Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathy Cooper.
Hi Cathy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Cathy Cooper. I am the owner and sole photographer of this company. I am located in Wildwood, Florida.
I am a devoted Christ follower, and a firm believer that everything I am is with the help from our Lord and Savior. I am 41 years old, a wife, and mother of two beautiful children, ages 15 and 12. I am also a 18 year cancer survivor.
My photography journey started when I was young. I always wanted to take pictures and be in pictures. It didn’t matter what the subject was, I just wanted to photograph it. When I graduated college, I kept my love for photography as just a hobby. I began a career as a paralegal where I remained for 12 years. In 2015, my wonderful husband gave me the gift of my first DSLR camera. That is where my story began. I started practicing by just taking pictures of my children and family. But my heart desired more. I wanted to learn more and be more. God put the fire in my heart, and I just kept growing.
You will see that I enjoy photographing maternity, newborn, and children (of all ages). I love each type differently, but my passion is in newborn photography. I am inspired by watching new parents interact with their new(est) babe during our “parent posing” portion of the session. I want my photography to exude that emotion from each image. I also love how parents eagerly watch as I pose their baby on different setups and are so excited to see the “back of the camera” image and ultimately the final image.
I honestly feel that my continued success is not just from taking beautiful portraits but because of the exceptional experience I provide to my clients. From the moment they contact me to the moment I deliver their printed artwork I try and make my clients feel heard, important, and well taken care of. I provide guidance through every step of the photography process. I take care of everything they will need for each session so that they can just show up to their session and have a great time.
Apart from photography I like to spend time with my family, watch my children dance and play football, and of course travel.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Photography, and owning a business in general, has not always been smooth sailing. There is so much to learn when it comes to photography from lighting, posing, setups, editing, printed products, etc. I feel like I am still learning everyday to provide a better final product for my clients. While I feel there are so many talented photographers in the market today, I try to not compare myself to them. I continue to tell myself that as long as I am better than I was the session before, then I am doing well. As a type A personality person, I strive for perfection and I struggle with keeping that in check.
A huge struggle for me is continuing to find balance between my “work life” and my “personal life”. Every single client that decides to hire me is a gift and I want to provide all that I can to that client. I have found that in previous years, I would sacrifice my family time to provide that experience. Over the past few years I have learned that I am only one person, and my family comes before anything else. I am a wife/mom first and a photographer/business owner second. I still provide an amazing experience, but I have learned to not take on as many clients so that I can provide that experience and still be there for my family.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I own a full service photography studio. That means that I not only take the portraits, but I also specialize in providing my clients with beautiful artwork as well as custom albums to display in their homes. I photograph clients in my studio as well as on location. I enjoy photographing maternity, newborn, cake smash and children (of all ages). I love each type differently, but my passion is in newborn photography. I am inspired by watching new parents interact with their new(est) babe during our “parent posing” portion of the session. I want my photography to exude that emotion from each image. I also love how parents eagerly watch as I pose their baby on different setups and are so excited to see the “back of the camera” image and ultimately the final image.
I feel that what sets me apart from other photographers is the emotion you feel when you look at my images. I want to create connections and beautiful moments that everyone can feel when they look at the image.
What makes me most proud is when a former client continues to hire me for every special moment in their life as well as when they refer their friends and family to have that same experience they did.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
What makes me happy is date night with my husband and watching my kids compete in their passion. My daughter is a beautiful and talented dancer. I am most happy watching her on stage as she expresses her emotions through dance. The same is true for my son. Nothing makes me happier than to sit in the stands and watch him on the football field or jumping over hurdles on the track. Being a successful business owner comes second to the happiness I feel as a wife and mother.
Pricing:
- Session Fee: $250
- All printed products are purchased separately
- Printed products start at $130 and go up.
- All printed products include the corresponding digital image.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alluringgracephoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alluring_grace_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063462316268
Image Credits
All photos by Alluring Grace Photography
