Lori Sortino founded Essence Captured in October, 2006.
Lori is an accomplished, award winning photographer, artist, and designer with experience in equine photography, print media, landscape fine art photography, portrait photography, wedding photography, sports photography, and event photography. She joined a photography club in high school and has been developing her skills ever since. She studied art and photography at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and has a degree in Applied Art and Graphic Design.
Some of Lori's projects include:
In addition to her work for clients and her freelance work, Lori photographs wild and sanctuary horses and creates fine art image prints. Her work is often on exhibit locally.
Lori reminds us that we see with our heart.
Lori is honored to host equine photography workshops and horse photo safaris with Deb and Cathy to raise money for horse rescue organizations.
After a lymphoma diagnosis and chemotherapy in 2023, Lori is in complete remission. Her mother and grandson Elliott also passed that year. With "we all die" top of mind, Lori became even more intentional about the work she wants to do now. You'll notice a shift back to supporting others' journeys and doing her own personal inner work after several years of intense equine photography output.
The inputs are currently in the realms of emotional intelligence, worldview intelligence, and the research and current work of leaders in the field of equine assisted human consciousness evolution. She loves learning and discovering things that help us (humans and horses) live healthier more fulfilled lives, and loves sharing the fascinating stories and facts to see where the intersections lead.
Essence Captured Equine Photography Group is a team of independent photographers who have worked together covering equine events and sports. Meet the team below.
Deb Hofstetter
Deb Hofstetter joined Lori as an equine photography partner in 2019. Deb and Lori found so many similar interests in their photography pursuits, that the partnership made perfect sense. Together, they stewarded the Essence Captured Equine Photography Group into being. Deb is a skilled technical photographer, has created a home studio and has been an artist in residence at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles. She grew up here on the Central Coast and is extremely familiar with the area.
Equipped with the tools of the trade, life's experiences, years of practice, desire, education and training, Deb has embarked on a mission to fulfill her passion and capture the highest quality images for her clients. "Every day is filled with new possibilities in photography and I want to be part of that discovery. I want people to feel and be in the moment with every picture I capture." "I'm excited to be living my dream - Photography."
Deb retired from equine event photography in 2021 to pursue projects closer to home and to enjoy time with her husband who also retired in 2021. In 2022 she became my equine photography workshop co-leader. I am so glad to have had her support in the workshop offerings.
Deb reminds us that we all have something to contribute and together we are greater than any one of us alone.
Cathy Wallace
Cathy showed up at the Paso Robles Horse Park at one of the events we were covering, taking photos. Lori said hello and they struck up a friendly conversation. "Would you like to work for us?" was part of that and "send me the photos you're taking today to look at!" which Cathy did, and her photos were good and they keep getting better. Cathy is a long time horse person. She has ridden and competed for much of her life and knows what she's looking for with her camera, and since she no longer owns a horse, this gets her out with horses, which just makes her day.
Cathy stepped up to the roll of Partner Photographer in 2021 and managed our photographer training and scheduling. Considering we sometimes had a dozen photographers working during a 4 day show, this was a monumental task. Between her work ethic, her photography skills, and her horse knowledge, Cathy has been an invaluable asset to the team.
In 2022, with a shift in what we were covering and a drop in how many photographers we were managing, Cathy simply shifted into being supportive and flexible. We work really well together. She also joins Deb and Lori in hosting equine photography workshops.
Cathy feels that when she's horseback, all is right with the world. Growing up in Ventura County, her focus was dressage and hunter/jumper events. In her younger days, she worked as a riding instructor, trail guide and pack horse wrangler before moving into a career in sales and logistics. Cathy had been intrigued by photography since she was a teenager. After retiring from her corporate career, she acquired a DSLR camera and took some classes. Photographing equine events was an obvious choice for her. When following a horse's movement with her camera, she will often times talk to the horse as though she was the rider! Check out her web site!
Cathy reminds us that we bring our love of the horse's spirit to our photography work.
Kyoshi Becker
We met Kyoshi through working sports photography together and invited him to join us in the equestrian arena. We enjoy his laid back spirit and can do attitude. He's got years of photography experience and excels at action photography, with motocross as one of his genres. He lives in Southern California. Check out his web site!
Kyoshi reminds us that it's never too far to drive for a photography adventure among friends.
Edwin Mwaniki
Edwin is originally from Kenya and lives in San Jose. He fits photography in between web development gigs.
Edwin joined our contract photography team in the fall of 2021 and started supporting with video editing as well in 2023.
Edwin reminds us to be humble and courageous in the same breath.
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