Small-Business Spotlight: Photographer Captures Life in Dexter

Small business is vital to Michigan and an important source of new jobs in our state. Ninety-eight percent of Michigan businesses are small businesses, according to the U.S. government. Small businesses employ more than 51 percent of Michigan’s 3.8 million nonfarm employees. As part of a tribute to small businesses, Dexter Patch will run a regular question-and-answer feature about small-business owners in and around Dexter.

WENDY MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Dexter Patch: How would you describe your business?

Wendy Martin: I’m an on-location, natural-light photographer who specializes in weddings and senior photography. I don’t have a studio; I prefer to go to the wonderful locations we have here in Dexter and its surrounding areas. My style is a combination of photojournalistic and traditional.

Dexter Patch: How long have you been in business?

Martin: I have always had photography in my life, helping my mom as she was photographing weddings for years. I have been a special education teacher for 12 years and always had a camera in my hand. A colleague was getting married and asked me to photograph her wedding in 2005, and it’s skyrocketed from there. I’ve been doing photography full time since 2008.

Dexter Patch: What types of services do you offer?

Martin: I offer people an experience. Photographing weddings lets me document love and everything that surrounds it. I am part of an incredibly special day, and I get to document that, starting with the bride getting ready to the end of the night dancing. I offer a variety of packages from just wedding coverage to custom-designed albums.

A huge love of mine is photographing high school seniors. I absolutely love to meet all the fresh faces of our future and photograph them as who they are, not as a cookie cutter studio wants them to to be. We go to several locations, and I allow many outfit changes because I want it to be a fantastic experience as they head into their senior year of high school. I also take a limited amount of family portraits.

Dexter Patch: What makes your business unique?

Martin: With so many fancy cameras on the market, professional photographers are finding themselves competing with moms and dads with cameras. But what you get is photos by moms and dads. I can offer unique professional photographs combined with a comfortable photography experience.

Dexter Patch: Tell us about your family.

Martin: I’ve been married to my husband, Scott, for almost 10 years. We have two kids, a kindergartener and second-grader at . I love the flexibility of being in business for myself so I’m able to be an active part of their education and be involved in the schools.

Dexter Patch: What are some benefits of working in a small town such as Dexter?

Martin: It’s great to have your name recognized and receive referrals by people I know. I absolutely love being in a small town, it makes the experience much more personal.

Dexter Patch: What is something about you that others may not know?

Martin: One of my favorite things is to photograph kids with special needs. Being a former special education teacher (I worked with kids with autism and behavior disorders) gives me the skills to photograph kids and adults with special needs who may not have ever had their photograph taken before.  

Parents at times are reluctant to have their child photographed because they are afraid of how they may react. I can help put them at ease and actually enjoy the process. I’m also a photographer for the Littlest Heroes Project that does photos at no cost for children with cancer, disabilities or who have overcome obstacles in their life.  

Dexter Patch: How would you use Dexter Patch to promote your business?

Martin: Dexter Patch is a great online newspaper. It’s got some terrific writers, and I really like how it is addressing all the areas of our small town.

Dexter Patch: Do you use online marketing?

Martin: I use Facebook to promote my business with a fan page and also include Facebook photos in my senior packages.  

Dexter Patch: What is your favorite thing to do on a night off in Dexter?

Martin: My favorite restaurant is . It has fantastic food. My favorite evening out is with my husband and friends hitting Terry B’s for dinner and then heading to or for dessert. My favorite day with the family is going to  to walk or bike ride, then hitting the for doughnuts in the fall or in the summer — we love being able to walk downtown and to so many parks. We love Dexter.

Wendy Martin may be reached at wendymartinphotography.com, through e-mail or by phone at 248-321-1864.