Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Arpasi
Anna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi! I’m Anna and I am the owner of Arpasi Photography, specializing in wedding and portrait photography in and around the Baltimore area.
My story goes as far back as a young child, I use to be obsessed with photographs. The fact that you could go back in time by looking at a photo fascinated me. My parents didn’t have much organization to their photos. They had hundreds of paper photos stuffed in boxes and I would go through them for fun, just consumed by the images. On top of that, I loved to take photos with our family camera (film!). Back in the day, we would send out our film in the mail and when we received it back it was like Christmas. I would spend time organizing them and putting them into albums creating my own story from the new photographs. It was one of my favorite pastimes.
When I got to high school, I re-arranged my whole schedule so that I could take a photography class. In that class, we learned the ins and out of photo and film. We developed our own film in a dark room and from there my obsession grew. In college, I was the one that brought a point and shoot camera wherever we went. Uploading the Facebook albums and sharing my perspective of the night or adventure that we took. My own form of story telling and art!
After college, I went overseas and did volunteer work in the Philippines. Someone on my team had a DSLR (they were growing in popularity at the time). After seeing how her camera captured the children we were working with and how the images truly told a story, I knew I had to get my hands on one once I went back to the states.
I was gifted a DSLR by my now husband which taught me how to show my perspective of the world through images. I would practice photographing anyone who would let me (neighbors, friends, family members). I was never really into landscapes or nature…I always wanted to take photos of people to tell their story. I was a teacher at the time and would bring my camera to my classroom and take photos of the kids to gift to their parents. I always wanted to learn more and do better.
In early 2011, I took a class my wedding photographer was offering. It was a simple, “learn how to use your camera better” class. But this class was like dynamite for me…turning my flame for photography into a roaring fire. All my knowledge from my film photography education was translated into the DSLR world. I was unstoppable. I sold my camera and bought one that would better fit my needs and also started investing in quality lenses. I would use all my free time to take photos and edit them, taking in all the information like a sponge.
By the end of 2011 I was working for another established photographer, helping her capture weddings on the weekends while working my full time job as a third grade teacher. And by 2013, I quit my teaching job to pursue a full time career in photography. And almost 14 years later I am here… capturing weddings, events and families through the art of photography!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say yes and no to that! The dichotomy of trying to be a successful business owner while birthing and raising 3 kids has been tricky to navigate. I’ve had some personal hardships, including several miscarriages and a son with a CHD (congenital heart defect). I love being my own boss and having my own schedule, but it has been a challenge learning how to balance that while being a mom. Sometimes a door closed is another opened and I have learned that these past 11 years of being both a business owner AND a mom. Through covid and all my personal challenges, my business continues to grow…so I think I’m doing something right in those regards. I have learned that people will value your time as much as you do, which has help to charge what I believe I’m worth. In the end, it always works out how it’s suppose to.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a wedding and portrait photographer. I am best at capturing raw and real moments, but also your traditional images (those are important too!). I have a positive view of people, I always see the beauty there and my goal is to help my clients see themselves the way I see them. It’s not always easy, we fight against society’s views and standards. But when you look at an image of yourself, I hope that you go back in time to that moment that it was captured.. that you remember looking into your partner’s eyes and all the love that you felt on your wedding day surrounded by your family and friends… that you remember your sweet baby sleeping on your chest, the smell of their hair and the folds and rolls of their skin..that you truly are transported back to that feeling and those emotions, just like I was transported back when I looked through my parents old photographs in my childhood basement. I feel that you need a mix of both posed and candids. I want the smiling looking at the camera image (just like my grandparents’ had at their wedding), there’s something so special about upholding tradition. It’s timeless! AND I want the laughter and those sweet looks you give your partner. I believe my photography captures BOTH whether a wedding, engagement, newborn, event, or family portrait.
What’s next?
My plan is to keep on keeping on! I don’t think a good thing needs to change. I love what I do and always try my best whether at an event, wedding, newborn or family portrait session. I love meeting new people and tackling challenges with lighting and story telling. I have recently started doing more branding photography (images for websites and social media) and that has also been super fun! I’m always up for different opportunities and challenges, I think thats what makes this job so fun!
Pricing:
- Average wedding $6000
- 1 hour portraits $850
- Newborn/maternity packages $1300
- Event photography $500/hr
- Branding photography starts at $850
Contact Info:
- Website: https://arpasiphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arpasiphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArpasiPhotography/
