Meet Maegan Ritterbush | Newborn & Family Photographer

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

Hi Maegan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Looking back I’m how little thought went into starting my own business. I am so thankful I’ve been able to take a passion and turn it into a way to earn money. The reason I started my business was because I wanted a tangible way to bless moms. I now have three kiddos myself but after my second was born I had really bad postpartum anxiety. I was rocking my daughter one day, she was probably about 7 months at the time, and I felt peace for the first time in months. I thought, “I want a picture or this moment”. I wanted it so that I could have something tangible to look to on the really hard days. I knew if that was something I wanted, surely other moms would too. I was photographing weddings at the time and shortly after transitioned to photographing families and documenting motherhood.

I really wanted to create a photography experience that was seamless and easy for moms, to take even just one thing off their plate is a win. I provide a client wardrobe of dresses for my clients to use during the session, as well as the option for hair and make up. I provide guides for location options and tips for how to prepare for the session so they feel really prepared to capture the photographs they want.

The end goal is for my clients is to walk away with some sort of artwork. We’re one of the most photographed generations but so many photos get lost in the digital abyss. I love for my clients to have prints, albums or custom artwork so they also can have those daily reminders off the joys of motherhood. And the kids love it too! Because who doesn’t love a picture to remind them just how much their mom and dad love them.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m not your typical creative. Even calling myself or thinking of myself as a creative or artist has been a challenge. I grew up inundated with sports, everyone in my family played sports, and myself and my two brothers were collegiate athletes. I never really enjoyed art class, I have zero skills when it comes to drawing or paining. So when I fell in love with photography and eventually pursued it professionally I had to have a pretty dramatic paradigm shift to start thinking of my work as art- because it is!

I am wildly inspired by families and their connection and my entire drive for my business is for mother’s to see the life and love their creating through my lens. I’ll give you one example. This happens at almost every newborn session and it’s beautiful. A newborn may start to get a little fussy, maybe they’re a bit cold or uncomfortable, whatever the reason when I pick up the baby and hand her to mom there’s this immense calm that comes over the baby when they are able to sense they are with mom. And it doesn’t happen with dad (to the same degree) or me or anyone else holding them. Just with their mother. This at home peace a child has with their mother, it’s lovely. And mom, she’s utterly unaware! She doesn’t even realize what power she holds to comfort her baby in a way that no one else can because she’s thinking about the next feeding, or how her dress is fitting in her newly postpartum body, or if we’re getting the shots she needs. So often her life is passing her by so quickly, she’s the glue that holds the family together, busy with tasks and a mental checklist unaware of the tiny little nuances of her life that creates a safe place for love to blossom with her children. And too often she misses it because she’s so caught up in the details of it all. And that’s where I come in. I’m there to see it for her, to capture those moments for her.

I’ve also come to realize that connecting with people is an art. I think that’s a big difference between myself and a lot of other photographers I know. I am VERY extroverted, and find it extremely easy to connect with people. So many clients start of their session by telling me how unphotogenic they are. And getting in front of a camera can be pretty uncomfortable. Creating a space for clients to be at ease, to be themselves makes a huge difference in their photographs. I joke with dads, give my families fun prompts and am not above acting absolutely ridiculous to get a genuine smile out of a toddler. When you look at my portfolio and see joy filled images, it’s because my clients and I have a ton of fun at our sessions.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
What a fun question! And so fun to think about because as a mom of a 3, 5 and 7 year old who is running a business it leaves little space for free time. The best time ever with my best friend would be a weekend trip to the mountains. We’d stay at a cute hotel or air b’n’b, sleep in, grab a delicious coffee, head out for a hike, and stay up too late catching up on each others lives. Maybe head over to Grand Lake and rent a boat, spend some time on the water and finish with a nice dinner on the water!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband! His support, love and encouragement has made all the difference in my business and confidence to pursue this venture.

Website: https://maeganrphotos.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maeganrphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maeganrphotography

Image Credits
Maegan R Photography