Meet Paige Risku | Midwest Based Wedding Photographer

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

Hi Paige, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Success is a funny thing. In high school and college it seemed the questions of “what does success mean to you” came up a lot. Throughout the years of my college career and professional life, it has definitely changed and even simplified. To me personally, success has never had anything to do with what most would consider; money. Sure, you can be the wealthiest person around, but deep down, are you happy with your life, your career, and the community you’ve created around you? Most likely not. As cliche as it may sound, happiness, health, and having consistent work is a successful life to me.

The success of my brand however, I view a bit differently. My mission statement in my business is “The most important part of my job is to make sure you feel comfortable and confident while in front of the camera.” While taking pretty photos is part of the job, I think it is so much more than just that. The success of a brand or business is more than just a 5 star review or how pretty your work is, especially for photographers. How did they make you feel during the session? Did they convey the connection between you and your significant other visually through the photos they took? Did they give you such an incredible experience working with them it’ll make you want to keep going back to them time and time again? That is what a successful brand is to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a wedding photographer based out of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Growing up I was always taking photos on point and shoot cameras or an iPhone when they came out. After receiving my first DSLR camera for my birthday one year, it was hard for me to put it down! My senior year of high school I decided to attend Northern Michigan University and achieve my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in photography. Though I loved my time at NMU and what I was learning, I noticed I was becoming more and more interested in portrait work. After attending a local workshop for wedding photographers (The Cabin Series) I quickly realized that is what I wanted to do with my career. A month before graduating college I opened my photography business and it’s kept me busy since! Has it been easy? Absolutely not. Will every inquiry that hits my inbox end up booking with me? No, but that is okay. I want to work with the clients who feel like the right fit for me and my business. That was probably one of the hardest things for me to comprehend when I first started. But the thing is, if you didn’t have those people who decided not to book you, you’d never have time for those clients who are meant for you!
As artists, we have our own style just like every other human has their own personality! I believe that is why I stand apart from other photographers because not only do we all have something different to offer, but we also all have a different experience to give you.

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.
I live in Chassell, Michigan which is about 10 minutes south of Houghton, Michigan.

First, we’d start off our morning at Suomi for the best Finnish breakfast in town. Then make our way up to Camp Coffee Company for a tasty latte. Next, we would stroll downtown and visit a few of my favorite shops, a few being – Grace and Gather, Chickadees, Michigan Made, and Surplus Outlet. We would also hit up the best vintage / rustic shops – Urban Rustics and Copper Poppy. For dinner we would go to the Ambassador for the best tostada pizza you’ve ever had and a fish bowl! Last but not least, we would end up at my favorite craft brewery, Keweenaw Brewing Company!

Besides shopping, eating, and drinking, there is so much more the Keweenaw has to offer! We’d stroll the shores of our beloved Lake Superior. Take a day trip to Copper Harbor, the most northern point of the Keweenaw – the most beautiful views around! And if we had time, we’d go out for an evening of fishing to catch a gorgeous UP sunset!

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?
I don’t think I could ever give full credit for my success to just one person. However I do feel with the timing of things right now it would have to be Dennis Staffne in hearing the news of his recent passing. Dennis was one of my photography professors and advisor while I attended Northern Michigan University. He taught at NMU for 45 years and had just retired last spring. Dennis was an outstanding professor, advisor, and overall joy to be around. He made a strong impact on my photography in the way I shoot, how I view the photo world as a whole, and the importance of owning a business.

x

Website: https://paigeriskuphotography.com/

Instagram: @paigeriskuphotography

Linkedin: Paige Risku

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

Image Credits
Bryana Palosaari of Riutta Images