Years later, Clapp's dream has been realized - in the form of Jai Photography, the new studio she opened in October in the Point of View shopping mall on Lake Street. The studio is a warm and inviting place for customers - most of whom come seeking family portraits done in Clapp's unique, outside-the-box style - and reflects the artist's friendly and engaging personality.

Clapp's path to success in photography did not, however, follow a straight line.

It was in a college anatomy class, required for a degree in personal training at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., that Clapp had the epiphany that led her toward her dream.

"I just decided I didn't like anatomy," she said. "It was probably the clearest moment in my life. After that, I decided I was just going to go for it. Since that day, I found out that it's much better to so something that you're passionate about rather than doing just something that will make you money."

So, with camera in hand, Clapp headed across the continent, landing in Turners Falls, Mass., where she enrolled at the prestigious Hallmark Institute of Photography. Hallmark, an elite school known among professional photographers for its intensive 10-month "boot camp" course in all facets of photography and the photography business, was a wake-up call for Clapp.

"You pretty much eat, sleep and breathe photography," Clapp said of her experience at Hallmark, which she successfully completed in June of 2006. "We were in the classroom from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and then worked from 7 p.m. to midnight on photography shoots. It was the most intense time of my life but it was awesome, too."

Upon graduation from the school, Clapp temporarily settled in the Boston area, finding work at a local portrait studio. After three months on the job, she was hired as assistant manager.

"It was as valuable as school because it was all hands on," said Clapp of the experience. "I photographed everything from newborn babies to families. Now I'm running my studio in a similar way as that studio, but trying to make it a little more personal."

Although her photographic talents extend into many areas, including snapping shots while hiking, snowboarding and boating with her family on Kachemak Bay, Clapp still specializes in people. Most of her clientele, which includes customers from all over the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage, hire her to get personal and unique shots of babies, kids, families and weddings.

Capturing memorable pictures of children is Clapp's favorite thing to do.

"When I first started doing kids and babies, it was tough," she said. "But I will do whatever it takes to get a kid to smile. I will smash a ball on my head if I have to. That always works."

Clapp's secret to getting the kind of photos that her clients will cherish and remember forever is to let her subjects be themselves in the studio.

"When I do shoots, it's fun because usually people are a little nervous getting their picture taken but, after the first couple of pictures, people really loosen up," said Clapp. "My goal is always to capture people as they are. I want to get candid and show life as it really is. I feel so blessed to call this my job and I get to live in Homer, too."

For more information about the Jai Photography studio, visit the Web site at www.jai-photography.com or call 235-9996 or 299-1621.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaronselbig.@homernews.com.