Rose Hendershot
Master Photographer
Rose Hendershot is your personal photographer for your whole life. Having a photographer that you know and trust is important since you will be sharing your personal milestones with them. If I can provide you with portraits you cherish, I’ve made a friend in the process of doing my job well. And you will have a beautiful “Photographic Memory”.
Rose is best known for being kind, considerate, patient, and understanding.
“Professional photography services is my business, this is the work I’ve chosen. Passion, inspiration and collaboration with each client is important for me to do my job well and provide you with portraits you will cherish. If I can provide you with portraits you cherish, I’ve made a friend in the process of doing my job well. And you will have a beautiful ‘Photographic Memory’.”
About Rose
Rose Hendershot earned a Master of Photography degree through the Professional Photographers of America. This degree is earned through taking classes (and excelling at what is learned), entering print competitions on the national and international level (and placing well) and even doing some teaching. So add the training Rose has had with the compassion she displays and have her photograph your family or event.
“I enjoy working with families large and small taking special care to show each person at their best often in their own surroundings. From the newborn baby to the senior in a nursing home, I will give you my undivided attention because each person has value and dignity and I will do my best to make you feel good about who you are.”
Rose is a wife, mom and grandmother. Family is very important so Rose takes her time getting to know you. Rose will help you to tell your story and make the whole process enjoyable. Rose will help you decide which poses you want for portraits for framing and gifts. She will also show you a variety of items you can use with your portraits like books, story boards, metal prints and so much more.
Trust Rose to help you capture the moments you want to remember for a lifetime!
Rose is not just someone who snaps photos – Rose is a historian who captures moments preserved in print for future generations.
Consider this…
- Printed portraits become heirlooms
- No technology is required to enjoy printed photographs
- As long as homes have walls, families want and need beautiful images to display.
- Behind every face is a story. Let Rose help you tell your story.
Resumé
Childhood
I, Rose Mary Burpee-Hendershot, grew up on a small farm in rural Barry County, Michigan. I learned a love for gardening through growing vegetables and flowers at home in Dowling. My dad grew up on a farm himself and enjoyed working outdoors. He shared his love for trying new vegetable varieties and unusual plants; being a “Burpee” meant that seeds and plants were in our “roots”.
My dad also had a love for animals and that was evidenced by all the different animals we had on our small farm. We didn’t have many at one time since we only lived on two acres. Over my growing up years we had – ducks, lambs, guineas, chickens, rabbits, goats, cows, steers, ponies, a horse, geese, pigs, dogs, and cats. Learning to care for another being was a great learning opportunity with the all the animals. When our pony had a baby filly, I was the one who was given the task of training her which was challenging and quite enjoyable. Mom was right there working with us even when we needed to chase pigs back to the barn yard before sending us off to school.
Teens
I started photography with a small simple camera and the animals and plants at home. I learned to take pieces of paper or other objects around the yard to make backgrounds for my flower subjects. Soon I was taking photos of the animals and my sisters and friends around the yard and barns. My love for photography had grown and began to get noticed. I was involved in Barry County 4-H and fair entering projects in sewing, cooking, knitting, crochet, outdoor cooking, gardening, ceramics, leather craft, horse showmanship, art, photography, and junior leadership. Dad helped with the gardening and outdoor projects while mom worked with us on the indoor projects. Mom didn’t know how to do some of the things she wanted us to learn so we helped her learn right along with us. Many of our projects were the starting point for projects she made for her own enjoyment.
On the Personal Side
I accepted Jesus as my own Savior in 1974. I had grown up believing in God and trying to do good and be good. I learned in 1974 that being good wasn’t enough. I had to admit that I was a sinner and needed a savior. I asked Jesus to save me. Now I try to live my life serving Him and doing good for others. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32.
Adulthood
I got married and had two wonderful children. Both of whom were often the subject of my photographs. Now the portrait side of my interest really started to take shape. Still entering projects at the Barry County Fair, many ribbons were given for projects in photography, sewing, knitting, baking, canning and arts. In 1982 and 1989, I was given the honor of Homemaker of the Year representing Barry County at the Michigan State Fair. I won 3rd place in a chili cooking contest in 1982 in Grand Rapids and an apple pie baking contest at Cotant’s Farm Market in 1989. Teaching my children how to cook and sew has been an enjoyable and rewarding part of parenting. My son, Larry, won a 1st award in sewing while I won a 2nd place in the same category. My daughter, Tammy, won 1st place in the Cotant’s apple pie contest in 1990 while I won 2nd. To have someone else receive a 1st place award leaving me 2nd is humbling especially when it is my own children.
