Today we’d like to introduce you to Francesca Marchese-Reeder.
Francesca, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always had a love of photography. When I was a kid I could spend hours looking through baskets of old family photos and I totally remember getting super excited for the rolls of film to develop at the one hour photo lab.
I learned how to shoot on a 35mm film camera in high school. Then about 10 years later I had to relearn shooting manual when I got my first DSLR. A couple years later along came my first baby and he made me fall in love with photography even more.
I started my photography business around the same time I “retired” from my middle school teaching position four years ago. I was primarily photographing children and family sessions when I first started my business, then added posed newborn sessions a bit later. Around 2.5 years ago I began booking a limited number of births each year. I have since switched to where my heart is and what aligns more so with my style and aesthetic, which is lifestyle newborn sessions, but I still do a posed newborn session occasionally but in a minimalist style. I am happy to have come to a point in my business where I am able to photograph family sessions all year long (thanks to our amazing southern California weather!) with the fall being my crazy busy season, maternity and lifestyle newborn sessions mostly winter through summer, and going back to my love of child photography with my school portraits in the winter and early spring.
Great, 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?
I have been lucky with such rad clients. I’d say the struggles would be whenever I had said yes to something I didn’t love doing. There are plenty of trends in photography but if it’s not my style then I’m happy to refer inquires to other great photographers that do offer those types of sessions. My clients hire me because of my style and approach to sessions. I’m passionate about my photography and creating work that I love and want them to love as well. So in the last couple years I’ve learned to say no to things I’m not passionate about.
Another challenge is running a small business owner and being a mom. About a year ago I found that sticking to my set schedule, which means the days of the week I shoot and what time I shoot, helps manage my business/home life better. The schedule has to do with being able to give enough to my clients and my family without over extending myself as a mom to three little ones. The schedule also has to do with knowing when and where I shoot in the lighting that I love. But then you throw birth photography into the mix, and the whole nature of the unpredictability of birth throws all of that for a loop!
Francesca Marchese Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Francesca Marchese Photography is a natural light photography business that specializes in family, lifestyle newborn, maternity and birth photography. I am based out of Long Beach, CA and serve the south Los Angeles and North Orange County areas. I am available for limited travel sessions throughout the year.
In addition to the above mentioned photography sessions, Francesca Marchese Photography also is a boutique school portrait photography service, and available for headshots and commercial photography.
The thing I am most proud of is also what I think I’m known for and what sets me apart from others. I have clients that come back year after year to have me capture moments in their lives. Watching kids grow up in front of my camera is such a privilege. New clients that come to me tell me they love the connection and natural moments I capture in the photos. I also think the fact that I’m a sucker for gorgeous backlit images and I love a good silhouette attracts people to my photography.
It is a pleasure to be recognized as a ClickPro photographer amongst some fellow amazing talent. I have also been recognized as one of the best newborn photographer in Long Beach by expertise.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
One of the things that makes me so proud is that my clients continue to choose to have me photograph them year after year. It is the greatest compliment. When someone comes across my work and decides out of all the other photographers in the area that I am the photographer that they would like to have capture this moment in time for their family is such a rewarding feeling. But I’d have to say the biggest compliment happened at the beginning of this year. One of my past clients that first hired me to photograph the birth of their first child, once again asked me to photograph the birth of their 2nd child. It is such an honor to asked to be present for such a monumental moment in a family’s life. I feel so lucky to be invited to take part in such an incredible moment. Then to be asked back to do it all over again made my heart swell and feel so grateful and proud.
Pricing:
- Family Session all inclusive – $650
- Lifestyle Newborn Session all inclusive – $675
- Birth Photography – $1500
- Fresh 48 New Baby hospital session all inclusive – $650
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.francescamarchesephotography.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francescamarchesephoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photography.marchese/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FMarchesePhotos
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/francesca-marchese-photography-long-beach
Image Credit:
Personal image of Francesca with her kids – Tarah Sweeney Photography
All other images by Francesca Marchese Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
