Gretchen B. Photography

Gretchen Birdwell
Owner & Professional Photographer 
www.gretchenbphotography.com | 205.999.3531

Award-winning photographer Gretchen Birdwell fell in love with capturing a moment in time when she was 14 on a school field trip to the North Carolina state capitol. “I asked my mom for a camera and I started photographing my friends on that trip,” she says. “It wasn’t long before film won out over food.” It was the moment when she saw someone’s face transform from self-conscious to empowered that convinced her that she had found her life’s work.

“I have always been fascinated by what happens to people when they are in front of the camera,” Gretchen explains. “My job is to make my clients feel more comfortable, pose them, light them properly and then capture their inner light and bring that out in a photo.”

From senior portraits to family sessions to a luxury portrait session full of a day of pampering, Gretchen takes her time to make sure her clients are comfortable in front of her lens and are thrilled with the final product. “We all have a story to tell, so let’s take advantage of that,” she says. “Do you have photos with your children? Do you have photos with your parents?”

A Certified Professional Photographer, Gretchen has received multiple awards for her portrait work-but nothing is more satisfying than hearing a client tell her “You’ve shown a side of me I have never seen before-and I look beautiful.”

Working out of her studio for the past 11 years in Old Town Helena has given Gretchen a beautiful backdrop for her photography. “Whether I am shooting here in the studio or in a variety of outdoor locations, my goal is to make my subjects feel wonderful about themselves,” she explains. “Think about creating those photographs that will be a legacy for your family member or children some day.”

Gretchen spends time with each subject before the session to make sure she is able to relax and enjoy her day. “This session is all about pampering yourself, so we make sure we have picked out your clothing and have our hair and makeup team ready to go,” she explains. “This day is all about you-we want you to have fun and feel extra special.”