As a portrait photographer, one of Karen’s greatest gifts is her ability to create an easy rapport with most anyone. Her confidence and sense of humor create a comfortable environment, allowing her subjects to relax and be themselves. Combine this with her strong visual talent and the result is a series of beautiful and powerful images that capture the spirit of the human experience. Karen’s childhood was filled with appreciation for art, as her father Wes studied oil painting. Her sister Andrea and brother Chase share the talent, and both enjoy successful painting careers.

Karen’s photographic career has spanned 30 years with experience in photojournalism, commercial photography, portraiture and theatrical photography. Her formal education includes a BA in Photography and a graduate degree in Theology. She began her career as a portrait photographer with Gittings Studio in Dallas. After a rigorous training program, and 2 years as the senior photographer, Karen started her own portrait business. She continues to explore new opportunities for artistic expression with both film and digital technology. Karen is a member of an exclusive group of 8 women photographers in Texas who have mentored and inspired each other for over 20 years through seminars, travel and friendship.

Since 2003, Karen has been the production photographer for the Dallas Opera. This exciting challenge has allowed her to combine her visual talents with her lifelong love of music, and has presented many new opportunities in the field of live theatrical photography. Her current clients include Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Children's Theater, Kansas City Lyric Opera, and Utah Festival of Opera in Logan, Utah. The biggest influence on Karen's work in this area has been through the generous mentorship of Ken Howard, who shoots for the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, St. Louis Opera, and San Diego Opera, among others. Ken has inspired her to go beyond documentary photographs of a production to capture the energy of the characters and the story itself. With 40 years of experience in the field, Ken's images are unparalleled for their technical excellence and compelling composition.

Karen and her husband, Steve Goldman, built a home studio in 1990 which has allowed her to have a full time career while raising their daughter, Claire. Their family enjoys their pets, the arts, music and travel.