Meet Sadie Peterson: Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sadie Peterson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sadie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I honestly never thought I would start my own business, better yet, a photography business! The more I learned about photography and found how much I loved capturing those raw emotions, the more invested I became in putting myself out there to capture couples and families just being themselves. Word started spreading, my work was being shared, and photography quickly pivoted from a hobby I loved to a business that I loved. By taking the step to become an official business, I was able to better serve my clients because I was truly invested in all aspects of the business; clients, continuing my photography education, and investing in the business itself. I honestly didn’t pick up a camera for the first time with the end goal being to have a business, it just kind of happened, and it’s been one of the best leaps of faith I’ve ever taken! 

What should our readers know about your business?
My number one goal when taking people’s pictures is to truly make it an enjoyable and fun experience. I remember growing up that family photos, or even just my engagement photos, were uncomfortable and stressful. As a photographer, I aim to make the entire experience as stress-free as possible. When someone books a family or couples session with me, I instantly consider them to be family, meaning I want to take care of them like family. I send over ideas, color schemes, and outfits that work well with my editing style and the location we’ve selected for their session. I also make sure there is open communication leading up to the session to answer any questions or concerns they have. At the session, I do everything in my power to make everyone feel at ease and comfortable. For couple’s photos, I’m less worrried about capturing them in a stiff position smiling at the camera, and more focused on capturing them running through a field together, slow dancing in the mountains and capturing that loving look in their eyes. For family sessions, I pull out all the stops to make it fun for the parents and kids. I’m not afraid to play peek-a-boo, bust out my Fortnite moves or tell corny jokes to get those smiles. I’m also a big fan of playing games so we can capture a family just being themselves. Those are the photos everyone loves the most anyways! If a little one is not in the mood to be held and wants to run, we will run! I am flexible and I know that capturing a beautiful moment usually can’t be pre-planned. I know a session is successful when the husband or the little ones say, “That was fun!” Has it been easy to get here? Nope! I’ve had to work on communicating both before the session and during the session to make clients comfortable. I’ve also had to spend a lot of time experimenting to develop my style of photography and editing. I just want people to know when they book a session with me they can expect to have a fun experience and receive beautiful photos that capture them being them!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love spending time with my husband and our two fur babies in the mountains. Some of our favorite areas to explore are Conifer, Breckenridge and of course Rocky Mountain National Park. I also love window shopping and checking out the cute downtown areas such as 16th street mall, Pearl Street in Boulder, and Golden’s historic downtown. My favorite local spots to eat are Cafe Jordanos, Homegrown Tap & Dough, Jose O’Shea’s and for dessert, Magill’s is a must!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My biggest shout out goes to my husband. He’s the one who has alwasy seen my love for photography (hello, I was totally the girl who had to take pictures of everythig on her iPhone) and encouraged me to really invest in learning more and practicing what I loved. From my very first photography class, to making the jump to starting this business, he has been incredibly supportive! Without his encouragement, enthusiasm, and support, I would not be where I am and what I am doing today. I also have to thank all of the amazing photographers in Denver who I have been able to interact with and learn from by shadowing, asking them questions, and receiving feedback. There are too many to name, but I appreciate nothing more than artists supporting and helping other artists.

Website: sadiejanephotos.com
Instagram: @sadiejanephotos

Image Credits
All photos were taken by and are owned by Sadie Jane Photos.