Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Anderson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Patricia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my photography journey after my oldest daughter was born. I’m mostly self-taught, but once I decided to go into photography professionally, I mentored under some of the top newborn and family photographers in the industry. I wanted to make sure that the quality, professionalism, and style of my photography business stood out from the rest.
Shortly after I began shooting professionally, I opened a photography studio in Lincoln Park and decided that I wanted to specialize in newborn photography – mainly because I LOVE babies, but also because it fed my antique addition when it came to buying props. My time in Lincoln Park was extremely busy and taught me so much about running a business. My business grew much faster than I had anticipated, so I moved to a larger studio in Lakeview, and was there for several years. After I purchased my home in Old Irving Park, I moved my studio into my home and remained there until December 2016, when my family and I made to move to Batavia. I now have a home studio here, and am in the process of purchasing a commercial building in downtown Batavia, where I’ll be opening a newborn photography studio, serving both City and Suburban clientele. Since most of my client base is still in Chicago, I still travel back to the city a few times a month for sessions.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Photography is all about the hustle, baby!
If you asked most photographers, they’d tell you the same thing. You have to work for super cheap/free for a while to really get your skills up to where you need them to be when you start charging.
Any professional that works in the arts understands the struggle of having to “prove your work’s worth”. It’s not uncommon for folks to say “Wow, your camera takes great pictures” or “Can you JUST take a few pictures of this, that and the other… it wont take more than a few minutes. Can we get a deal?”. As someone who supports my family with my business, I assure you… It’s not just the camera taking those images you have all over your house, your Facebook page, etc. Your photographer has likely spent years getting to where they are, and while it may seem like they are “just taking pictures”, so much time, education, money got them to the point where they are a viable business.
Please tell us about Patricia Anderson Photography.
I would classify myself as a newborn photographer, but one who also loves photographing babies and families. I’d say about 80% of my clients are newborn clients, but many come back for milestone sessions and family sessions. While my website is mostly babies, I LOVE photographing families around the Chicago area in the warmer months. Outdoor photography is my all-time favorite… I love textures and nature. Urban and Rural.
My goal is to offer newborn photography that you want all over your house. In a world that is oversaturated with people who claim to *specialize* in newborn photography, I want to make sure that my photos stand out from “Uncle Bob down the street” who offers to do your photos for free to build his portfolio. I want you to come to your session and swoon over how beautiful your new baby is while she’s being photography. I want my clients to see their photos and feel that joy you felt when you met your newborn for the first time. When clients email me after they receive their images and tell me they cried with joy when they first saw the photos of their new baby, I know my job was done right.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood was probably the day my little sister was born. I was about 8 years old and she was a “Surprise” baby (I know you parents know what that means!). Since I was a bit older, I remember being SO excited to have a new baby in the house. Helping my mom with her every morning was the highlight of my day. My sister still, to this day, is one of my favorite people!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1138 S Batavia Ave.
Batavia, IL 60510 - Website: www.patriciaandersonphotography.com
- Phone: (312) 884-1119
- Email: info@patriciaandersonphotography.com
- Instagram: @patriciaandersonphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaAndersonPhotography/
- Twitter: @ChiBabyPhotog
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/patricia-anderson-photography-batavia
- Other: https://www.google.com/#q=patricia+anderson+photography&lrd=0x880fd261a4fc7dd1:0x74951b36472a7c18,1,
Image Credit:
Patricia Anderson Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
