My name is Kelly Johanna-Joyce (Donaldson) Mader. 

I picked up a camera for the first time when I was in the 6th grade. What started as a rainy day taking portraits with my bestie for our MySpace pages turned into meditative nature photos, senior portraits, art school, solo travel for photography workshops around the world and the realization that art could be of monetary value. This propelled me into the adventure of running and owning a small business and one that is constantly evolving. When I think of the purpose of it all, I often arrive at the concept that, perhaps, my art could have the capacity to heal others. 

In recent years I've learned photography runs in my family, starting with my grandparents, who emigrated to the northeast United States from Canada after the Great Depression. My grandmother was constantly snapping photos of all of us. My journey began after she passed away. In my early days I captured my grandfather, Gordon Donaldson, on the steps at my grandparents' cottage (or in Mainer terms, "camp") on Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine. That moment lives in my memory as the start of something. Before my grandpa passed, what I view as his parting gift to me was a tub of spreadable Wisconsin cheese (as a joke) and a generous gift card to the largest photo store in the state. I took that as a sign for me to not take life too seriously and to stick with photography. 

At 32 years old I have now lived in all 4 corners of the United States and, in turn, my photography has stretched across the United States. I now reside in Tumwater, Washington with my husband and our fur kids with dreams of boosting an already vibrant community in Olympia and one day owning a home. I continue to keep a presence in the beloved state of Maine during the summer and fall seasons. When I'm there, you'll find me at camp, where it all began. If you made it this far, thank you so much for being here. Whether past, current or potential client, I am so grateful for you.