I.P. photog has an eye for his craft

Photographer Mark Milch has been snapping away with a camera for as long as he can remember. Taking pictures began as a hobby for Milch, who grew up in Toronto, Canada. While he continued taking pictures throughout his teenage and early adult years, photography didn't become a full-time profession for Milch, who now owns his own studio in Island Park, until he went on a corporate trip to Europe.

After graduating from high school, Milch began working in customer service for Wascomat, a commercial laundry and dry-cleaning company. The job allowed him to experiment with commercial photography, and he snapped images of the company's products to use in training slides and promotional materials. The job also allowed him to travel; he came to the U.S. in the early 1980s, and also visited Sweden, Italy and France on a trip with the company. He took his camera with him, snapping hundreds of photos. When he returned to the U.S., he believed he had found his calling. “I thought if I really enjoyed this so much, I should do it for a living,” Milch said.

Milch began by photographing singles dances and other events in New York, paying close attention to people's movements and patterns. He honed his skills taking candids, and also began working with other photographers, including his mentor, Hy Rosen, who he met at a Bar Mitzvah. Milch also began taking courses to improve his craft. He met his wife, Barbara, at one of the dances he photographed, and they had a son, Joseph.

Milch, who lives in Long Beach, opened his studio, Milch Photography and Video in Island Park, ten years ago. He photographs all kinds of events, and considers working with special needs children among his specialties. Milch's son, Joseph, suffers from ADHD and bipolar disorder, and in raising him, Milch was introduced to many other children dealing with emotional and developmental issues, giving him a better understanding and sensitivity to children with special needs.

“I'd like to reach out to these people, let them know that they're not alone,” he said. “There is someone who has the patience and understanding to work with their situation, no matter what it is.”

Milch abides by that motto for all of his assignments. In his work, Milch notes that it's the people that are the most important. He feels his role is to help tell the story of the event, without getting in the way. “Really I'm taking on the responsibility of someone's memories, and I take that role very seriously,” he said.

To find out more about Milch and to view some of his work, visit his Web site, www.milchphoto.com.

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