Stanee Rae Murray Lincroft NJ Photographer

"When photography first began, people believed that a photograph was able to capture the subject's soul. But I have learned that the opposite is true – it is the artist behind the camera whose soul becomes a part of every image created."

— Stanee Rae

A native of Central New Jersey, Stanee Rae has always lived near the shore. She graduated from Georgian Court College in her home town of Lakewood, and began employment as a Bell Labs engineer.

Five years later, she left AT&T to complete her MS in Computer Sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. After receiving her graduate degree, she decided to use her free time to pursue an interest in photography. Soon she was photographing weddings and portraits for people she knew; in fact, her first wedding client was a previous office mate at Bell Labs.

Over the years, she has studied with a number of master photographers. A major influence was infrared author/photographer Joseph Paduano, whom she considers to be both a mentor and personal friend. His teachings inspired her to start creating infrared scenic photographs, which she enhanced with old-fashioned hand tinting.

Stanee began offering magical infrared images to wedding clients nearly ten years ago, one of the first photographers in the area to do so. Her infrared images have won awards in professional photographic competitions at the state, national and international level.

In 1996, she became the founding webmaster for PPANJ (Professional Photographers Association of New Jersey) and MARS (Mid-Atlantic Regional School of Professional Photography). At their 2002 Convention, PPANJ awarded Stanee the Associate Fellow of Photography (AFP) degree for meritorious service.

In addition to PPANJ, Stanee has been a member of WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) for over 10 years.

One of the few photographers in the country who offer infrared portraiture, she is currently working on a series of fine art fantasy images featuring fairies, angels and other mystical characters.

Stanee is located in Lincroft, New Jersey (USA), which is in Monmouth County near the Jersey Shore (just off Garden State Parkway exit 109 in the Red Bank area). She may be reached by phone at 732-842-5268 or by email at the link below.