Chai Style: Goldsteins’ Home Reflects Lifetime of Art and Travel

American landscape photographer Ansel Adams once said, “There are no rules for good photography, only good photographers.” Well, Jody and Cary Goldstein have mastered the art of optics, lighting and turning what they see “in their mind’s eye” into a photograph that may one day grace a home or office.

Cary, a dentist, and Jody, travel the globe to create their photos, freezing a moment in time. Jody recalled “passing the Fujifilm GFX back and forth as individual moments of creativity” struck on the couple’s honeymoon. “It’s in the seemingly common small details that might speak to us,” added Cary, “the simplicity of an ocean or the red of the Krispy Kreme donut building at night.”

The Goldsteins’ work hangs in homes from the Beltline to Buckhead, South Beach to Aspen — even in their rabbi’s abode. Read on to learn more about the couple and the Sandy Springs home in which they raised their three (now grown) children.

Jaffe: How did you both become interested in photography?
Cary: I grew up with a father who was into photography and art. A camera was always nearby. Also, being a cosmetic dentist, there is a detail and aesthetic component to photography. I am known for my street scenes, places and objects. Imagine a harpist in Paris on the Champs-Élysées, a turquoise VW Beetle approaching just as a white, French standard poodle parades by, escorting a blond with a bobbing ponytail, Asian pagodas, Buddhas and umbrellas on Miami Beach.
Jody: Don’t forget our photos of Hilton Head marshes at sunset or the underpinnings of Manhattan bridges. Our street art in Austin and New Mexico is among the most colorful. Aspen, Banff … we interpret beauty and nature from all around us.

Jaffe: How does the process work with your flower photography?
Jody: During COVID, our office was closed and Cary brought the camera home. Being stuck inside, I conceptualized flowers for their detail and beauty. I actually gazed out the bedroom window to the pool, with its glimmering reflection, and imagined shadows, petals and blooms in almost a tie-dye effect that can influence the image of a flower. Think of a field with hundreds of tulips or one hydrangea, orchid or dahlia. As importantly, I visit my client’s home to see just where my art will go. All of my pieces are custom-made, and I love the challenge of unusual flowers and colors. This is all organic, and I never cut anything out. I have replaced treasured Impressionistic museum-quality masterpieces with one of my flowers, and the client was absolutely thrilled. I can help them decide on which flower they prefer, or they can pick out a flower on my website. I have done around 200 of these, up to 60” x 40”, which range from $600 to $1600. The photograph is then sent to Canada, where it is printed on acrylic glass and shipped back. I can produce about 20 a month.
Cary: Jody is really amazing with what she can do on the computer with shadows and colors to capture just the right image. But wait! The finished product takes an 18-wheeler truck to deliver the art to us. Then I, as a handy dentist with tools and a drill, borrow a truck to install it in the client’s home.

Jaffe: Describe your house.
Cary: The cedar construction is 45 years old. Twenty-one years ago, we redesigned it and opened up some of the walls. We’ve since renovated the kitchen and now the master suite is under construction. Design-wise, I would label it as transitioning from country French to modern. We are taking it room by room.
Jody: Kitchen-wise, Cary is a great cook. We love to cook together, and our modern kitchen is very easy for entertaining. You see the grill is in the middle island, which we enjoy for entertaining in a cook “out” format. Especially during COVID, we were able to entertain in here then eat out on the porch for an easy flow. We used kitchen designers Pedini at ADAC, with Cambria quartz, Italian boat wood and lacquer here. In the neutral-toned kitchen, we have my “Red Poppy” flower to add a burst of crimson.

Jaffe: How would you summarize the beauty you surround yourself with here?
Cary: The first thing I fell in love with in seeing this house was the double front entrance doors from the 1800s, which were imported from Hong Kong. Then, five years ago, while in Bali, we brought back 14 pieces of art on the plane, packing everything very carefully. Some of the other large and meaningful pieces are actually from my patients.

Jaffe: Do you have a special charity that is near and dear to your heart?
Jody: As a 9-year breast cancer survivor, in 2014, Jennifer Fink and I co-founded “A Cure in Our Lifetime” to raise over a million dollars for breast cancer research. Our breakfast is on March 30 at the Woodruff Arts Center. I am also the current auxiliary co-president of the Jewish Home Life Group, where I have been a very active volunteer for over ten years.

Jaffe: What’s next for you two?
Jody: We are gearing up to travel to Spain and Portugal to shoot the street scenes of Las Ramblas, costumes and people. We are taking a photography class in Europe and are very excited.
Cary: As experienced travelers, we pack very lightly, considering all of our equipment. We will be very busy over the coming weeks, selecting and perfecting all this new work.

Find the Goldsteins on Instagram @goldsteinartphotography and online at Goldsteinartphotography.com.