Susan Beard received her first camera at age 15.

Her mother gave her the device to encourage positive activity.

"She wanted me to do something in the summer instead of sitting around," Beard recalled.

Well, the Manayunk resident has come a long way since then. Just look at the who's who list of those she's gone on to photograph during her photography career.

Last Thursday, perhaps, took the cake. Beard and her crew traveled to 6th and Race streets to capture images of a former U.S. president bestowing a great honor upon a well-respected filmmaker and humanitarian.

It was the 2009 Liberty Medal presentation, and Beard shot hundreds upon hundreds of images from that day, one that saw former President Bill Clinton giving film director Steven Spielberg the special honor at the National Constitution Center.

Last Friday, Beard took some time to sit down and chat with the Star while taking a break from editing those images.

"I pretty much enjoy shooting. It's what I love to do," said Beard, who was born in Chestnut Hill and grew up in Fort Washington.

After receiving that first camera at 15, Beard attended a summer photography program at Moore College of Art and Design in Center City. She later obtained her bachelor of fine arts from that same school.

"I didn't get out of college and open a studio," said Beard, who read off a list of the numerous jobs she held before finding her niche.

Previous work experiences include working as an account executive at an advertising agency and as a stylist/set designer for a direct mailing firm. She also spent eight years in television. But none of this gave her the same satisfaction she felt when behind the camera.

"I hated the corporate life," she said. "(But) I had to experience all those disciplines."

Eventually, she purchased some equipment, and "planted myself in a baby shop," where she offered to photograph children, something she enjoys doing to this day, even though her work has included big-name actors and dignitaries.

"I think photographing babies is really a delight," she said.

After she became more established, Beard took gigs shooting weddings, bar and bat mitzvah's and corporate events. Before the economic downturn, Beard was doing around 250 portraits a year, including headshots for comedians and actors, as well as family photos. She also photographed around 140 events a year, which included everything from weddings to golf outings.

Right after 9/11, she said, the photography business was booming, since many people wanted to commemorate their lives through art.

"Everybody wanted pictures," she said. "There wasn't an economic issue on the globe."

But things soon changed. First, there was the growing popular transition from film to digital - a democratizing effect that gave many more people access to photography, sans darkrooms.