Photo by Jake, Chicago

1. What services does your business offer and what makes your business stand out from the competition?

We are an artist-owned family, couples boudoir, and furbaby photographer with a brick and mortar photo studio in the heart of Logan Square Chicago. Our style is emotions over poses so that your photos feel personal and meaningful to you. Our distinctive black & white look eliminates all the distractions and noise of our busy lives leaving only the relationships we capture and the feelings you have for one another.

2. What was the inspiration to start or run this business?

I used to work for a chain photo studio and hated the impersonal feeling there. I wanted more relationship with my clients and knew that if we took the time to be Friends First that those good feelings would show up in their photos. I called my studio Friends First to make me never forget how important it is to be a good human being first before picking up a camera.

3. What do you love most about your job?

I love helping people stop being busy for an afternoon and just appreciate one another. I never stop learning about love, family and commitment from my clients and for that I'm deeply grateful. Family means everything. Every time a family trusts me to be their photographer it's a blessing.

4. What is the best reaction you've ever gotten from a customer?

Sometimes I think I should have become a therapist because I've had clients cry their eyes out on my sofa. But also I've had clients just fall off the sofa onto the floor with laughter. Last week I challenged a father and his two kids to make the craziest faces they know-how. To see the result click on my family photography page!