In 2021, my aunt, Sheri Mcaninch retired from teaching to become a full-time professional photographer. Growing up, I always saw my aunt taking photos, whether it was her own kids or even me in some of them, but little did I know this would become a huge aspect of our family.
“When my first daughter was born, I wanted a good camera to capture all of their moments and milestones. As they got older, it became capturing their sports, and I would share the images with their teammates’ families. One year, my daughter, Sarah, was a freshman or sophomore, and I had a couple of parents approach me about doing senior photos for their child, and it just grew from there,” said McAninch.
After this approach, my aunt began taking pictures of students. While still teaching middle schoolers full-time, she created a five-year plan to continue the business part-time and retire when my cousin, Rachel, was in her seventh-grade science class. It was there that my aunt’s business started to blossom.
“I always loved teaching, but had a passion for photography as well. It just seemed like the perfect transition for me. I was ready to retire from teaching, and I became the school photographer for the district that I taught in for three decades. I guess the two ended up sort of blending. It is so nice to still be involved in the school district despite it being from a different capacity,” said McAninch.
Looking from the outside, one would think transitioning from a teacher to a photographer would be a hard change, but my aunt adapted quickly.
“To become a photographer wasn’t all that difficult. I took courses from a local college initially and then committed to a two-year online program with the New York Institute of Photography. I also attended several workshops and training sessions. I have never lost my love for education and my love for learning, so when I have a chance to rest, I try to use that time to educate myself and better my craft,” said McAninch.
However, it wasn’t just the aspects of photography that she had to learn; it was the aspects of running her own business as well.
“As far as owning a small business, that came with a lot of challenges. There is so much that happens behind the scenes that people don’t realize. It isn’t just taking pictures; that is only a small aspect of it. As a photographer, you also have to edit, answer messages and emails, as well as meeting with clients, creating your website, keeping up with your social media, and keeping up with your books/do your taxes– everything I have from my business was done by me from the ground up, I am beyond proud of what I have built in almost 9 years of being in business. But it certainly comes with obstacles and challenges along the way,” said McAninch.
Over her nine years as a photographer, she has experienced a lot: accomplishments and sidelines, she has seen it all.
“When I first started, I worked for the Times Leader as a sports photographer. I absolutely love capturing live sport. One of the perks of doing that job was that I was given press passes to OSU and WVU football games. Football is one of my favorite sports to capture, and being on the sidelines of a college football game is like none other. The atmosphere is so electric; being a huge Mountaineer fan, hearing the ‘Let’s Go Mountaineers!’ chant, as well as ‘Country Roads, Take Me Home’ rock the stadium, is a feeling I will never forget. I have images of Urban Meyer and Dana Holgerson, and I have pictures of Colton McKivitiz and Will Grier. But one picture I will always cherish is a picture on my phone when I got to meet Tavon Austin, who was on the sidelines of the game I was shooting. It was pretty awesome! I would say my biggest accomplishment was acquiring my Certified Professional Photographer rating. I had to take a 100-question test on all of the technical aspects of photography and then submit technical images to be able to achieve this goal. It was a good deal of work, so I am very glad and proud to hold those letters in my name,” McAninch said.
With photography being a major factor in her life, it has allowed her to meet new people as well as strengthen bonds from before.
“I met Sheri through the dance studio our daughters attend, Turn It Out Dance Academy. Through the years, we have worked together at the studio with team bonding activities, parties, and solo showcases. When I first met Sheri, she was getting ready to retire from teaching. We would get our dance pictures taken by Sheri, and I watched her collaborate with Turn It Out Dance Academy for our team pictures. I watched her transition from a teacher to a full-time studio owner and photographer,” said Leah Strout, a friend of my aunt.
However, being a photographer isn’t all that she does; she focuses on her social ability as well as her photography abilities.
“I thought it was a creative and brave move for Sheri to pour herself into her passion and take a chance on such a lifestyle change. Sheri always welcomes people to join the conversation. She lets other women feel heard and brings a positive perspective to the situation. These are small moments that are shared with Sheri, but they mean the most. You must find your people and get to know them better. Sheri allows that to happen with no hesitation and a smile. She has done my daughter’s individual dance pictures in the studio. She made them feel comfortable, did not rush the session, and allowed them to be creative with their poses. One of the pictures she captured of my oldest daughter was submitted and published in a magazine! She also worked with the studio and took pictures of the different groups and the whole studio. She remains calm and patient during these hectic shoots. The pictures are always professional and well done, as Sheri does. You can tell that she loves photography and wants each shot to be a memory,” added Leah Stout.
All in all, if you are ever downtown in Bellaire, Ohio, just across the river, you will spot billboards with my aunt’s photography business, and even her office!
