit and play with them. That lets me take great pictures.”
Pawlinga thinks everyone deserves great pictures.
“I don’t think photographs should just be for those people with money,” she said. “Photographs are something people cherish. Memories are just so precious.”
That’s one reason reason why she has developed what she calls the “Sacred Journey.” For terminally ill children or terminally ill parents of young children, she offers free sessions and photographs. She does the same for military personnel about to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. And she offers a sliding scale payment system on photographs of children with disabilities.
“These people need extra care and attention that they don’t get in a lot of other studios,” Pawlinga said. “The families notice and appreciate that.”
And she hasn’t forgotten her former firefighting comrades. All firefighters, police, EMTs and military receive a 10% discount with photo ID.
Just because Photography by Jaime is in a mall, don’t expect a mall photo studio experience.
“It’s going to be just me, so when you walk in you’ll get the same photographer every time,” Pawlinga said. “And I’ll take time with you instead of trying to just rush you in and out to see how many photographs I can take.”
Pawlinga was at the mall last holiday season — working out of a push cart. She had planned to stay at the shopping center but couldn’t because of childcare issues. This time she hopes to stay for good.
“Clifton Park Center is a great place to be because the mall is more community oriented with a lot of the ma-and-pa shops. We looked at other malls, but they just didn’t have the feel that Clifton Park did,” said Pawlinga, who grew up in Burnt Hills and now lives in Niskayuna. “So I’m hoping to stay this year and grow my business there.”
For more information:
- Photography by Jaime, coming Nov. 12 to Clifton Park Center, 369.7018
- Clifton Park Center, 2 Clifton Country Road , Clifton Park, 371.7010
