Munster photographer Ann Latinovich likes to think of her brand of family and personal photography as an alternative to the norm.

"Some people will go in front of a camera and say 'cheese,' and a lot of people enjoy that," she said.

"But for me, I try to capture those real moments that people experience on a day-to-day basis and when they're older and look back, those will be the moments that they'll want back."

Exhibiting her work, "On Location," at South Shore Arts Crown Point Branch, Latinovich was reared in Pittsburgh and received her bachelor's degree outside of Philadelphia at Temple University's Tyler School of Art.

She made her way to the region in 1994, settling in the Windy City where she received her graduate degree at the School of the Art Institute.

Latinovich's primary focus was on painting and drawing while in school, but she honed in on photography after becoming a mother ("it was easier to do that at home rather than breaking out the canvas and oil paints," she said).

What became her current profession as a family and personal photographer originated from the of-the-moment photos she shot of her family.

"People would come over and see the pictures I had of my own kids on the walls and they'd say 'hey. Would you do that for me?' " she said.

"And it just took off from there."

For four years now, Latinovich has caught those special moments between families and loved ones on film throughout Chicagoland, working an average 50 hours weekly.

She currently has offices downtown and, come July, is scheduled to open a namesake boutique studio in Munster.

With that in mind, Latinovich had plenty of selections to choose from for her South Shore Arts exhibit, which opened in Crown point June 13.

"When I work with people, I really work on getting moments of connecting and moments of intimacy, whether it's parents and a child or siblings," she said.

"Even if it's just one person (in the picture), it's about getting to know them and capturing their spirits, and the pieces in the show, I felt, were some of those magical moments."

A reception for "On Location" is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 27 at South Shore Arts' Crown Point branch.

Latinovich's studio, which will be located in Munster at 942 Ridge Rd., will be open by appointment only. For more information on Latinovich, www.annlatinovich.com.

South Shore Arts' Crown Point branch is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.