Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Cook.
Hi Andrew, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been drawn to being creative and making things look good. Growing up, I tried a little bit of everything, just about every craft you could think of. I never really stuck with one thing long term, other than photography.
When I was about twelve years old, I picked up our family camera and began taking photos of whatever I could find, animals, nature, anything around me. I didn’t know anything about camera settings or technique. I just did it because I enjoyed it. I had any eye for beauty and loved making things look good.
For a long time, photography was just something I did for fun. I never thought it could turn into a career. I didn’t even know wedding photography was a thing, let alone something you could build a career around.
As time passed, I kept learning photography by trial-and-error and when I was 15, I got to second shoot for the photographer at my sister’s wedding. My older brother had camera equipment that I could use. But even then, I still never thought wedding photography was something I could make a career out of.
Everything changed in 2023 when my sister connected me with someone looking for a wedding photographer. The couple was looking for someone to photograph their wedding for $200. At the time, that wasn’t even something I had considered. I never thought I would photograph weddings, but I said yes, because why not? It was crazy to me that I would be getting paid for something I had only ever done as a hobby.
The thing is, I didn’t have a portfolio or social media. I literally emailed the bride a few wildlife and landscape photos I had taken, and she still hired me.
After that first wedding, the couple loved the photos and became some of my biggest supporters. They even paid me an extra $200 afterward. I ended up getting two referrals from that one wedding, which led to two more weddings in 2023.
That first wedding didn’t just give me experience. It gave me momentum. It showed me what could be.
At the beginning of 2024, I decided wedding photography was the route I wanted to take, and I went all in(well, I was still in college and had a part time job). I started advertising consistently, spending a lot of time in Facebook groups, putting my work out there, and reaching out to people.
I even offered to photograph a wedding for free early on, just to gain experience and build my portfolio.
From there, things started to grow. I booked more weddings throughout 2024 and ended up shooting around 15 weddings that year. In my first couple of years doing photography, my income more than doubled each year, which showed me the potential of what I was building.
Then more bookings came in for 2025, and I continued building on that.
A big part of that growth came from simply putting myself out there, not being afraid to ask questions, meeting people, and creating opportunities to grow.
That’s something I’ve learned. A lot of opportunities don’t just come to you. You have to put yourself in the position for them to happen.
That’s exactly what I did when I traveled to Europe. I did a three week study abroad program in southern France, and then stayed an extra three weeks to travel. I did that intentionally to create opportunities for destination photography. I could go into endless stories of ways I put myself out there, whether I was comfortable or not. Check out my instagram to see photos and stories from Europe. (@andrewcook.photography) But pretty much everything I did would not have happened if I wasn’t willing to step out and ask.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest challenges for me wasn’t just learning photography. It was confidence. After putting myself in uncomfortable situations, taking small opportunities, trying new things, and learning through experience. I look back and realize that I’ve grown into someone who is both confident and competent.
For a while, I thought I had to fit a certain mold to succeed. But what I’ve learned is that success comes from leaning into what makes you unique and developing the strengths you naturally have. I realized I don’t need to be like everyone else. When you try to be like everyone else, you’re competing with everyone. But when you bring who you truly are, you create a business that is competing with no one.
If you feel stuck or like you have somewhere you want to be, don’t wait for permission to grow. Don’t wait for perfection. Just do it. If you start now, in a year you can have a year of growth or a year of excuses.
Photography isn’t just about taking pictures to me. It’s about building a business I love. I genuinely love the entrepreneurial side of it. It’s brought some of the most challenging and growth-filled experiences of my life, but also some of the most rewarding.
I’m still growing and building my business. But the progress over the past few years has shown me that being good at what you do, putting yourself out there, and being confident in your work matters more than having everything perfectly put together.
Right now, I am focused on continuing to grow, building a life I love, serving people well, and ultimately glorifying God through all of it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Andrew Cook Photography LLC is a Wichita Kansas based Travel Wedding Photographer. I specialize in:
– High-quality products/services.
– Personalized, intimate products and experiences.
– Focus on experience and memories.
I’m highly praised for wedding photography, with reviewers highlighting my professionalism, attentive demeanor and ability to capture candid moments. Couples appreciate my prompt communication, elevated style, sentimental photos, and quick turnaround time, often recommending me for my ability to make couples feel comfortable.
For more information my Instagram is @andrewcook.photography
Website is: www.andrewcookphotography.com
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’m so thankful for the opportunity to go this interview. I love what I do for work and hope I encourage others to pursue what they enjoy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andrewcookphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewcook.photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DvbKM7K8P/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@andrewcookphotography
Image Credits
Photos: Deborah Tilling
Edits: Andrew Cook
