If you could see what I see... And if I could put it in a photo... And if you find pleasure in the photo... Know that God and His creation are my inspiration. I am humbled.


My name is Karen Schmautz and I'm the photographer for Sierra Springs Photography. I live in beautiful El Dorado County in the mid-Sierra Nevadas between Placerville and Lake Tahoe, CA. I am married to the most amazing man ever. He is a fantastic cook so I get the benefits of his creations...and I can practice on my food photography, too. I also have three wonderful, beautiful children. One is still in High School and the other two have graduated to bigger and better things.

My desire is to make photographs of the beauty that I see all around me...the beauty of God's perfect creation...and especially the unique and beautiful nature of each person. Not only do I want to highlight the beauty I see in each person I photograph, but I want to show the true personality. Although I take posed portraits, I also like the "in between times", the times before or after someone has put on their "posed" face and they stop being nervous and start being themselves. That's my favorite part...to catch someone's personality when they thought the camera wasn't looking.

My style is story-telling. I desire to tell stories with one photo, or a series of photos.

I love to photograph important events in the life of a person (new baby,birthday, retirement), couple (wedding, anniversary), group (family portraits, church baptism, family reunion) and company (ground breaking, restaurant advertisement photography).

Here's a recent article about my work in the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-36056-Sacramento-Photography-Examiner~y2010m2d27-Karen-Schmautz-telling-stories-with-photographs

I would love to tell your story...wherever it leads.


"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil 4:8