Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa Peterson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lisa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I’ve always loved that photography is a study of light and time.

An image can freeze time, and really good images can stir emotions.

As a kid, I spent many enlightening hours with my grandparents. Their black and white photographs from times gone by strewn on the table before us, I would pick up one of the thin, torn edged blurry images and ask them to tell me the story of the photograph. I wanted all the details- who was in the photograph? What were they doing? Why were they there? What was the day like? Was there a lot of snow that year? I loved watching their faces fill with emotion as they transported themselves (and me) to the day the photo was taken. It was hard for me to imagine them as youngsters, traveling to New York in the 30’s for the World’s Fair, or burying their 6 year old child after a bout with meningitis..

Weddings, funerals, birthdays. and holidays, were all there.

Most fascinating to me were the in between moments of life in rural Wisconsin. Images of my grandmother as a young new wife, learning how to milk a cow. She had almost annual photos of her gardens and the resulting jars of canned food. Beautiful images of their farm covered with hoar frost and heavy snow. As a farm kid myself I knew first hand the seasonal rhythm of farm life, and also the fragility.

I saw how important those photographs were to my grandparents. And now that they are no longer living, they are one of my only insights into their stories. Photographs, and art in general, are one of the few material things that survive.

My astute parents picked up on my passion for photographs, and gave me a 35mm film camera when a tween. I’ve been hooked ever since.

I began my photography career with human subjects. Though I loved it, I needed a new challenge. Once I learned that pet photography was an up and coming genre, I knew I needed make the transition.

I am drawn to the unspoken bond between pets and their humans. It is an unconditional trust that is as pure as it is beautiful. It is my calling to document this bond for pet parents, and then create heirloom quality artwork.

When I talk to pet parents about their dream session, they invariably tell me that they want to showcase their pet’s unique personality. They also tell me how much their pets mean to them. Having an album or images on their walls is priceless to them.

And that fills my heart with joy.

Lisa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Pet parents often tell me they have hundreds of cell phone images of their pet, and frustratingly none that capture their pet’s unique personality.

My specialty is showcasing a pet at their most adorable moment. I have years of experience and know when to press the camera shutter button to get the best images possible.

One common misconception pet parents have is that their pet is not suited for pet photography. This is simply not true. I’ve developed a four step process to ensure success for all pets. I expect pets to act consistently with how they were created. This means they are easily distracted, may not cooperate with commands, drool, hide and pant. I mean it when I say all are welcome – humans and pets alike. I am so confident pets will be successful that I offer a money back guarantee.

I am proud of many things about Pawsh Photography – delighted clients, high quality products, impeccable service. The thing of which I am proud is my partnership with pet rescues. I donated time, talent and money to Twin Cities animal rescues. It is rewarding to see my Pawsh community rise to the challenge of helping pets in need. Together we’ve helped countless pets find home and get needed medical care. Every custom session includes a donation to an animal rescue.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, I think balancing your own authenticity with building a brand is tricky.

I want and need to be honest about my identity – agnostic middle aged divorced mom. Late in life lesbian, married 3 years to the love of my life. Fiercely value equality. The journey to fully embrace my current identity was long and difficult. I lost friends, and for a time, it caused distance with family. I was in therapy for a decade. It took a toll on my physical and mental health.

As anybody who travels this road knows, coming out is not a once and done event, but a lifelong decision. When and whether to let people know your true self becomes a decision.

On the other hand, I want and need to build a luxury brand with a target market that is not always aligned with my values. I’ve lost potential clients when they learn I am married to a woman. While it is true that a working relationship with such a person may have proved difficult, it is also true that a lost client is lost revenue.

I’ve learned to not take these rejections personally. And yet, they always take me by surprise, and disappointment follows.

It’s not an easy road, being authentic. I am happier than ever, and authenticity is worth the price of admission.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I am known for two things- an uncanny ability to capture pets’ personalities, and integrity.

Both are earned one client at a time. Client referrals and Google reviews help push this forward. For me it was a slow and steady building process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pawshphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawshphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pawshphoto
• Other: Vero: https://vero.co/pawshphoto

Image Credits
pawshphoto