Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Woolley.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
HEYOO I am your new photographer- ANNA MARIE! I’m a northern girl born and raised in Minnesota. Growing up, I always pursued creativity and new ideas. I always visualized myself growing up having a job where I got to create something beautiful. Around 6th grade, I got my first ever iPod. This included a camera, and I began to find myself wanting to have photoshoots of my friends and I. This became a whole event with my friends. I mean, I did their makeup and their hair; I picked their outfits and the location.
This became a regular hobby for me- and my friends loved it. They had new profile pictures every month- FOR FREE. I knew early on I didn’t really want to be in front of the camera and that I really enjoyed capturing my friend’s beauty and especially their laughter and joy!!! That’s really where the passion started. Capturing genuine laughter and JOY. I searched the photo editing apps you could download in the 2008 app store and used those to edit and also learned what filters were- HAHA they were bad in 2008.
Fast forward to college- I met my new best friend, who eventually turned into my husband. When planning our wedding, my top priority was having the genuine moments of the day captured. We looked at wedding photographers and through college connections, found someone whose style we loved. This photographer’s package included an engagement session and an 8 hours of captured moments on our wedding day.
After my husband and I worked with her I learned that this was her full-time job. She gets to capture people’s special moments and milestones in life- FOR A LIVING. This is when my creative lightbulb went off. I thought to myself: I COULD DO THIS FOR A LIVING? I had never known or thought about pursuing photography for a living. Everyone around me was talking about college and getting their degrees, and I had no one pushing me towards a create dream like becoming a full-time photographer.
I bought my first “official” camera off of Facebook marketplace and started asking all the people I knew if I could take their photos. Moving forward, I asked my family, friends, couples and realized that capturing couples is where my heart is.
Fast forward to now- my husband is from Texas, and we made the decision to move to Dallas and have been here for a little over a year now! I’m looking to meet new people and be their new go-to family friend to capture their and their loved one’s special moments in time! If I’m going to work the rest of my life, I want to pursue something I’m passionate about. Something that sparks JOY in my life and in others’ lives! My goal is to capture genuine, real, raw moments for people to have for the rest of their lives!! There’s something so beautiful about looking back at photos and reliving those special moments. As you can probably tell, I am a very sentimental person, and that helps with the passion of capturing beautiful moments for my clients!
My dream is to make photography full-time and be able to meet people and be their go-to for every milestone in their life. I want to be not only the photographer but the family friend! I want to be there for your engagement, your wedding, your maternity, your newborn, your secondborn, and so on! I can’t wait to continue meeting new people here in Texas and around DFW!
I can’t wait to meet you and become the new family friend!! 🙂
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is life ever a smooth road??? I view life as an obstacle course- you get hurdles, and you got to make your way over them. It’s not always easy- but you have to take life’s hurdles as a way to grow and learn!
I haven’t always had this attitude, but with faith and gratitude- it’s changed my mindset to take risks and to pursue things that are life-giving.
There are things like self-doubt, financial worries, lack of support, and lack of community that have impacted me in my photography journey. Moving to a whole new state where I don’t know anybody or where to find resources has probably been the biggest struggle in my photography journey. BUT I’m reminding myself that good things take time and what’s meant to be will be.
I’m excited for this journey- and all the growth and knowledge I am developing!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a DFW TX & MSP MN Couples & Wedding photographer!!!
Couples are my focus- but I love capturing ALL moments including: elopements, maternity, newborn, families, individuals, etc.!
I am known for making comfortable atmospheres for the couples/families/individuals that I am photographing. I strive to be more of a friend and less of a professional. That’s my style, and that’s who I am!
I am also known for using my zoom lens ALOT- this means I focus on capturing more detailed shots that you may not typically see. I love capturing close-up, more intimate detailed shots that are so beautiful but often missed. And don’t worry- zoom lenses allow me to take close-up images without being all up in your bubble! haha!
What sets me apart is the love and care I have for people. I want to treat others as if I’ve known them for years. I want it to be comfortable and easy, an enjoyable experience, and a time where stress is low. I want me taking your photos to be a great experience where it’s relaxed and easy!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
God has given us all gifts, and life is too short to not use them to help people and bring more joy into this world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annamariephotograp46.wixsite.com/anna-marie-photos
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photography_annamarie/