The Beginnings of Professional Photography
I was photographing off and on for various friends and events around Hastings when mom said that I needed to make it my work. At the time, I was taking care of her as she was having medical difficulties. She was persistent and soon I decided to follow her insistence in starting my business. I filled out the paperwork to apply for my DBA and mom named the business Photographic Memory. The paperwork was filed and accepted on December 17, 1997 and mom passed away on December 23, 1997.
In January 1998, I entered the Business Management program at Kellogg Community College and graduated in May 2000 with highest honors. I was inducted into the pi-theta-kappa in 1999 and lead the graduates into the auditorium for our graduation ceremony. I also took business training classes from GROW (Grand Rapids Organization for Women) in Grand Rapids. The class was intense and each student focused solely on their own business constructing a business plan by graduation. My business plan was researched and completed in December 1998. The business plan is the skeletal basis of the individual business and is a guide for reaching income and product goals.
I took Leadership Barry County training in 2004. This has been a highlight of my business training. Attention was given to our local area where we learned about government processes for our county and state. I have always enjoyed Barry County and Hastings but now I can say it with more pride and knowledge of what we have to offer. We have a lovely county with its hills, meadows, lakes and streams. Our businesses are diverse and growing and so are our people. What a wonderful place to call home.
I earned my Master of Photography degree from Professional Photographers of America in 2012. Leo and I went to New Orleans where I accepted my degree in person on stage with many of my collogues.
This award was challenging to earn and even more challenging to live up to in my daily work.
Professional Photography Organizations
- Professional Photographers of America – joined in 1999
- Professional Photographers of Michigan – joined in 2000
- Michigan Triangle Professional Photographers Association – joined in 2000
- I attended GLIP (Great Lakes Institute of Photography) from 2000 to 2014. ( I haven’t been to GLIP since then because of taking care of my family.) I took classes in many areas of photography and business.
All of these provide education specific to the professional photographer for photography, business and art. All of these provide mentors and others to help train more photographers since each person can give instruction and learn new techniques and processes. The opportunities to try new things and compete are numerous.
I am happy to say that through print competitions I have been able to grow my ability as a professional photographer. I have a page on this website dedicated to the photographs that I have used in competition and how they did. (You may purchase these photographs or copies of them.) Some were disappointing and others were outstanding. The Loan Collection images are the top of the line. The photographs accepted to the Loan Collection travel through many other countries on exhibit. It is a remarkable accomplishment to have images in this collection.
An annual recognition coming out of print competition at the state level is to be accepted in the Michigan Top Ten Professional Photographers which I earned in 2006. Also coming from print competition is earning professional degrees. In 2012, I earned the degree of Master Photographer! What an accomplishment! I went to our international convention held in New Orleans to accept my degree in person. Walking the stage to receive the degree of Master of Photography has to be one of the high points in my career so far.
Displays
My photographs have been displayed around Barry County in many different places. First Bank, Barry County Chamber of Commerce, The Walldorff Brewpub and Bistro, Thornapple Arts Council, Thornapple Arts Council Art Hops, Mercantile Bank, Charlton Park, Holiday Inn, Hastings Public Library, Jefferson Street Gallery and billboards all over the county. Several Professional Photographers of Michigan had photographs on display (including me) at the Welcome Center in Clare for the month of March 2015.
On to the Future
My goals include working toward furthering my education in the Professional Photographers of America and gaining degrees to show my competence in photographing for my clients.
I am taking care of my youngest sister. I was able to take care of mom when she needed me the most and kept her at home where she was most comfortable until her passing in 1997. I was able to do the same thing for dad also and he left us in 2016. I helped my brother-in-law Vern while he dealt with lung cancer by taking him to appointments, fixing meals, paying bills and giving him someone to talk to. Vern left us in 2016. Caring for my family has taken a lot of juggling of schedules and appointments but worth every moment of being with them.
I plan to enjoy my grandsons and granddaughter; and now our great-granddaughter! Our granddaughter was born April 10, 2016 with a cleft pallet. She had surgery at 10 months to correct this and is doing very well. We had our first great grandchild in 2022 – how special she is!
My goal is to serve those around me with confidence and care.