It’s difficult to figure out who to hire to take photographs of your family. It seems like photographers are a dime a dozen these days. Like anyone can just pick up a camera and start charging steep prices. And yes, photography prices are steep! At least they should be. Why?
Think about it. Your photographer is not just spending the time to prepare for and plan your shoot, and then show up and give it her all. She’s also taking the time to develop the photographs, selecting, editing, and arranging so that the final result you see is… well, nothing short of enchanting.
At least, that’s how it should be.
So, a big part of choosing the right photographer is getting to know who she is. The relationship between a photographer and her subjects (that’s you!) is critical. There’s trust involved that allows you to open up and allows her to encourage you to relax, laugh, and play during your session.
All of which means it’s important for you to feel like you really know your photographer. Which is why I’m reintroducing myself to you, my readers and clients.
My Background
Hi! I’m Olivia Sweeney.
I was born Olivia Bauer, and I grew up here in Southern Oregon and spent time in Montana, where my father lives. As the oldest child, I spent a lot of time figuring things out, finding myself, and exploring the wide open spaces of my youth. When my siblings came along, years later, it was perhaps the first time I clicked into my natural maternal inclinations. I love mothering. I was so excited to have these little beings to take care of that I knew even back then that I would have children someday.
As I looked forward to graduating high school, I had no doubt I would go to college. It just wasn’t an option in my family. I had to go. Still, I had no idea what I wanted to study. I was still so young! I bounced around, changing majors a few times, and finally graduated from University of Oregon in Eugene with a degree in Psychology. After college, I joined Americorp and got to do some of the most rewarding work I’ve ever done — care for underprivileged children.
Photography
It was during that time that I met my husband, Mike Sweeney. I was only 21 and still figuring out what I actually wanted to do with my life, when I picked up a camera professionally for the first time. You see, I had always enjoyed looking through the lens of a camera at life on the other end. My mother didn’t have photos from her childhood, so she wanted to document ours. I suppose I kind of took on that energy and found myself within it.
I started taking photos of friends and family, offering my services for free. Before long, the people who knew me best recommended I start taking photos of weddings and offering family photo sessions. My prices were super cheap because I still felt like I had no idea what I was doing, but it felt right. It felt good.
And I knew, I just knew I was doing something I was meant to do. It felt divinely inspired.
My Life Now
Since that time, over a decade ago, I have taken photos of dozens of weddings, and I have held engagement sessions, newborn shoots, maternity sessions, senior portrait sessions, professional headshots, and more. I have also allowed my professional work to evolve into offering more intimate sessions that include boudoir, or embodiment photography.
I do all of this around raising and homeschooling four children with my husband, who runs his own business as a chemical engineer. We live in Sam’s Valley, in the heart of Southern Oregon, and we manage our busy household full of kittens, chickens, a dog, and of course our four kids under the age of 10 on our property all while trying to sneak in the occasional date night whenever we can.
We feel beyond privileged to have a strong village of friends and family around us. Without the people we love, we simply would not be who we are, and we could never do what we do.
It truly takes a village.
Who I Am
I am, in my heart of hearts, a mother. I have mothered since I was very little. And when I look back now, I realize that my own mother and I learned to mother each other. We grew up together, and she taught me as she was learning. I am a natural nurturer and caretaker. It is what I love to do.
This inherent part of me makes me the photographer I am. I guide my clients through sessions with ease. I have an ability to make even the most stressed out dad relax into the session and have fun. I can help mom’s enjoy the chaos that is and will always be trying to get kids to sit still and smile for the camera (hint: they don’t have to sit still and smile for the camera).
I understand now, after all of these years, that I am good at what I do, whether it is taking care of my home, loving my husband, raising my children, or taking photos of clients, because I love it. Capturing these moments for you, whatever moments they are, is profoundly important work for me because I understand what it is to have no documentation of your life, no photos to look back on, no reminders of where you’ve been, how far you’ve come, and how hard you loved.
It may sound trite or cliche, but lifestyle photography is one of my few real callings in life.
And now you know a little bit about why.
Now, tell me a little bit about you. Comment on this blog post to tell me about your calling, what drives you, and what you love to do. I can’t wait to hear all about it!