Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelica Foster.
Hi Angelica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story as a photographer started in my parents’ basement, where I was constantly convincing my siblings to be my first models. Looking back, though, I think it really began years earlier. Some of my favorite childhood memories are sitting with my grandma, flipping through her family photo albums. Every page held an adventure, a milestone, or an everyday moment that had become part of our family’s history. Those albums taught me that photographs become more valuable with time because they preserve the people, memories, and stories we never want to forget.
What started as a childhood hobby eventually grew into Inspired by You Fotos. While balancing a full-time career, I continued investing in my photography, always learning, growing, and challenging myself creatively.
Today, I still carry the same appreciation for photography that began with those family albums. I believe every stage of life deserves to be documented because the moments that seem ordinary today often become the ones we treasure most years from now. That belief continues to shape every session I photograph and every client I have the privilege of working with.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges has been learning to grow Inspired by You Fotos with intention instead of feeling like I had to say yes to every opportunity. While balancing a full-time career, I realized I didn’t want to build a business based on photographing as many sessions as possible—I wanted to build one centered on quality, relationships, and creating an experience people genuinely enjoy.
That meant taking the time to define what I wanted my business to represent and allowing it to grow naturally instead of chasing every trend or opportunity. Looking back, I’m grateful I chose the slower path because it gave me the opportunity to strengthen my skills, refine my style, and build a business that reflects my values.
Every challenge has helped shape not only Inspired by You Fotos, but also the photographer and business owner I’m continuing to become.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Inspired by You Fotos is a portrait photography business serving seniors, families, couples, professionals, and creative portrait clients throughout southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities. I believe every person has a story worth preserving, and my goal is to create photographs that feel authentic to who they are and the season of life they’re living.
What I enjoy most is getting to know the person behind the portrait. Every session begins with a conversation because I want to understand what they’re celebrating, what matters most to them, and what they hope to remember years from now. Those conversations help shape everything from the location we choose to the overall experience we create together.
One thing that naturally sets my work apart is the amount of guidance I provide throughout every session. Most people don’t step in front of a professional camera every day, so I coach them through posing, movement, and expression from beginning to end. Watching someone arrive feeling nervous and leave feeling confident is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
As my work has evolved, I’ve found myself becoming increasingly drawn to creating portraits that capture more than a smile. I want each gallery to reflect personality, emotion, and the unique chapter of life my client is experiencing, creating images that become more meaningful as the years pass.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a single photograph—it’s the trust my clients place in me. Being invited to document milestones, celebrations, and meaningful moments is something I’ll never take for granted. My hope is that one day, someone else’s grandchild will sit down, flip through a family photo album, and discover the memories we helped preserve together.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’m a lifelong learner, so I’m constantly looking for ways to grow both creatively and professionally. I enjoy studying the work of other photographers—not to copy their style, but to understand how they use light, composition, and emotion to create meaningful images. I also spend a lot of time learning through online tutorials, photography communities, books, and educational content that challenge me to keep improving.
Music is probably my greatest creative muse. A single song can inspire an entire concept, influence the mood of a session, or help me imagine the story I want an image to tell. I often build playlists around creative ideas, and many of my favorite sessions have started with a song long before I ever picked up my camera.
Above all, though, my greatest inspiration still comes from my grandmother’s family photo albums. They remind me that photographs become more meaningful with time and reinforce why I do what I do. My hope is to create images that one day become part of someone else’s family history, just like those albums became part of mine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unscriptedphotographers.com/ibyf
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredbyyoufotos/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Inspiredbyyoufotos
Image Credits
All of the images displayed have been created by Angelica Foster with Inspired by You Fotos
Final image of behind the scenes credit to @streetminx
