My name is Richard Maher (Mar).

I’m a Taurus who enjoys long walks on the beach at sunset…what?

Oops…sorry, wrong bio.

I grew up on a farm in central New Jersey, the youngest in a family of four. Photography was my Dad’s hobby and he shared it with all of us. (He was also an undertaker, which caused my friends some concern when I asked them to come over to play!) I took the usual kid photos growing up…bugs, cows, and my foot (which was not always intentional!)

In the early 70s, I was working in the printing industry. I was a “stripper” in pre-press (not what you are thinking!) and a darkroom tech. My supervisor, William Lincoln “Bud” Armagast, was also a photographer, which included a stint in World War Two as an Aerial Photographer in a B-17 over Germany. I mention Bud because he was a great influence (and friend), especially in helping me develop my sense of composition in a photograph.

In 1978, my inner voice whispered, "Go West, Young Man!", so I moved to Colorado. I spent 17 years living in the West, (Colorado, Nevada, and Utah) before coming to Texas in 1994. It was out there that I started doing weddings and Quinceaneras for friends, honing my skills with people as my subjects, as well as photographing the breathtaking landscapes.

In 2005 I answered the call to entrepeneurial adventures. I joined the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), attending seminars to better hone my skills. Among those seminars were several conducted by Hanson Fong, a Master Photographer from San Francisco who exerted a great influence upon me and my approach in the weddings I photograph.

In regard to weddings, I would describe my style of photography as photojournalist, making people comfortable with me being there… taking photos only after people have become relaxed with me being there and no longer notice me working… capturing the emotions of the moment, not staging them. I had one client chuckle while looking at her proof book. When I asked what she found funny, she said an Aunt attending the wedding mentioned it was “too bad you didn’t hire a photographer, it was such a beautiful wedding”. What caused her to laugh was looking at a photo of that Aunt having a good time with other relatives, completely unaware that a photographer was "on the premises", much less watching and recording her!

Since I’ve been in Tyler, I have lent my time and talent to such diverse groups as The Tyler Civic Theatre, The Discovery Science Place, Leadership Tyler, AAUW Holiday in the Pines Parade of Homes and most recently Kinky Friedman’s Legends and Puppies Tour 2008, a fundraiser for the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. I’ve also become the “unofficial” staff photographer for my son’s third grade class at All Saints, his Upward Bound Basketball team and his Cub Scout den. The kids are fun to work with and if I’m lucky, I might convince a few of them to try photography. Both my children have gotten the “bug”. And most kids are amazed when they learn that you couldn't always take a photo with a telephone!