Angi Landis: Professional Photographer
Angi Landis is a long-time friend, a former colleague, and my life-time photographer. She is one of four people who witnessed my wedding ceremony. She has captured precious moments with me and my husband, our dogs, and our daughter. And for all of that, I am forever grateful to her. Learn about Angi’s journey from questioning what field she wanted to go into, to now owning her own photography studio, Angi’s Art llc.
Photography Education
Angi’s interest in photography started when she was in high school in the mid ‘90s. Back then, she took photos with a SLR film camera, nothing digital, and developed her film in a darkroom. Not one-hundred-percent sure what she wanted to do after high school, she decided to explore her options at Johnson County Community College.
“I thought I was going to lean more towards graphic design just because I love doing all the artwork behind the computer, but once Photoshop became popular for photography I was able to do artistic things, and still have the creativity with my photos.”
Landing on photography, Angi decided to get her bachelor’s degree in photography from Central Missouri State University. There, she took a class from a professional photographer who owned her own studio in Kansas City and was offering a job to a student in her class after graduation. Angi was offered the position, she accepted, and in the role she was able to focus on her behind-the-scenes Photoshop skills.
Angi’s Art llc
After gaining a few years of experience after college, Angi decided to open her own studio, and in 2004 she founded Angi’s Art llc.
“It was growing slowly, and in 2007 we decided to have a baby and he was born in October. While he was a baby I was able to do all of my digital artwork at home. As he started getting older it was nice because I was able to take a step back and focus more on him. I was able to work as much or as little as I wanted and take the time to hang out with him. Once he started elementary school I started growing my business back up.”
Angi, runs Angi’s Art llc studio out of her house, and she enjoys the flexibility of being able to take pictures in her in-home studio, outside portrait space, and on-location. She offers a wide range of portrait photography including weddings, engagements, family, babies to seniors, pets, and real estate. She loves them all but enjoys weddings the most.
“Weddings are one of my favorites just because you have to think quickly… and be fast on your feet. You have to be ready for literally anything because you're going to all these different locations…. and you have to shoot in a ton of different lighting.“
Beyond being prepared for any situation, Angi brings an assistant to take additional photos, multiple camera bodies and lenses, and backs up wedding photos four times!
“I always tell people you're going to have three things at the end of your wedding: your spouse, if you wear a wedding dress you're going to have that, and then you're going to have your photos. Your photos are going to be your memories… we take pictures of everything you spend money on, the jewelry, the shoes, the dress!”
Find Angi at Kansas City Engaged Wedding Shows
August 6, 2023: Marriott Overland Park
October 1, 2023: Overland Park Convention Center
January 7, 2024: Overland Park Convention Center
Timeless Photography for Everlasting Moments
“I feel like my photos are timeless and can stand the test of time because I am doing more of the true to life color that is not the trendy Instagram filters.”
In addition to traditional photography, Angi also creates digital photo paintings.
“Digital photo painting is an established art medium that is done with your computer and the use of a tablet and pen. You start with the photograph and you're adding all of the brush strokes digitally with the pen and tablet over the image and once all of the brush strokes are added by hand it's printed on canvas.”
Angi takes an extra step that sets her apart from other photographers who use this medium.
“I then go back in and add acrylic to the canvas so you're actually having real brush strokes painted over the digital brush strokes that are already there. so I'm going back in and adding highlights and lowlights with acrylic paint, so you really have that painting at the end.”
Professional Photography Associations
Throughout Angi’s career, she has been involved with a number of associations, and is currently a member of the following organizations:
Professional Photographers Association of Greater Kansas City
Missouri Professional Photographers Association
National Professional Photographers Association
“I am past-president of the Professional Photographers Association of Greater Kansas City, but I love being a member of all of these groups. I am able to further my education and I’ve met several of my mentors through these associations. I’ve been in them so long that I’ve actually seen new photographers come through and have been their mentor.”
Advice for Women
On Starting a Business
“Talk to other business owners first, before you start. Talk to other people in your field. I really wish I would have. The business side was the hardest to learn. I can do the photography. I can do all the creativity, but doing all the business side was a real challenge when I first started. It’s helpful to learn from other business owners tips and tricks and the mistakes that they made so that you don't make them.”
On Hiring a Wedding Photographer
“I feel like people that do just use a friend that just has a nice camera, that's fine. I get it. However, if you hire a professional photographer you really are making an investment in something that is your memory for the rest of your life.”
On Getting Professional Portraits
“It's really what you can hand down to people. I have photos that my grandparents have saved that we've gone through of my great grandparents. With my portraits, one day future generations are going to look at it and be like ‘oh that's my great grandma.’”
