Wertman Photography and Studios began as the brainchild of its owner Monika around the time she graduated from Frostburg State University with a Bachelors in Fine Art with a focus in Photography.
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In 2009 I had a conversation with my academic advisor about whether to go directly into a Masters of Fine Art program or not and he recommended that I should continue to build my portfolio before I did so. Since the best way to build a bigger portfolio is to work with people, I decided to open my own studio and Wertman Photography was born.
At first, I ran my business out of my home, doing the usual business-related things like opening a bank account, registering the business name with the State of Maryland and establishing a tax ID. I joined the Chamber of Commerce and a couple of networking groups and set about finding clients. Over the next few months, I grew my clientele and decided it was time to look for a small studio space.
One of my networking partners was looking to to sublease a suitable space and I took the leap of faith into paying rent and utilities and purchasing prints to adorn my windows. Over time, more space became available within the same building, and I was able to expand the shooting space a bit more, while continuing to grow my business.
As often happens, the ownership of the building changed, and Wertman Photography had grown enough to warrant looking for a larger, more prominently located studio. This occurred during the spring of 2019, the year before Covid.
The new space needed new floors and paint. I negotiated with the owners of the building, and we came to a mutually beneficial agreement for rent and renovations. The grand opening date was arranged, and I have been happy here and have continued to grow my business since then.
While working on the changes in location I obtained my Masters of Fine Art in Photography in December of 2019, 10 years after my BFA. The recommendation of my advisor in 2009 panned out well. By the time I continued my education, I had established workflows that fit my personality, developed a style and had grown as an artist. Patience paid off.
I started as a one woman show and expanded to working with a team of professionals to take care of my client’s needs. It has been a great ride so far.
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