BART HUSCHER (PHOTOGRAPHER)
I was lucky to learn early in life that “if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life”. I haven’t “worked” in over 36 years...of course I started as a photographer when I was 10...lol.
My interest in photography began when I was stationed in Great Britain with the U.S. Air Force. I turned professional as an apprentice with a photographer who was nationally known for his high school senior photography. That led to an internship with a celebrity photographer, who was also President Ronald Reagan’s inaugural photographer. Before starting my own studio, I spent 5 years as a photography instructor for a national portrait studio chain.
I grew up in Kansas & Iowa, but have also lived in the U.K., Texas, Wyoming & Colorado. I settled in Springfield in 1987 and my wife and I started About Faces 5 years later.
My style of photography uses posing & lighting to flatter my subjects, but what I love most is connecting with my clients so their personality shows in the images I create for them. I also run our digital press...we print brochures, postcards, flyers and booster club programs.
I have been married to my best friend, Wendy, for 33 years. We have 2 boys (Austin & Alex), 2 daughter-laws (Taylor & Cheyenne) and a granddaughter (Palmer). My absolute favorite pets are German Shepherds, we currently have Ellie and Bear, they're our 8th & 9th Shepherds and they are the absolute best!
WENDY HUSCHER (THE BOSS)
Hi, I’m Wendy, frequently known as “the photographer’s wife”. I’m originally from a small town in Iowa (Red Oak) and I came to Springfield to go to Evangel University. I graduated from there with a degree in accounting. I then went to work for Noble & Associates, a local advertising agency. Shortly after that, Bart and I met, got married and started the studio. We are blessed with two boys who always keep our life interesting.
I’m not exactly sure what my position is at the studio, I do whatever needs to be done, but my primary responsibilities are assisting Bart in the camera room, taking customer orders, editing photos, and of course, the dreaded book work.
One of my favorite things to do is sitting down with clients and helping them choose which portraits to order. However, you may also see me answering the phone, framing pictures or building new sets. If you stop by in the spring, you will usually find me digging in the dirt and planting tons of flowers to use in pictures.
I feel very fortunate to be able to make a living working side by side with my husband and living on the same property as our business. Over the years, I have loved being just a few steps away from our home, so even though I’m at work, I have been able to see our boys when they got home from school or when they caught the biggest frog ever.
Although my education is in accounting, I have always treasured photographs. Even as a child I saw the value in documenting events and stages of life with pictures. Making memories is what life is about, and documenting and displaying them with photography is what keeps those memories alive.
AUSTIN HUSCHER (STUDIO MANAGER)
I’ve been around this business for as long as I can remember and I have worked here on and off for over 8 years. I don’t really have a “position” so we decided studio manager is vague enough to define what I do (LOL).
Being around the business for so long has allowed me to learn how everything behind the scenes operates. I don’t take the pictures, but I pretty much do everything else. Most of the time you can find me on the computer editing pictures or making sure emails or messages don’t fall through the cracks. My other role at About Faces is doing the work that nobody wants to do, such as power washing the buildings or cleaning out the ponds and water falls and many other things.
My favorite part about working here is that I get to work with my family, yes, it is difficult sometimes, but I can tell “the boss” when I think she is wrong. ;)
ALEX HUSCHER (PHOTOGRAPHER)
I have been around the photography business my entire life! I grew up assisting my dad on sessions, helping build sets and backgrounds, and even taking pictures. Since I grew up living next door to our studio, my brother and I would memorize our dad's schedule everyday so that we wouldn't be outside shooting BB guns or doing something stupid when my dad was photographing someone outside.
I got my Associates Degree in Photography in 2018. I learned a lot from those classes, but nothing can beat the knowledge that I get from working side by side with my dad...his lighting and posing skills are amazing!
In 2020, when things got crazy and the government shut our business down, I expanded my "side gig" of mowing yards. I still love to take photos, and I help dad now and then on a project, but for now anyway, you will find me out and about on a lawn mower...ALX Lawn Care. Give me a call or text if you need your yard mowed. 😊 417-425-6440