2024 Business Women Awards
ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE: Brandi Morgan Raupp
East Coast Capture LLC owner
REMEMBER SCHOOL PHOTO DAY? The cookie-cutter headshots, the weird lighting, each kid’s chin tilted in the exact same direction, all of which led to that universal question: Why are class photos so … awkward?
Brandi Morgan Raupp remembers, and it helped inspire her to go the opposite direction when she launched her commercial photography business, East Coast Capture LLC. The goal of her kid-focused studio? To be creative and approach photo shoots in a way that’s individual and fun for children. Her photographers try to capture the unique personality of each child, using custom backgrounds and props, she says.
“We’re in a physical business. With little kids, we’re rolling around on the floor. I know what other companies do and in the same amount of time, we capture the kiddos’ personalities. It takes a special person who can make them laugh all day,” she said. “Usually, it’s parents who get stressed out.”
Morgan Raupp, who was raised in North Carolina, came to Rhode Island in 2010 when her husband’s job transferred here, and she opened East Coast Capture in 2012. Since then, Morgan Raupp has built the business with clients, including 168 schools in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and North Carolina.
East Coast Capture has an all-female staff of 20 photographers, assistants and staff. Along with schools, East Coast Capture also shoots Little League teams, professional headshots and weddings.
“I loved doing them,” Morgan Raupp said, “but I’m ready for weekends off.”
Like most small-business owners, she’s changed how she does business since the COVID-19 pandemic. Two weeks into the spring season in 2020, her photographers were working in the field when all their school jobs were canceled. She adapted her approach to graduation photos by bringing props such as caps, gowns and old school desks to a front porch or a lawn.
She also set up in parks, allowing volume shoots at various spots. Sessions with graduating seniors were customized to a favorite location, maybe a bench in a quiet park or by a lake. Kids chose their own wardrobes, from cutoff jeans to prom-ready party dresses.
Now Morgan Raupp plans to grow the studio work and maybe add a retail space.
“I want to raise the bar a bit,” she said.
