About

Debra-Fisher-Goldstein-Great-Pyrenees-dog-show-photographer-Minnesota-MN

About Me And You
“We are a social people, creating remarkably creative communities around our passions, our pursuits, our play.
The breadth, depth, and enthusiasm in these varied communities have captured my eye, held my heart, taken my breath away, left me amazed and sometimes puzzled and amused by what we humans do. My contribution is to share the life in these moments, when the human interactions of joy, beauty, and companionship lift us up. We thrive when 1+1 = 3.”As the creator of smartly-captioned photos and photo essays that grab the eye and hold the heart of your attention-challenged audience, Debra Fisher Goldstein celebrates the rich communities that we, as social beings, create.

Prior to her photography and writing work, Debra spent 20+ enjoyable years helping businesses and organizations with their marketing communications and branding strategies, with a specialty in
short-form copywriting.

“Headlines, taglines, copy lines that are short and to the point, just like me.”

Debra knows how to tell a micro-short story that is highly visual and quickly viral, with easy-to-share web and social media applications.

When you want to ‘capture the little moments at the big events’ of your family, neighbors, co-workers, staff, or volunteer community, talk to Debra. Or when your sports, philanthropic, educational, civic or corporate communities need a visual story shared, talk to Debra.

Debra Fisher Goldstein shares a passion for your passion.

Testimonials

“Debra Fisher Goldstein has a sharp eye for design, and a sensitivity for the moment in her photography. She also is an expressive writer with depth and an ear for the voice of
her subjects.”
– Ed Kashi, Internationally Acclaimed Photojournalist, Filmmaker and Educator, VII Photo Agency, NY, Talking Eyes Media, NY
www.edkashi.com

“Thanks again for your State Fair images. Glad the photoessay got lots of notice – it deserves it! It was great to have!”
– Regina McCombs, Senior Editor for Visual News, Minnesota Public Radio News
www.mprnews.org

“Debra, THANK YOU for your fabulous talk to our staff and students. You bring the FUN, you bring the WOW, you bring YOU.
Thank you for making a difference in people’s lives.”
– Robyn Awend, Twin Cities Jewish Cultural Arts Director
www.sabesjcc.org

“Debra Fisher Goldstein cleverly, stealthily catches the mood of the room; the energy and essence of the artist; and the sense of occasion which envelops the audience. And then—what pleasure—we re-live it afterwards by viewing her always remarkable photographs, often shot in less-than-ideal environments. Thanks to Debra’s excellent photos, my organization has built a robust library of images that have served the full range of our marketing needs. Showing an impressive commitment to younger photographers, I’ve watched Debra teach those skills in a Young Artist Mentorship program. Thank you, Debra, for brightening our community!”
– David Jordan Harris, Executive Director
Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council; an initiative of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation
www.rimonMN.org

“My MplsPhotoCenter’s ’72HOURS AT THE FAIR’ Workshop was most fortunate to visit an exhibition of State Fair photography by Debra Fisher Goldstein on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Debra’s use of light, composition, and her capture of unique Fair moments provided a personal and distinctive perspective into the fairgoer’s experience. Her work gave “permission” to my students to photograph instinctively.”
– Layne Kennedy, Minneapolis-Based, International Editorial Photographer
www.laynekennedy.com

“Debra’s work goes far beyond what is visible to the naked eye…she is able to capture the on-the-spot experience by intimately connecting with the image, sharing the exhilaration, the melancholy, the confusion, and sometimes the conventional …the results are always visually stunning, profoundly engaging, and highly imaginative. She is not only as talented as she is smart; she’s a dynamo, who sets a course for success – and then meets it. I wouldn’t hesitate for one second to recommend her work – and that’s something to say in this day and age.”
– Colleen Szot, National Television Screenwriter/Award-Winning Television
Direct Marketing Writer
www.wonderfulwriter.com

