Tracie Maglosky is a go-getter. She’s a mom to three boys, travels the nation instructing workshops, writes technical photography articles and also runs a successful studio in Cincinnati. “I’m a person who loves progress,” she says. “I seriously love bettering myself.”

An Olympus Visionary, Maglosky’s portrait studio specializes in newborns, maternity and weddings—and business is booming. To manage it all, Maglosky says she’s learned the foremost secret to keeping the momentum strong: finding a camera system that can keep up with her passion for progress. That’s why she uses the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. “Being able to use the OM-D system, carry it anywhere, having the portability, reliability, weatherproofing—all of those things are invaluable to me as a portrait photographer,” says Maglosky. Not having to worry about the weight or performance of her equipment means she’s far less likely to experience physical or mental fatigue and far more likely to keep her focus on what matters most: her subjects.

The nimble camera system came in handy during the wedding of the pictured couple. When a surprise rain shower came in, Maglosky had to scratch her plans for outdoor portraits and instead moved the session to a cozy speakeasy. It wasn’t ideal—the room was small with little natural light—but Maglosky knew she could make it work with her OM-D E-M1 Mark II. For starters, the camera’s fully articulating screen was just what Maglosky needed to nail the perspective. She had jumped onto the edge of a sofa to get this angle of the couple, and she held her camera overhead with the screen pulled down so she could frame the shot with ease despite her awkward position. “Priceless!” she says of the feature. “Let’s not overlook the 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization that made it possible for me to [be in such a precarious posture] and get any kind of sharp image at all.”

Although Maglosky’s assistant helped light the couple, the photographer experimented without added light, too. “Where other systems may struggle to find focus in low light, I’m always amazed with how fast the autofocus of Olympus M.Zuiko PRO lenses is, even in a darker scenario,” like this speakeasy, she notes. In addition, the fact that the M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 PRO lens didn’t create noticeable barrel distortion in a room that size was crucial.

“Olympus is my choice of equipment because the gear never gets in my way. Whether I’m shooting a ten-hour wedding or a three-hour newborn session, I can count on my OM-D E-M1 Mark II to be fast, light and accurate,” she says. As a result, she has the freedom to concentrate on doing what she does best: “creating something tangible out of something intangible, like the love of a newly married couple.”

Photo © Tracie Maglosky

Hear more from other photographers who have made the switch to the Olympus OM-D system at getolympus.com/neverlookback

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