We had the good fortune of connecting with Rose Waldrup and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rose, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued a creative career because art has always been where I am able to best express myself and tell a story without words. My great grandpa always said, “find a job you enjoy, and you will never work a day in your life,” and I can 100% say being a professional photographer is the best career path I could ever choose. It rarely feels like work, and I get to wake up and do what I love every morning. Different from any other careers, I love how art can immerse a person in a different world and elicit emotions that only images can tell.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My niche is raw and authentic portraiture that uniquely captures the passionate love between two souls. Years ago I started out doing senior portraits in high school and any type of session I could snag for some quick money. It quickly became draining as I was finding out that these types of sessions weren’t where my heart was at. I left my sessions feeling empty.

But then when I first did an engagement session for a couple several months later, I knew immediately that was the path I wanted to take. Seeing the love ignite between two people and being able to specifically encapsulate all those beautiful details into images set my passion ablaze. I decided to take the leap and purse those clients full-time. Between eight hip reconstruction surgeries though, I had to drop my camera for several years, but that just made me all the more determined when I recovered.

My husband and I purchased an old RV, and we plan to travel across the country to expand my business. I have a deep love for nature and going off the beaten path, finding the most beautiful and eclectic places that nature provides. So that is exactly what I plan to do. I am an incredibly determined person with a incredible God, so I know the possibilities are endless.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Glenwood Springs, Colorado has by far been one of the stunning places I have visited in my lifetime. It is a tiny little town settled in the mountains amongst natural hot springs that are known for their healing and therapeutic benefits.. There is a quaint restaurant that makes the best brisket mac and cheese you’ll ever eat, along with various local business you can wander through, that sell handmade goods unique to the area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am at today if it wasn’t for my parents always pushing me to create. They bought me my first camera at the age of ten, and since then they have always been my number one supporters in the launching of my professional business.

Website: www.wildrosephotoco.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/wildrosephoto.co

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WROSEPHOTOCO

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.