For Beckley photographer Joe Canterbury, life is art, waiting to be captured.

He shares those important moments of people’s lives that they can’t relive — except in memory.

Weddings, first birthdays, high school senior year, graduations and family events are among the milestones Canterbury enjoys capturing for clients.

“When you take a picture, you’re capturing the essence of a moment in someone’s life,” said Canterbury, owner of Canterbury Photography on Marion Street. “It’s some kind of high point, some kind of event, some kind of moment in someone’s life that they felt necessary to preserve.”

Canterbury Photography offers on-location shoots for any occasion or portrait need, said Canterbury.

Canterbury, a graduate of Concord University, holds a broadcasting degree in communication arts.

“When I take a picture, that person, at that precise moment in time, at that precise place ... they’re the only ones in the world standing at that place, at that time.

“That photograph becomes unique to them,” he said. “What you’re doing is preserving memories.”

While memories often fail, a good photograph can revive the feelings and excitement of a special occasion that happened years in the past, he added.

“Memories tend to fade,” said Canterbury. “Photographs do not.

“They go on for as long as you take care of them, and looking at a picture will evoke memories of that moment.”

On-location photography is more challenging than studio photography, but Canterbury believes it also presents opportunities for more honest photographs.

“I like the un-ordinary,” he said. “Get different people in different situations outside of a controlled environment, I think you can get pictures that are more curtailed to their personalities, to who they are.”

He said that photographing kids in a favorite park or their own homes usually creates unforgettable photos.

“I capture children in their natural environment, and I think that makes for better pictures,” said Canterbury. “You let them run, you let them play.

“Eventually, a child is going to do something cute.”

Weddings are the zenith of on-location shoots.

According to Canterbury, a wedding isn’t only high-pressure for the bride — photographers have to be at their best to precisely and honestly capture the bride and groom’s special day.

Working under the celebration pressure of a wedding can lead to great photos.

“I prefer the pressure of the live event, being able to move around, take different shots,” he said. “One of my favorite shoots is a wedding, because there’s a lot to it.

“The actual ceremony is my favorite part because you’ve got to be always on the move, you’ve got to put yourself in position to get that shot.”

As a kid, Canterbury said he enjoyed looking at paintings, drawings and sculptures.

“I didn’t have the talent for those mediums in that area of visuals,” he said. “I did like to take pictures.

“At the time, I thought it was something I liked to do,” he added. “I never thought I’d make a career of it.”

Canterbury became interested in photography as a high school student, and he shot photos the old-fashioned way: on film.

He excelled in videography while at Concord, but Canterbury discovered that he still preferred still photography to video because he was able to be more creative with the still photos.

By the time Canterbury decided to shoot photos professionally, the digital age had dawned, opening a whole new world to photographers.

Messy darkrooms like the ones he’d experienced in high school were gone, and beautiful, life-like portraits were a click away on computer photo programs.

Canterbury passes the conveniences of the digital age on to his clients.

“I’m a firm believer in giving people what they pay for,” said Canterbury. “With every package I do, no matter what it is, for the price, you get some photos with it, and I also put your digital proofs on a CD.

“I sign over the printing rights to the client, so if someone wants to make copies of their pictures, they can do it on their own.”

Canterbury said that clients entrust him with the special moments of their lives, and he works hard to put their memories on a photograph so that it isn’t forgotten.

“I’m aware that I’m shooting an individual, a unique moment,” he said. “After that moment is done, that person never gets that moment back.

“I just have to be in a position to capture it for them.

“A lot of people like autumn pictures,” he said. “One of my favorite times to shoot would be the autumn, with the fall decorations, pumpkins.”

Fall weddings are becoming more common and create opportunities for beautiful photos, said Canterbury.

A Canterbury Photography Web site is currently under construction, but Canterbury’s work may be viewed online now at www.myspace.com/canterburyphotography.

For information, e-mail joecanphoto@yahoo.com or call 304-252-2051.

— E-mail: jfarrish@register-herald.com