Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Petersen.
Hi Stephanie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey, where I still live today. I earned an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Jersey City State University, followed by a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art Photography from The School of Visual Arts in New York City. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, I worked at various art and design jobs in Manhattan. In 2012, after getting married and having children, I decided to open my own photography studio.
Initially, I ran the studio from the top floor of my home. I did studio sessions out of my attic studio space for just about ten years. In 2024, I took a leap and moved the business to a brick-and-mortar storefront in Bergen Point at 196 Broadway. Today, the studio is located at 170 Broadway in Bayonne.
I offer a wide range of photography services, including headshots, cake smashes, on-location weddings, and pet portraits. I truly love what I do and enjoy working with a diverse range of clients and projects.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say that running the Studio has been smooth sailing. The Photography business is very saturated and you really need to make an effort to put yourself out there to stand out among other Photographers. A great way to do that is through social media. What makes your studio different? Why would clients choose you when they can choose someone cheaper? It’s not enough to make great photographs for your clients anymore, you need to be mindful of creating content to bring in future clients as well. Sometimes it feels like having two jobs in one!
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?
I think one of the things that sets me apart from other Photography Studios is that I create and craft my own sets and I don’t rely on computer generated backgrounds or artificial intelligence to manipulate photographs. Do I use tools like Photoshop to work on photographs in post production? Absolutely. However, If a client wants to have a photo session on the beach, we’re going to the beach. I’m not going to cut and paste the client into a generated background. If a client wants a photograph of their baby in a basket, the parents should expect to show up to the studio and find a basket to place baby into. I also love to find vintage objects and refresh them and use them in my sets. I do this a lot during the Holiday season. I even restored a vintage carrousel horse to look like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for children to ride on for their Christmas photos!
How do you define success?
I define success as being happy with yourself & what you do with yourself every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stephaniepetersenphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie_petersen_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniepetersenphotography
- Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/stephanie-petersen-photography-bayonne
