Life & Work with Robyn Richardson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robyn Richardson.

Hi Robyn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was in Art School studying fine art photography when I started photographing weddings for a big studio. It was then that I fell in love with portraiture and the ability to capture such meaningful moments for people. After college, I continued in the wedding industry as a side hustle while working as a Graphic Designer. After a few years in corporate, I decided to make the leap into portrait photography full-time. I had a brick-and-mortar studio in my hometown in Iowa for six years before moving to LA. I’ve now been in the Valley for seven years and was “working from home” before the pandemic made that cool. I love California’s weather and scenery, so my studio is the great outdoors for 90% of my sessions. I do have a home studio when I need a formal look. I travel about an hour in every direction for sessions, which means I photograph the beaches of Ventura down to Palos Verdes and all the mountains, canyons, and valleys in between!

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?
Being in business for yourself is never a “smooth road”! Moving to LA in 2017 with absolutely zero connections was tough. Then, the pandemic, with mandatory “stay at home orders” in LA County in 2020, was even tougher. But what it has taught me is to be real and be yourself, and you’ll find “your people” in LA. The people who are just like you… The ones who are new here. The ones are growing small businesses. The ones that need your services. The ones that want to make friends. The ones that share your hobbies and passions in life.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in family portraiture, creating custom artwork for the home. I am most proud of making it through the hurdles of moving my business, only to be shut down three years later due to the pandemic. That’s pride built on struggles and resilience. But my pride in my artwork is in creating timeless memories for families to enjoy forever. I truly believe that every portrait session is a “legacy session”. When you hire a professional photographer and create tangible artwork, you’re preserving your legacy. I create beautiful coffee table books and albums for families that give children the gift of being able to look back later in life and see what they were like when they were young. The albums become heirloom memories that parents cherish as the children grow and change so quickly. Technology (like our phone cameras and digital storage) changes so quickly that by the time a child is grown, those snapshots on your phone will be gone. Either lost on a hard drive never to be seen again, on an antiquated storage service (remember floppy disks and CDs), and soon time marches on, and the memories fade. But an album, printed portraits, and wall art stand the test of time. These portraits become treasures passed on to the next generation.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My parents have ALWAYS supported me, no matter how crazy the vision! They were the financing of my first small business loan to buy equipment and open my studio. They were my advisory board when I had questions about integrating my business into my local community back home. They supported me in my move to California, even though it took me halfway across the country away from them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.RichardsonPortraits.com
• Instagram: @richardsonlegacyportraits
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/richardsonlegacyportraits