In celebration of the Edmonds Arts Festival opening on June 14, My Edmonds News is putting the spotlight on local arts-related businesses. First up is Sugar Sand Photography with Carol Marty. Here she describes her background and business:

“I have been a photographer for many years, but started Sugar Sand Photography just over three years ago. I am originally from Florida, and have lived in the Pacific Northwest for 14 years. The sand on the beaches in Florida is often very light in color and is dry and fine. It slips through your fingers like sugar, and so it’s often referred to as Sugar Sand. When the decision came as to what to name my business, I decided to incorporate Sugar Sand as a way of representing my home and upbringing. I wanted to be sure to represent a part of myself without directly using my name.

“I love many different subjects and themes for my photography, but my primary focus is on culinary, nature, and black and white photography.

“I am a volunteer photographer with Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, and have been working with them for over a year. They are a wonderful organization that provides a special and much needed service to the community, and it is a place I’m honored to be a part of. Working with them is a true treasure and a blessing.

“I would like people to know that I definitely wasn’t always a photographer. I wasn’t one of those people who you hear or read about who has been a photographer since they were 10 years old or anything like that! I just happened to be taking pictures on a vacation about eight years ago, and it just kind of clicked for me then, and I’ve enjoyed it ever since.

“I have a science degree and work at a Cancer Center in Seattle, and because of that, and just my nature, I think I’ve always been more of a left brain person (or at least I thought so anyway). The addition of photography in my life has opened up a creative side (right brain) of me that I never even knew was there, and I’m so thankful I found it.

“I find that both are complement each other, and I need both of them in my life to continually grow and learn.” For more information, or to book an appointment, see Sugar Sand Photography website. And if you have an arts related business, and would like free publicity, see here.