We were lucky to catch up with Trish Forsberg recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Trish, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

Photographs are very special, tangible moments in time… something you can see, touch and put on display. They evoke nostalgic feelings. By documenting monumental events and milestones for couples and families, I have the opportunity to capture these memories for them to have and pass on from generation to generation.
I am blessed with the opportunity to photograph a couple’s LOVE story on their wedding day, the special bonds shared in FAMILY and the unique personalities and expressions of HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. I observe beautiful locations and backdrops, a variety of lighting conditions and the whole mood of the room (forest preserve, park or tall grassy field) in order to creatively capture and tell the story of a couple, family or senior. I feel completely honored to serve them in this way.
I am enthusiastic and passionate about this gift of photography that God has blessed me with. I hope that when I have passed from this life to the next, I will be remembered for loving God, loving my neighbor and being thankful in everything. When a photograph that I’ve taken is printed and put in an album or up in a frame, I hope the person is taken back to that moment in time and will also give thanks for this beautiful life we’ve been given.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, my name is Trish! I am the owner and photographer of She Sees Photography. I am a portrait photographer. I photograph engagements, weddings, babies, families and high school seniors. I love learning about people, their stories, their joys and even their setbacks… and documenting memories for them in a comfortable, fun and creative way that expresses who they are.

I found a love and passion for photography way back in grade school! I was gifted a turquoise, 110 film camera for Christmas one year. I went all over my neighborhood looking for friends to photograph. I would bring my film to the one hour photo lab on Fridays, while my mom was getting groceries. I would eagerly await to collect my developed photos… it was the highlight of my week!

Through High School, I shot on 35mm film cameras. I learned how to develop film and make images from that film in the darkroom. It was truly a magical experience!
In college, I was able to experiment with more types of film cameras and slowly transition over to digital. I believe I got the best of both worlds, as I was RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of that transition! I slowly switched from working in darkrooms to using Photoshop as a processing tool.
I believe that my college years and the years of experience in studios to follow instilled in me the core elements involved in creating beautiful images… lighting, composition and depth of field.
However, I would say that EXPERIENCE is the defining factor in what sets me apart from other photographers.
There’s something that starts to happen the more weddings and sessions I document… I start to anticipate moments and I know just where to stand to get the right shot with the perfect light and the best background. The more I work with couples, families and seniors… the more comfortable I am asking questions to get a smile, conversation to get a laugh or a subtle prompt to create a special moment.
My goal is to serve the couple or family that has invited me in to photograph their story… to answer their questions (even the ones they can’t think to ask), to make the experience as easy and stress free as possible, to encourage happiness and laughter, to make sure they are comfortable… so that I can create beautiful memories for them.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

The economic turndown from 2007-2009 was a very scary time that marks the beginning of my She Sees Photography journey.
I was very comfortable working full time at a portrait studio in a wealthy suburb of Chicago. I was paid well and had all the benefits. However, the family owned business was struggling. They eventually decided to close shop.
Personally, I was on the tail end of a divorce. I had decided to continue living in the home we had purchased together. But owning a home without my full time job during an economic crisis… what was going to happen?
The owner of the studio that was closing encouraged me to continue marketing to the clients in the database. He advised me to keep my overhead costs as low as possible. He said e-mail marketing was the way to go. He told me to work out of my home and only to buy equipment I needed when I really needed it.
I am so thankful for all of those words of wisdom. I did exactly what he recommended and I was blown away when it actually WORKED!
I could not believe the response I got when I sent out my first e-mail blast. My phone was ringing off the hook to book Summer Portraits in the Park.
While the business was taking off, it was still a challenge to keep up with the bills on my own. I decided it would be best to sell the home and rent while the business was growing. I was sad about it at first, but then started to feel it was a move in the right direction; a new direction with a fresh start.
The fresh start in an apartment with smaller bills allowed me to focus a lot of energy on the business. I focused in on website development, marketing & sales, client care & appreciation, products offered and delivery of services and products.
A lot goes into creating the framework of a business. I recommend starting OUTSIDE the hole of debt if at all possible. The bells and whistles will come eventually as a reward for your hard work.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Referrals. Honestly, there’s nothing better than a lead who’s been referred by a previous client. They come to you enthusiastic and excited for your services, with a level of trust you will have to work for otherwise.
This is why I put so much emphasis on taking care of each and every couple or family that hires me. If you take good care of the people who put their trust in you, they will pass that along by word of mouth and sharing their photos with their family and friends, who down the road, may hire you as well!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sheseesphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheseesphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheSeesPhotography/
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nq4opT1szoTjs6dk9

Image Credits

She Sees Photography