Conversations with Joanna Andres

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Andres.

Hi Joanna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Thank you for this opportunity to share my story with your readers! In 2008, I was pregnant with my son, Luca. I was working as a New Home Sales Trainer/Recruiter for a local homebuilder in Columbus, Ohio. That year was when the housing market crashed. I knew I didn’t have a good future with my career at the time so I decided to be a Stay at Home Mom.

I loved getting professional photos taken of my baby, and putting together albums for him. Shortly after having my son, Luca, I was pregnant with my daughter, Olivia. They are 15 months apart. We had newborn photos taken of Oliva and as a stay-at-home mom, on a budget. it started to get expensive. Corey, my husband, had given me the idea that I should buy a professional camera and just take our kid’s photos on my own, so I did!

I bought the camera, but I didn’t know how to use it. I took a beginner class on how to use DSL cameras at a local camera store. I still wasn’t happy with the photos I took, so I looked into editing photos using Lightroom and Photoshop. I had a friend that was able to teach me some of the basics. I also started taking online classes and practicing with my kids. I would post the photos of my kids on social media and I would have friends that would ask me to take photos of their kids. I enjoyed it so I would take them for my friends and they would give me a gift certificate for my time. As my kids started to get older, I was trying to think of what I wanted to do as my career when my kids started school. I wanted to do something I enjoyed and had a passion for, but also use my business/marketing degree and background in addition to being able to work with a schedule so I could still enjoy my time with my family.

I decided I wanted to get into photography and I started taking more classes and charged a very low fee just to get some experience. I started by offering fall outdoor family sessions. I had clients come to my home and I set up my 144-square-foot office as my studio. I used the windows as natural light. It was great practice and the more I did the sessions, the better I got. The office space was very small and cramped. I realized I wanted to specialize in newborn photography so I started by asking my friend who was expecting I could take photos of her newborn. After that session, I felt defeated as I clearly didn’t know what I was doing.

I took a mentoring course in Atlanta, Georgia with a newborn photographer that showed me how to pose the babies, different techniques to keep the baby comfortable throughout the session, how to have a good workflow, etc. I also bought new lighting and with the combination of it all, it was a game changer. I decided I needed more space as I was getting busier so I finished my basement and made it my studio. Since then, the business has definitely grown. I am so happy that I get to do what I love each and every single day.

Alright, 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?
In 2018, I had Shingles about 5 times in one year. I obviously wouldn’t be able to photograph newborns with shingles. I thought I would get shingles because of stress. My husband was traveling for work a lot, and managing two kids on my own plus running a very busy business would get stressful. My husband did some research as he was concerned that my immune system was compromised. He told me to ask my doctor if I had cancer. I didn’t believe I would have cancer as it doesn’t run in my family. I went to my Primary Care doctor in December 2018 and asked him if he thought I had cancer since I kept getting shingles. He did some bloodwork and told me that I had high cholesterol which that does run in my family. He told me to just watch my diet.

The following month, January 2019, I woke up feeling pain in my right breast. The entire day was painful and I went to bed that night and couldn’t sleep or get comfortable. I felt a large lump the size of a grape. When I told my husband, Corey, he knew right away that I had breast cancer. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer on January 22nd.

I decided I was going to fight this but continue to live my normal life. I only told my close friends and family. I did Cold Caps so I didn’t lose my hair or look sick. I didn’t tell my clients and continued to work the entire time I was going through chemotherapy and radiation. I did have to take 2 weeks off for my surgery in the summer.

Newborn babies bring me joy and whenever I’m working it doesn’t feel like “work” it’s fun and I love it. I wouldn’t even think about cancer when I was photographing the babies. It was like therapy for me.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in Newborn, Children, and Maternity Photography. I’m located in Columbus, Ohio, and have over an 800-square-foot boutique studio in my basement. I provide all my client’s props, outfits, headbands, couture maternity gowns, backdrops, and more. I have thought out every detail for my clients and try to offer them all a very pleasant, relaxing experience. As a newborn mom, I know it can be exhausting those first few weeks. That is why I like to handle everything for my clients from the time they walk in my door to the time they leave. My clients love it because they feel relaxed and calm throughout the entire session.

I am proud of where I started and where I’m at. I’ve grown so much and I have established amazing relationships with clients that are now friends!

What sets me apart from others is that I treat my clients like I’d want to be treated, I like to learn about them and gush over their babies because I just adore babies and they bring me so much joy that the clients can see that, too. I love styling the sessions for my clients and providing a one-of-a-kind experience for each of them.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think it’s important to be authentic and professional. I truly care for my clients and I want them to know that. I love learning about them and talking to them as I work with their newborns. I like to learn about their birthing story, how the couples met, what they enjoy doing, what they did before they had a baby, and more. I also think that my clients like transparency, I think it’s especially important in business.

That is why I always call all my inquiries on the phone to answer all their questions, learn more about what they’re envisioning, and go over the entire process and pricing. Then I follow up with an email with the Investment Guide so they have it all in writing. I know my clients appreciate it and there is no catch, everything is upfront and clear.

Pricing:

• Session Fees start at $150-$250 does not include Digital images
• Digital Images start at $699-1,799 depending on the packages
• Most clients purchase my collections which include digital images, a keepsake album, and/or an heirloom wood print or Canvas. Collections range from $899-$2,499

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joannaandresphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannaandresphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoannaAndresPhotography

Image Credits
Joanna Andres Photography