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From classroom to camera: Penn State Scranton alumna’s photography business success

Maggie Kraser’s journey from Penn State Scranton student to a successful photographer with her own business is a testament to how education and passion can merge to create a thriving career.
By: Morgan Sewack

DUNMORE, Pa. — Maggie Kraser’s journey from a Penn State Scranton student to a successful photographer is a testament to how education and passion can merge to create a thriving career. Her story is not just about snapping pictures but about transforming a childhood interest into a full-fledged profession, with the support of her academic background playing a crucial role.

Where her photography passion developed

Kraser’s love for photography began in her early teens. “I’ve loved having a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember,” she said. Her fascination with high-quality images started with social media platforms like Tumblr and Instagram. “High-quality photography of almost anything was super popular on those platforms at the time, and I always enjoyed looking at them and envisioned myself taking my own high-quality images.”

Her first significant opportunity to explore photography came during a family trip to the Dominican Republic. “One of my family members handed me her DSLR camera and asked me to snap a few photos since she was going to be a bridesmaid in the wedding,” Kraser recalled. “I remember taking the photo of my sister’s hair, and it looked exactly like what I’d admired on the internet.” This experience ignited her desire to pursue photography more seriously. She asked her parents for a DSLR camera that Christmas, and they gifted her a Nikon D3100.

Penn State Scranton helped Kraser pursue her photography passion

When Kraser entered Penn State Scranton, her academic journey took on a new dimension. “My time at Penn State Scranton is when I discovered that I could be pursuing photography as a career instead of just a hobby,” she said. During her time on campus, she began doing senior photos for local high school students and started taking on small wedding clients. “I was bringing in a decent amount of income and realized that a career as a photographer was actually plausible for me.”

Balancing her studies with her growing business required creativity and time management. Kraser remembers designing her website in the campus Sherbine Lounge during her sophomore year. “Things were getting so busy that I had to create a more professional online presence. Designing my website in the Sherbine Lounge was a practical solution at the time,” she said.

The pivotal moment for Kraser came during her final semester at Penn State Scranton. She received a job offer with full benefits and an appealing position. “After some thinking and some tears, I decided that I wanted to chase my dream while the momentum of my business was still growing,” she said. This decision was not just about following her passion but also about the practical benefits of pursuing a career that she had already begun to build.

Education was always a significant part of Kraser’s life – a value instilled in her by her family.

“Education has always been extremely important to my family,” Kraser, who graduated in 2020, said. “Going to college was my plan years before I even got into photography,” and Penn State Scranton provided an ideal environment for her to balance academic pursuits with business growth.

“Penn State Scranton provided the perfect opportunity for me to get my degree close to home while still building my business in NEPA without going broke in the process.”

Her academic experiences at Penn State Scranton had a profound impact on her approach to photography and business. “All of the classes I took influenced how I conduct my art and business to this day in one way or another,” Kraser said.

Kraser explained how her psychology classes provided insights into understanding people’s minds, which she found valuable for client interactions. Kraser’s business law class played a crucial role in her early professional life. This foundational knowledge was instrumental as she navigated the complexities of starting and managing a business. Additionally, her accounting classes provided essential skills in financial management. “I learned about accounting and taxes in accounting classes, which was vital for managing my business finances.”

Humanities classes at Penn State Scranton also contributed to her growth. “My humanities classes taught me about perspectives I had never considered before,” Kraser said. This broader understanding enhanced her ability to connect with clients on a deeper level and enriched her storytelling through photography.

Kraser’s education at Penn State Scranton also provided her with access to a vast alumni network. “I’m so grateful to Penn State Scranton for not only connecting me to the largest alumni network in the world but also helping me connect with my personal clients on a deeper level,” she said. The network not only offered professional connections but also served as a support system for her career development.

In addition to her educational background, Kraser’s approach to running her business reflects her commitment to continuous learning and adaptation. “I’ve learned so many different approaches to running my business from my marketing and management classes that I use to this day,” she said.

Her coursework in her business degree management and marketing option taught her how to target ideal clients and effectively promote her work. “I’ve learned how to target my ideal clients and get my work in front of their eyes,” she said. Understanding how to manage unhappy customers professionally and identifying her business’s competitive advantage were also key lessons. “I learned how to deal with an unhappy customer in a professional manner and how to sell my business’s competitive advantage in a saturated market.”

Staying up to date on the latest trends

Kraser’s commitment to growth extends beyond her formal education. “Continuing my photography and business education, as well as making time to be creative to avoid burnout, has helped me to grow and evolve as a photographer,” she said.

Photography and marketing are fields that are constantly evolving, and Kraser stays up to date with new techniques and information. “It’s important to me to stay updated on what’s new and exciting in both fields so I can implement them into my approach to work,” she said.

Kraser also emphasizes the importance of creativity in her work. “I find it super important to make time for myself to be creative so I can experiment and implement the new techniques I’ve learned,” she said. This balance helps her avoid burnout and keep her work fresh and innovative.

Despite the opportunities and successes she has achieved, Kraser remains deeply connected to her roots in northeastern Pennsylvania. “This may be an unpopular opinion for college-aged students local to Scranton, but I absolutely love our little corner of Pennsylvania. The people in the local creative scene are so cool and diverse. There is a crazy amount of talent in northeastern Pennsylvania,” she said. The region’s natural beauty, with its four distinct seasons, provides constant inspiration. “It’s almost impossible not to get inspired just exploring around and connecting with the local creative community,” Kraser said.

Future photography plans

Looking to the future, Kraser has ambitious plans.

“In the future, I’d love to shoot more campaigns for brands and offer education services to new photographers,” she said. Her recent experience shooting a summer campaign for Batiste dry shampoo opened her eyes to new possibilities. “The experience was really exciting and introduced me to a whole other world of photography,” she said.

In addition to pursuing brand campaigns, Kraser has begun offering one-on-one mentoring sessions to emerging photographers. “At the beginning of 2024, I started offering mentoring sessions with photographers trying to get their footing in the local industry. The reviews have been positive so far!” she said.

She plans to expand this initiative by offering digital products on her website, such as retouching, shooting and posing tutorials. “I’d love to expand on mentoring and education by offering digital products that photographers can access and learn from at their own pace,” she said.

For aspiring photographers who are balancing academic studies with building a business, Kraser offers practical advice. “The biggest piece of advice I could give is to start small and scale up when you (or your professors) feel it’s necessary,” she said. Running a business while studying can be challenging, and managing expectations is crucial. “At the beginning of every semester, I'd take a little step back from photos to focus on getting into a good academic routine and then supplement my spare time with photoshoots,” Kraser suggested.

If you have a special event or are looking for high-quality images, book an appointment with Maggie Kraser Photography, LLC.