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NoBS Member of the Month: Maria Sauserman

I have always loved photographs, perhaps because I grew up with parents that were always snapping pictures. Everywhere we went, everything we did: documented. They were not fancy, Polaroid's even but nonetheless, documented. By the time I left for college I had over 12 FULL albums, all neatly arranged with small blurbs and dates, but being a photographer never entered my mind. I always held those albums, those images as some sort of prize. At the most difficult and trying times of my life, those pictures were some sort of therapy for me and I have found myself numerous times turning pages over and over again. Those pages told my story. That is very powerful.

It wasn't until I was expecting my first child, my son Dylan, that I became truly interested in photography. I saw an image of a pregnant woman in a maternity magazine and remember thinking how beautiful it was. She stood by a door, full belly and the light was pouring in. it was gorgeous. So I started to read and try to learn a little here and there. Years went by, my daughter Christina was born too and I kept teaching math at a local high school which is the profession I had chosen and been in for many years, but honestly I was never truly happy with it.

In October 2004 I bought a used Canon 10D on ebay, it was in mint condition and I felt so happy. I had opened a charge card because we could not afford it and I also charged a set of lights from white lightning. Debt grew fast. My husband was very concerned and told me I shouldn't charge things I could pay for. I didn't listen. After two months of owning things that I didn't know how to use, I ran across Monte Zucker's name and signed up for his Feb 2005 class in Florida. I went. The week was phenomenal, I knew nothing (barely) about photography and being overwhelmed was an understatement but all the other photographers were fantastic and I picked a lot of brains. I was determined to return to Pittsburgh to pay off my equipment by using it! And I did very very fast! My images were ok but I wanted so much more and I didn't know how to get there. Then I ran across the NoBS site. WOW. The downloads alone were worth every penny... but the true NoBS approach was fantastic. I also loved how I got marketing ideas and such to help with my business, in addition to photography critiques which really helped me analyze my work. Everything NoBS offered helped me grow so much, I started seeing a huge change in my work. It was drastic. My clientele started to grow and my seniors got to be so out of control that I had to hire a graphic artist to help. I simply could not keep up anymore.

In November of 2006 I attended the Inferno in Niagara, Canada and was amazed at the wealth of information shared. Not only was it a thrill to meet all my "online friends and colleagues" but it was amazing to see how everyone did things and ran their business. James and Rob were amazing and fun to watch (anyone who has met them know exactly what I mean) I loved the print competition (learned a lot from that) and was impressed at not only the photography they created right there on the spot but also all the other tidbits on how they get things done. I had such a great time that I did not want to leave!

I started out in Oct 2004 with nothing but a bit of equipment and debt and here I am now in September 2007 with a newly renovated 6,300 square foot studio (ex bowling alley). I feel like God took this huge floodlight and he is shinning it right on my head. I feel so alive, so blessed. Sometimes I can't believe that it is mine, but believe me when I tell you that this place came with a lot of love, excitement, sweat and a LOT of tears. The construction was long, expensive and the process was painful. Things were hard but now it is SO WORTH IT!

As for my business, it is doing well and I am always trying to get it to grow, to get new clients and enjoy it. My biggest source of income is my high school seniors. My sales this year averaged at about $1,250.00 per senior, with my highest senior sale at $2,600 -- I was so happy! My babies and families are second and my weddings third. Although I am still teaching (this is my 10th year and I am now vested) I plan on making the transition by next year, I hope! I have a full time graphic artist / studio manager and part time help as needed. I work on evenings and weekends and do as much as I can. I am very excited to be in here full time and do what I love the most! When people ask me what I do for a living I smile so big and say, "I am a photographer" -- I am so proud of that.

Everything I see in the world isn't the same anymore, I see everything already in captured frames.it's a neat way to view the world. I want to thank NoBS and everyone in it. You have ALL helped me grow and learn so much. I hope I can give back to this community as much as I have been given. When I think of where I was 3 years ago and where I am now I just can't believe it. Dreams do come true.

Maria's New Studio

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