Today we’d like to introduce you to Eden Mitchell.
Hi Eden, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Photography (and art in general) has been a big part of my life since middle school when I got my first film camera. From then until my early twenties, I was always the girl with the camera, but after college, I put it down for a handful of years. I worked as a surgical trauma nurse through my twenties, got married, and left the profession right before my first child was born to stay home with him full-time. Like lots of other moms, as my son grew and seemed to change daily, I felt that strong pull to document it and found myself wanting to pick up my camera again. My husband also has experience in photo/video, and we began to throw around the idea of starting a side business doing something of the sort. On a whim, we rented a mirrorless camera for a family trip to Boston, fell in love with it, and bought it from the rental company. The next month, Eden Mitchell Photography was born.
When I started out, I shot a wide variety of things. But during 2020, I took some simple photos of my son that really sparked my interest in children’s photography. I still shoot some families, newborn, and maternity, but my focus is now primarily on kids.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing any business is hard work. Doing it as a mom with kids home full-time has definitely been a challenge. Being present for them is my greatest priority, which has meant this business often takes the backburner. I don’t have a lot of time to commit to social media/SEO and have relied mainly on good ol’ fashioned referrals! I’ve learned a lot in this season – to be content with slow and steady growth, be grateful for this creative outlet I love, and use the time I have to make my clients feel valued and important.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Right now, I specialize in children’s portraiture. Over the last few years, as a photographer and parent, I realized I was missing something in all the in the mix of cell phone and professional family photos of our family – simple, classic studio images of my kids that highlight their faces, expressions, and personalities at each stage. Lifestyle photography has been popular for a long time, but I feel like these types of images are still so important for parents and families. We have a big gallery wall in our home of these simple beautiful portraits of my grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. Heirlooms. And that’s what I want to create for families – modern heirlooms they will love now and pass on for generations to come.
What are your plans for the future?
For the immediate future, I just want to photograph as many kids as I can. I see so much value in this little corner of photography, and my greatest hope is that parents will see it too. Looking at things more long term, I’d love expand more into other areas of studio photography – family, motherhood, newborn. And it would be an absolute dream to open my own studio in Fort Worth someday!
Contact Info:
- Website: edenmitchell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edenmitchellphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edenmitchellphotography
Image Credits
Eden Mitchell Photography
