Karen is a Hartley based photographer, originally from Katoomba but ventured down the hill in 2011.

Before making the decision to move she said she often drove her car down to Hartley to sit on the block of land.

"It just felt like home and it still does," she said.

Over the last 20 years the mother of two has taken up a passion for photography, capturing the moment and giving back to others.

"I had two beautiful little subjects born into this world, they were my inspiration and that's when I started to see the finer details and really take an interest in photography," Karen said.

She said she's probably always loved photography and often spent her time flicking through boxes full of her parents black and white photos.

"There's always been an interest and moving down here [to Hartley] is certainly beautiful and everywhere you look there's something to photograph," she said.

Karen photographs anything from macro and landscapes to people.

"Macro was my thing originally, I just couldn't get close enough to things and then when I moved to Hartley it was landscape, sunsets, cloudscapes more than anything.

"One day my daughters friend approached me to take photos and it went from there - my photography has just evolved," she said.

She also bases her photography around the Hartley region along with community involvement and awareness of the town.

"Hartley is where I want to do my photography and mostly where it is.

"A lot of people don't even know the Hartley Historic Village is here and I think through my photography it helps draw people in," she said.

Karen said over the years she had met a lot of different people through her photography and felt appreciated that people knew who she was.

"It's really nice that people are acknowledging the Hartley area and my name, it's lovely," she said.

She said she loved to give to people, especially through being able to capture moments for a family.

"Those moments are really precious.

"If I can capture that for someone to have forever it makes me feel like I'm doing something good," she said.

Karen said Hartley had given her so much from the beauty of where she lives to the community and the friendships she has made.

Each festive season she organises The Great Santa Hat challenge in the Hartley Historic Village which she said, made her felt like she could give back.

"It's fun, it's free and it's festive and very community minded.

"It's my way of saying thank you to the community for allowing me to do what I do," she said.

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"This time of year can be joyous and fun for most people but not for others, hopefully what we do here also might offer a bit of joy to those who don't have family or don't celebrate."

Karen said her favourite thing in the world was the joy of giving back.

"What do I love the most about giving back?

"I think it's the joy of giving, when you give something they may not have or even if it's just your time, to see the joy in that person's face...

"I love doing that sort of thing, being involved and helping others," she said.

She said it was important heading into the festive season that people remembered to be kind.

"If someone gets angry just be kind, you don't know what that persons had or what they're going through, everyone's got their own journey to deal with," she said.

She said stopping to say hello to someone or offering a smile to a stranger could make a big difference to someones life.

"I think kindness, honesty and integrity are important, they're easy things to do and people often forget to do them," she said.

Last Christmas Karen also spread some kindness on Christmas Eve when she visited palliative care patients in the hospital.

"I wanted to spread a little Christmas cheer to those who may not have anyone to visit at this time of year, I took lavender and candy bags to people and sat with them," she said.

When she's not taking photos, Karen works with kids who have learning difficulties at a school in Katoomba.

"I actually always say I have the best three jobs ever. The number one job is being a mum. I'm truly blessed, I do what I love and love what I do," she said.

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