Hi. My name is Pat. I'm a photographer. But I wasn't always.
I've had a creative drive since childhood. In fact, I could read music notation before I knew my alphabet - BOTH treble and bass clef. During my youth I learned piano, trumpet, clarinet, sax and French Horn. But music didn't pay the rent. So when I married it was off into the ranks of secretaries for me. For nearly 30 years. I toiled under the fluorescent office lights when copiers were too expensive to be used unless absolutely necessary, and there were no such things as fax machines or computers. When the first computer came into the office everyone else ran in fear. Being one of the original Trekkies, I cried grateful tears and I whispered, "Come to Mama!" When DOS was king - I was an alpha geek!
With music relegated to the back burner, photography became my creative outlet in the 80's because of my beautiful Sheltie, Casey. I loved his face - and so did everyone else. Yet when I shot a close-up of him, his nose would be in focus and his eyes would be blurry. So with the help of the manager at a 60 minute photo I learned how the basics of photography and got photos what would melt your heart. My second Sheltie and I did agility (which is running an obstacle course) and really learned a lot about training dogs. I'm on my second set of Shelties now and they've been photographed so much that when I set up a backdrop, one of them sits and poses without being asked. The other runs away until he realizes that Sheltie #1 is getting cookies for her good modeling work.
Music slammed back into my life at a renaissance festival in September of 2000. I walked by someone playing a Celtic harp and I found myself frozen in place, completely unable to move. You could say I fell under it's enchantment. The next day my husband bought me a small harp for our 25th wedding anniversary. Little did he know that that would be the start of his career as a harp roadie, as I quickly moved into a concert sized pedal harp. I now play a large mahogany Celtic harp, beautifully carved with Irish knotwork, built especially for me.
When I had the opportunity to take an early retirement from my secretarial job I chose to pursue my passions of music and photography, to let my creative drive run at full speed instead of constantly reining them in. I spent the first year of my retirement studying with some great photographers to learn all the latest technical advances and techniques to enhance my artistic vision. After hours, weeks, and months of classes and workshops I was shooting some incredible images. I began with photographing pets, and thought that was all I really wanted to do. Then I began photographing landscapes, and really fell in love with wildlife and the great outdoors. I've spent more time in the woods in the past three years than all of the 57 years before. I've ran into storms because the sky was so cool. I bought ugly man boots for hiking in the snow. I've gotten up at 3 a.m. to get to a location before sunrise. Then I tried photographing urban decay, and architecture, and events, and sports. I love it. I love it ALL.
My newest passion is photographing people. I love spending time with people and making them laugh. I love capturing their essence and showing it to them. Because I've found people don't know how really terrific they are. Inside AND out.
I'm still studying the latest and greatest techniques, because in photography there is always something new. Not only in equipment and software, but also in style.
And I love it. I love it ALL. But most of all I love saying, "I'm a photographer. And you're incredible. Let's spend some time together!"

Short Bio:
Pat Eisenberger is a life-time Michigan resident who's photos consist mainly of landscapes, wildlife and pets, although other subjects such as urban decay and sports will occasionally make their way into her repertoire. Although she has had a lifelong interest in photography, Pat only began studying in earnest four years ago. During that time she attended classes at Midwest Photography Workshops, and other workshops with experienced and well known local photographers such as Robert DiTommaso and Bryce Denison.

Last summer she received an "Outstanding" award at Warren's Art in the Park, and has received several awards from her fellow photographers in on-line competitions.

Pat has begun photographing engagements, couples, children, babies and headshots. You may contact Pat and see more of her work online at her website at www.greatlakesreflections.com

My gear:

Canon 70D
Canon EF 24-105 mm 1.5L IS USM
Canon EF 300mm L IS USM
Canon Speedlite 580 EX II
Photoshop CC 2014

Wish List:
HurleyPro ProBoard
Arca-Swiss Monoball P0 with Panning System and Slidefix QS Quick Release System
Kino Flo 4Bank 4' Fluorescent One Light System (4')
A basement without all the junk, so I can set up a home studio

Social Media:
Twitter @Pat_Eisen
www.facebook.com/PatEisenPhotography