FRANKFORT, IL — It started with a camera as a Christmas gift, and led to Lindsay Haskett soaking up all she could learn about photography—but most of it, she taught herself.
The mom of three jumped in to the passion that ultimately would turn into a full-time pursuit based out of her family’s Manhattan home. Haskett, who formerly worked in the Special Education field, found her way into photography after hitting burnout. For years, Haskett honed her craft and expanded her client base in lifestyle photography, until eventually her business had outgrown the space.
Inspired by her early success, Haskett was ready for more—space and clients. She took a chance and rented a space she now calls her studio, in a Frankfort office building.
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“It was a big leap, but I’m so excited to finally have a studio after over seven years of working out of my house,” Haskett said.
With the expansion of Lindsay Haskett Photography and opening of LHP Studio Share at 20624 W. Abbey Woods Ct., Suite 204, Haskett hopes to build community and support among other local photographers, providing a space where not only she but others can create and learn.
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“It was a scary leap for me to do this on my own anyway,” Haskett said. “It was a big jump to get a space. I really wanted to make it a space where we can share it with other creatives, because there’s so many creatives that need a space to work in sometimes.”
Haskett pictured the environment of a metropolitan area, where photographers can easily find a shared space to use.
“It gives everybody a chance to have somewhere to shoot in this area,” she said. “I kind of wanted to bring to the suburbs, what Chicago has all over the place.”
Stepping into the suite in the Abbey Woods, Haskett has created both a blank space but a warm one, open to creative touch and inspiration—hers and that of others. Haskett describes her work as “very candid, non-traditional, emotive, capturing authentic emotions.”
The studio gives clients and photographers a space free from distraction, where they can move and express freely. Much of her work is capturing family milestones, spanning from couples’ and engagement shoots, maternity, senior portraits, and newborn photos.
“I see you and I can relate to you,” Haskett wrote on her website. “Whether you’re at home with your babies everyday, out hustling at that 9-5 job or both. Your family is the most important to you. You work hard day in and day out to provide the very best for them and to create a beautiful life for your family. Sometimes though, we have to take a step back and slow down.
“… I see you reaching for your phone—snapping away, trying to capture every little moment before it’s gone. Think about this though, when is the last time you were in the photos with those people you love so much? Book the session. You’ll never regret having the photos. I promise.”
She also specializes in branding—think headshots, candid images of someone at work for their website and social media, Haskett said.
While the majority of her portfolio is family and newborn photos, she’s seeing an increase in requests for branding images, too.
“Branding is starting to grow more and more,” Haskett said. “It’s getting to be pretty popular.”
When seeking a bigger space, Haskett knew it’d be a big risk to do so on her own. Wife to Justin and mom to Riley, 9, Kenzie, 7, and Jase, 3, it was beginning to be too challenging to welcome so many other people into their family home.
“I knew I needed a place for myself, my business has grown so much over the past seven years, doing it in my home wasn’t feasible anymore,” she said. “I was just afraid, I’m in my business by myself, there was no one to help split the cost of rent.
” I’m a big believer in community over competition. I love getting together with other photographers, letting them create in the space I’ve worked so hard to get. I think it’s just a great thing to have for local photographers to come together, build a community, share a space to create in.
“…for me, the most successful people are the ones who collaborate.”
Other photographers can rent her space by the hour, half-day or full-day (priced per weekday and weekend). The studio is available for rental 7 days a week. Rates and booking information are all available at her website. She also plans to host workshops and classes for developing photographers.
“Magical light ALL day long,” Haskett described on the website. “Packed with boho decor, a wall on wheels, live plants, pampas galore, a full size bed with neutral bedding and pillows as well as a large boho daybed, large boho chair, posing bag for newborns and more. Everything you see at the studio can be used by renters, aside from my newborn props and blankets.”
Clients can also book Lindsay’s services—she also has an associate photographer, Megan Cross. Haskett will shoot outdoors or at other locations—she just doesn’t do weddings, she said. She can be booked to travel for a fee. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.
She’s ready to welcome additional clients and other photographers into her new space.
“I’m really self-taught,” she said. “I really didn’t have anybody else in the field that I was leaning on, or working with. Everybody starts somewhere, and it’s so nice to have a community, that’s kind of what I want to build over there at the space.
“I do love the fact that I’m sharing it with other people in the field, building relationships as we’re doing it.”
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