Date: Fri 04-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

snapshot-Kris-Stewart

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: KRIS STEWART

Occupation: I have two jobs - I'm manager and lab manager of The Camera Shop,

and I have my own photography business that I run out of my home. I do Newtown

family portraits, weddings, any family event. My home is in New Milford, but

people here know me. I've been doing that for 10 years; I've been here [at The

Camera Shop] for 8.

What do you like best about your work: I like photography. I do it all day

long which is really great. I'm pleased I'm using my college degree - I have a

BA in graphic design and photography. I'm really happy I can do what I love -

create images that are meaningful to people.

Favorite format: Medium, 120mm film. I use that for portraits. I really do

find larger negatives have a better quality. 35mm is very convenient and I use

that for the more artistic side of my photography.

Biggest change in Newtown: The closing of Fairfield Hills Hospital. All the

construction, too. People are still the same. I like the people in Newtown;

I'd like to move to Newtown sometime in the future. I know more people here

than in New Milford.

Family: I've been married to Craig for five years; I've known him 10 years. I

have two sisters, a mom and dad - all in the Danbury area.

Pets: Two cats - they're sisters. Alice and Trixie. We got them after we came

back from our honeymoon. We named them after [characters in] the Honeymooners,

and because they're black and white and [the show] was in black and white.

Hobbies: Besides photography, gardening and genealogy. In summer, after work,

I go into the garden until it's dark. My husband put up a light for me so I

can water after dark. I grow vegetables, perennials, annuals - anything I can

get my hands on. Easter Sunday we were enlarging the garden so I can grow more

stuff to give away! I'm an overachiever. My grandmother was a gardener. She

had two gardens at my parents' house in Danbury, so it kind of rubbed off on

me. I have more of an understanding of perennials and day lilies from talking

with Sydney Eddison, who comes in. And my mother-in-law gardens. We get ideas

from each other. Genealogy I do in the winter. I got interested when I found

out I had Revolutionary patriots [in my family]. With my mother-in-law's help

and prodding, I joined DAR.

Organizations: Connecticut Professional Photographer's Association, DAR,

Connecticut Society of Genealogists, and Society of Photo-finishing Engineers.

Favorite food: I do like different types of ethnic foods. In summer I like

fresh vegetables and light things; winter is more heavy things and pasta. I

never liked seafood. But I do have a favorite drink - Diet Pepsi. I live for

Diet Pepsi.

Do you like to read: I like to read newspapers, magazines, and articles. I'm

not a book person. I like The Newtown Bee because of its community

orientation. I like gardening magazines. Organic Gardening is my favorite.

Personal philosophy: What mostly drives me? When I go to do a project or

really anything, I have to do it the best I can. I think about it before hand.

If I can't do it well... I don't like being ordinary. I entered a cake this

year in the Bridgewater Fair and the week before I was working on the flowers

because I wanted it to be noticed and people to enjoy it. It's the same with

my garden. And my car. I drive a pink car. If I'm going to do something, I do

it to the extreme. Do it well and make people feel good. I try to help out. I

take pictures for the Regional Y golf tournament; it makes me feel good to

help out if I can. If there's a car accident and no one has stopped, I'll stop

and see what I can do until help gets there.