Bonnie McDermott was born to Larry and Carol Brown inRidgecrest,Californiaon April 1, 1962. Being the youngest of five children, she has fond memories of growing up in a large family. One of her early childhood memories is running bare foot with her brother, Brian in the hot soft sand of a very deep, long dry wash wearing a little white summer dress with her long golden-brown hair blowing back in the wind and the hot desert sun warming her face. What freedom! Interestingly, in her memory her view is from behind, watching herself as she runs away, backlit by the yellow setting sun. In the foreground of her memory photo are her discarded little sandals. As a photographer, she hunts for moments like this to capture for others.
Bonnie does not have formal schooling in photography. She has a BA in Art fromCaliforniaStateUniversity,Long Beach. While attending college her focus was drawing, sculpture, and ceramics. She kept photography as her hobby learning from her brother, Bruce Brown. Looking back at this time makes her laughs because every time Bruce wanted to show her some technique she would say, “You’re the photographer, I just want to have fun taking pictures”
After graduating she started using photography and the computer to generate sketches for her paintings. She took a preschool teaching job which turned into a career in teaching. She taught preschool for ten years and then made the jump to Junior and Senior High School. At the Junior High and High School level she teaches art, earth science, and religion in addition to being the yearbook adviser. She has taught this age group for ten years and is still currently teaching. Her experience as the yearbook adviser was the start of her serious interest in becoming a professional photographer.
In June of 2009 she launched Bonnie McDermott Photography, specializing in family photography. She approaches photography as if she is on safari looking for that image that will show the beauty and personality of her subjects. Her photographic style calls on both her journalism and artistic backgrounds.
