Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacoby Andrick
Hi Jacoby, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was the teenager in Central Illinois with a camera in hand, forcing my friends to “model” for me after school. It wasn’t until I took my own senior pictures with a professional photographer that it occurred to me that I could make a career out of photography.
I feel extremely grateful that I realized my end-game dream at such a young age, starting my photography side hustle in 2009 as a 17 year-old. Was I any good when I started? Not really! But I worked hard through college to re-invest in better equipment, get better at editing, and figure out what was required to run a real business.
After graduating from my 4 year university, my now husband and I moved to Nashville, Tennessee where I started my legal business and he started in the music industry. We spent a couple of years in Tennessee before feeling the desire to be closer to our families. We knew St. Louis was an amazing city and was perfect for what we were looking for.
I have been here in St. Louis for 9 years now, and I grow more in love with this city every passing year. It is scary to relocate a business, but my business thrived after moving here.
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?
Navigating a business as a young person definitely has its challenges. I remember in my teenage years and early adulthood having to work harder for older adults to take me seriously.
Not only that, but I didn’t have a disposable income to invest in equipment. And photography equipment is EXPENSIVE! I worked a full-time job at the time to pay my bills, and every dollar I made as a photographer went back into establishing my business. It took years before I could afford to pay myself a living wage.
Relocating to a new city as a business owner feels like you’re starting all over, because you basically are. It took a couple of seasons here to establish new connections, friendships, and getting word-of-mouth going to have clientele.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a wedding and family photographer, with specialization in candids and artistic portraiture in both areas.
For weddings, I always go in with the approach of wearing what I call the “30 year goggles.” I am always looking for those moments that’ll help my clients, 30 years from now, relive their day with their favorite people. I pride myself in capturing candids and bringing a relaxed approach to a wedding day.
Since becoming a mother myself, I’ve found a newfound love for family photography. I specialize in in-home newborns, lifestyle family photos, and I also offer mini sessions for families in the spring and fall. I love seeing my clients grow through the years and truly forming friendships with them. I have young kids myself, and I have found that I can bring my understanding of these small humans to create a fun experience for families.
How do you think about happiness?
I love all the simple things in life: my family, female friendship, a 75-degree day, thrifting, reading a good book, and traveling to somewhere familiar and new.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jacobyandrickphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobyandrickphoto/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacobyphotoanddesign
