Claudia Page: Snapshot of a Working Mother

  Claudia Page: Snapshot of a Working Mother

By Carolyn S. Peterson

Capturing moments in our lives and preserving them for generations to come is the art of photography. From infant vignettes, to family portraits, to every season of life in between, photographs help us recall special times. For Claudia Edwards Page, photographer and owner of The Portrait Gallery in Clemmons, the love of her family and the loss of her parents, strengthened her belief that time is precious and helping people preserve those memories is a privilege, more than a job. “You can’t get time back,” said Page.

Born and raised in Winston-Salem as the youngest of three daughters, Page’s parents, Claude and Margaret, were teachers in the WS/FC schools, who had an artistic side to them. “My dad did inlay wood and my mom was involved in crafts like quilting. They exposed us to many different ways to express ourselves artistically, like when my dad brought home a pottery wheel and taught us how to throw clay. From my photography, to my sisters’ hobbies of knitting and card making, we all inherited that ’artsy’ gene,” said Page.

Her love of photography started when Page was in the 9th grade and she received an Olympus OM10 film camera, which she still has today, as a Christmas gift. “That camera went everywhere with me, which lead to being the photographer on the yearbook staff,” recalled Page. With her interest in photography, a guidance counselor told her of the photography program at Randolph Technical Community College (RTCC). Her initial path at RTCC was photo journalism, but Page soon developed an interest in portrait photography. Page’s first interview, with photographers Jimmy and Beth Kluttz in Concord, NC, which was a ’practice one’ because she was still in school, led to a job offer and her finishing her associates degree, while  working in Concord. After 5 years with Kluttz Photography, Page missed home and moved back to Winston-Salem, working the next ten years in the post production end of her field, and freelancing as a photographer. In 1990, Page married and eventually had a daughter, Kaitlin. 

The beginnings of The Portrait Gallery came in 1996, when Page and a partner opened the studio in Clemmons. “I knew I had to make this work, the studio had to succeed because I was divorced, had a child to take care of and a house payment to make,” stated Page.

Through the years of establishing her studio, and approaching her 12th year in business, Page’s ’families’ have been her support. “Along with my immediate family, my family at Ardmore Baptist Church and my clients, who are an extended family, have been there for me through it all. The happy and the sad times. It’s in the past four years that I’ve learned how blessed I am with my ’families,’” commented Page.

Four years ago Page’s father died of complications from diabetes, leading to kidney failure. “My dad’s passing was so spiritual and peaceful; you could feel God in every corner of the room at Hospice,” recalled Page. For Page, those moments in life where she knows there are no coincidences are called “God Stops,” and for Page, there have been many over the years. In 2006, Page’s mother was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer, which claimed her life 36 days later. “After my mom’s diagnosis, we took a family beach trip that was full of wonderful moments with mom. As a family we spent so much time together, even before my parents became ill. Those times will never be a part of our lives again. The pictures I have from our family gatherings are now my treasures,” stated Page.

Since her parents’ deaths, Page has recognized even more that recording a family’s history is her greatest reward. She knows all too well that one day that portrait may be a cherished reminder of a time passed. And personalizing a photograph for a family is important to Page. “I like to incorporate personal items, like a toy or a blanket , when I photograph a child, then offer to carry that item throughout the coming years in photos, like weaving a thread of the past through the photos,” stated Page.

In 12 years, Page has seen customers’ preferences change. “I photograph families and children in environmental settings, which means the portraits are taken outside. Here at my studio, I have several scenes set up in the backyard that can be used to theme the sessions. I also like to create portraits at Tanglewood, Bethabara, and in or at client’s homes. The logistics and tastes of my clients are ironed out during the initial consultation,” said Page. In the spring and summer,  age’s backyard at the studio has a sunflower field and an old fashioned bench swing in a big oak tree. For fall portraits, a fence setting in the yard makes a wonderful backdrop with the warm colors of the changing leaves. In addition to the popularity of environmental settings, black and white photos are frequently requested now, with the range in contrasts drawing attention to the subjects in the photo.