Hello. I am Laura Schmidbauer.
I am currently attending Austin Community College to get an Associate's degree in Applied Science for Portrait and Wedding Photography.
I chose this degree as I have been a portrait and wedding photographer for the last 13 years and run my own studio. I am already doing what I love and plan to do till I retire. I thought it would be cool to get a degree in something I am already doing since my husband had a few months left on his GI Bill.
I am quite skilled as a photographer in both off camera flash techniques and natural light photography. I work with many different types of photography and lighting equipment. I have photographed thousands of people over the last 13 years. High school seniors, weddings, babies, events, children, sports, boudoir, pets, senior retirement facilities. If it is alive and breathing, I photograph it! I excel at getting natural smiles from my clients and capturing my subjects' personalities.
I have never fixed anything technical. I tend to break expensive photography equipment often when on location. It's quite easy to lose your footing and drop things. While it would be great to know how to fix my expensive equipment, I leave that up to the professional manufacturers of the items in order to not do any more damage.
My favorite accolade is hearing how much the parents of my younger subjects rave on how I really captured their child's personality. Making my clients happy capturing the memories of how their children were at that age makes me happy.
I am an active member of Professional Photographers of America PPA
Though I currently have no spare time in my life right now for hobbies, when I do, I enjoy swimming in my pool or going hiking in nature, especially in Colorado. (the image below is one I took of a Colorado Blue Columbine my husband recently planted in the butterfly garden he made for me)
My experience in this project will get me one class closer to my diploma!
