Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Neff.
Hi Andrea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Arizona called to me back in 2015 as I searched for the perfect journalism program to complete my bachelor’s degree, so I packed everything up and left my small Illinois hometown to enroll at ASU. As students, we scrambled to get our hands on any type of media experience, and a friend of mine suggested I come along to capture a wedding. I was hooked. I loved everything about it, but especially felt drawn to the service aspect of the job, knowing I’d helped make a monumental day in someone’s life even more memorable. And of course, the creative aspect was a huge bonus! In journalism school, I gravitated toward the human interest stories, and that’s what a wedding was at its core: storytelling. I continued to collect more and more weddings as I worked other full-time jobs, and was so incredibly lucky to be employed by people who genuinely encouraged me to develop my side gig. Well over half the office hired me for family, graduate, headshot, or wedding photos, and their support helped give me the confidence to take my business full time in 2021. Now I typically shoot anywhere from 35-45 weddings per year with engagement sessions to match, as well as a handful of other milestones as said clients expand their families and want to celebrate all future aspects of their lives. I truly believe photography is what I’m meant to do, and my heart is so full knowing the lives I’ve touched through this gift.
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?
Sometimes the most challenging things are the ones most worth doing! If I got anything positive out of the COVID pandemic, it was the prod I needed to take a good look at my life and realize I wanted to start living for myself. Running an independent business responsible for my own success (and sanity hahah) is its own unique challenge every day, but could not be more worth the payoff.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Through Andrea Neff Photography, I offer full day wedding photography coverage, engagement sessions, graduate/senior photography, and any other milestones my previous clients request. It’s so special to see their families expand and them achieve big goals like buying a house or starting their own businesses! I run this gig as a solo venture — I am the primary photographer, admin, bookkeeper, and decision-maker. It’s me you’re going to work with every time! Each photo is created and edited with care by hand, a process I hold sacred as an artist. I believe the human connection formed is what sets images apart. My clients come away from their celebrations knowing they’ll have photos that are true to them, and the day was enhanced by my supportive, gentle guidance. I believe the best images are married to memories, full of real people and honest moments, and that the way someone feels in a photo is just as important as the way they look.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success is being able to comfortably put a roof over my head and to live a life filled with meaningful connection. This job has given me the flexibility to be present for my husband, my family and my friends, but has also taught me the self love and trust that enhances every aspect of my day to day. I’m so grateful!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andrea-neff.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrea.neff.photos/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrea.neff.photos/
- Other: https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-photographers/andrea-neff-photography
