Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Anderson.
Hi Isabel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I bought my first camera at a used camera store in 2011, during a dark time in my life. I started taking photos of everything I could: trees on walks, the local river, ducks, my kids, and my then-boyfriend’s soccer games. Photography gave me a reason to get outside and notice the little things around me.
Before long, I was offering free photo sessions to anyone and everyone I knew. If you had a face, I wanted to take your photo. I truly loved it.
In 2019, I started wondering if I could turn this hobby into a career. I spent countless hours researching what it would take to build a photography business, but just as I was getting serious about the idea, COVID hit in 2020, and I put those plans on hold.
Then, in 2021, my family and I moved from Greenville, North Carolina, to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. That’s when I discovered a local wedding photographer, Megan Hoffer, who was teaching photography classes and opening Lancaster Photography School.
Those classes changed everything.
I attended every class and online meeting I could, and eventually had the opportunity to shadow Megan on a wedding day. I loved it. I knew I wanted to become a wedding photographer, but I also knew I didn’t want to rush into it before I was ready. I didn’t want to suck at it. I wanted to be worthy of the trust required to hire me to photograph a wedding day.
So I took my time.
I started assisting other wedding photographers whenever I could. I carried equipment, helped wherever I was needed, photographed when I had the opportunity, and soaked up every bit of feedback I could get. I assisted at every wedding I could, learning not only how to take better photographs, but how to anticipate what a wedding day actually requires.
In 2024, I half-jokingly told my instructor, Megan, who had by then also become a good friend, that if she was ever looking for an apprentice, I was her girl.
A week later, after talking through the logistics, she offered me a year-long apprenticeship.
For the next year, I joined her at most of her weddings. I photographed alongside her while she taught me the thought process behind her decisions, the systems she relied on to keep wedding days running smoothly, how to handle reception details and equipment, and, perhaps most importantly, gave me honest feedback on my work.
By the time that apprenticeship was over, I had spent years learning, practicing, assisting, and photographing weddings alongside experienced professionals at over 65 weddings. I finally felt ready to build something of my own.
Today, I run a wedding photography business that I am incredibly proud of.
And the funny thing is, after all these years, I still love photographing people just as much as I did when I bought that first camera in 2011.
The camera has changed. The clients have changed. The business has changed.
But that feeling hasn’t.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have definitely been a few detours along the way. I was a single mom until 2015, so for a long time, my focus was on raising my kids and making sure they had what they needed. Building a career around something I loved wasn’t always something I had the time or freedom to pursue. When I finally started seriously considering photography as a career in 2019, the timing wasn’t exactly on my side; COVID hit the following year and put those plans on hold again.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in wedding and portrait photography. I’m known for my attention to detail, my true-to-color editing style, and my calm personality.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was the oldest of four kids, and my mom raised us on her own. I was the responsible one from a pretty young age. I helped with my younger siblings, pitched in around the house, and learned early how to be someone people could count on.
I also spent a lot of time in my own little world. I was a huge reader, and books gave me a place to disappear into when I needed a break from real life. I loved getting completely lost in a story and could happily spend hours with a book. Music was another big part of my life, and I was always listening to something.
Looking back, I think those things shaped me more than I realized. I developed a pretty strong imagination, a love of stories, and an appreciation for the little details that make people and moments interesting.
And apparently, I never really grew out of wanting to disappear into a story; now I get to help other people tell theirs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://IsabelAndersonPhotography.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/isabel_anderson_photography
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/isabelandersonphotography
