By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Cassandra Schmidt, of Newton, never planned to become a photographer. She is an artist by nature, she said.

When she was growing up, she wanted to be an animator for Disney. She had no idea what would happen when she started taking photos of her sister with a simple point-and-shoot camera and posting the pictures on Facebook.

People began requesting she take photographs for them. Before long, the demand grew enough that she decided to open her own studio.

Many of Schmidt’s clients learned of her business online.

“Thank goodness for Facebook,” she said.

Schmidt opened Cassandra Yvonne Photography in October in Goessel. Yvonne is her middle name, taken from her grandmother who inspired her interest in art.

She continues to work her regular job because of the economy, but she wants to eventually focus on her photography full time. After working with a point-and-shoot camera, she invested in a Sony a330 digital camera.

Schmidt always wanted to own a business, but being self-employed, she can have good months and bad months.

She tries to treat each photo like a piece of art, she said. She specializes in portraits, pets, and boudoir photography.

“I get the most satisfaction when my clients see the finished product,” Schmidt said.

For more information about Cassandra Yvonne Photography, call (316) 217-4398 or e-mail cassandrayvonne@live.com.