“Debra’s work shows her wonderful eye, plus her delightful wit. Her State Fair photos are a joy. Love her sense of design AND her sense of humor!”
– Sue Crolick, Founder/Board Chair of Art Buddies; Sue Crolick Advertising & Design
www.artbuddies.org

“We loved having your artwork on our walls! It was a great addition to our theatre…people noticed it, talked about it, engaged with it. Your work is amazing. We truly enjoyed your work and hope we can partner again in the future.”
– Rebecca Tofte, External Relations Director, Park Square Theatre, St. Paul, MN
www.parksquaretheatre.org

“Debra, I can’t say enough good things about the Photo CD. It is wonderful.
Not only is it beautiful photography, they are such poignant pictures.
They made me laugh, go “aww” and brought tears to my eyes. A pure delight.”
– Judy Brown

“What a feast of enjoyment for a lifelong Pyr lover like me. Your choice of those spontaneous moments are so fresh and intimate, one really could be there. In those of the people I know you have captured THEM — and for the Pyrs I could almost feel them. I will be showing the National DVDs whenever I have a captive audience. Meanwhile I continue to enjoy them myself repeatedly. Well done. What dedication.”
– Eunice Meredith

“I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the slide show! You did such a professional and enjoyable presentation.
I loved the captions you included and the story they told. You truly captured
the ‘moments’!”
– Carolyn Yeager

“Great shots! I am very impressed with your photography, and I’ve seen a lot of
dog photography. In addition to your technical skills (and, obviously, excellent camera) you have a good eye for what makes a good photo.
Thanks for doing the CD. I can’t get enough of the pictures! I’m really enjoying it.”
– Catherine de la Cruz

“Thank you so much for making this lovely archive of our fun and fur.
The slide show is wonderful; you’ve done an outstanding job and I loved
your subtitles :))”
– Joan Stewart

“Your samples are sensational.”
– David Kintsfather

“I love the pictures you take. Thanks again for taking them. My family and friends have loved seeing these photos on my Facebook page. I’ve even used them as my profile picture. Got wonderful responses. Glad we got the whole DVD.”
– Michele Miller

“The photos are beautiful. You have a very good eye for seeing the moments”
– Lee Trowbridge Goertz

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Photo CD and it is historically great to have. Thank you!”
– Judy Cooper

“Seeing these photos brings back great memories! Wonderful to look at over and
over again.”
– Joan Ziehl

Ongoing Annual Projects:

Candid Photographer for the National Specialty Shows
of the Great Pyrenees Club of America
“Capturing the moments you may have missed,
but want to remember.”
gpcaonline.org/

Documentary Photographer of the Minnesota State Fair, the second largest state fair in the country.
Photos used by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, the Minnesota State Fair, assorted publications and media, www.BeyondTheStick.com.
“The iconic, the ironic, the peculiar, and the poignant: a visual feast beyond the stick.”
mnstatefair.org/
msffoundation.org/

Studies:

Education:
University of Michigan, B.A.
Double major: psychology and music;
Minor: Radio, TV, Film

Post-Graduate:
Stanford University, certificate degree
in Radio, TV, Film
UCLA, studies in the
Recording Arts and Sciences
University of St. Thomas, studies in advertising and marketing communications

Photography studies:
Minneapolis Photography Center
Maine Media Workshops
Santa Fe Photography Workshops
Anderson Ranch Arts Center

A Sample of Current Community Involvement:

Board of Directors and
Communications Committee
Rimon, the Jewish Arts Council selected two years in a row for the annual list of the 50 “most inspiring and innovative organizations, projects, and programs in the North American Jewish community today” by Slingshot, a project of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies.
www.rimonmn.org.

Twin-Cities-RISE-anti-poverty-organization

Mock Interviewer and Photographer;
Twin Cities RISE!, an anti-poverty organization offering comprehensive work and soft skills training for low-income adults in the Twin Cities area, with measurably high job placement results.
www.twincitiesrise.org