A. Celeste Hardester

Celeste has been an active photographer for six years, shooting portraits of people and animals in home or workplace, and in her studio in Manayunk. She also does architectural interior photography, product shots, fashion photography, and events. And she regularly shows work in fine art venues in the region. Before becoming a photographer, Celeste spent 20 years managing an advertising agency, and in this position gained a wide perspective on high-end commercial photography, from conception to negotiation to creation to final usage.

In 2011, she has been active with a local group participating in the world-wide Photo Voice project, a social service initiative that provides a non-verbal and creative means for communication. For this project, she provides training on fundamental technical and artistic aspects of photography, and assists in review and exhibition of the work.

Celeste has been a member of ASMP Philadelphia since 2008. Upon joining, she offered to volunteer, and was soon invited to join the Board, filling a vacant seat. She is currently Secretary, and co-chair of the Focus Philly committee. She has found membership in this chapter and the board to be invaluable for expanding knowledge, and enjoys the regular contact with other photographers that being a board member brings.