Bridgette Harmon-Smith,  Photographer / President of Harmon Photography Inc

As a young girl, Bridgette always had a camera in her hand. After high school, she went on to study photography at the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Western Massachusetts. It was an intense 10-month program that taught both photographic and business skills. Graduating from Hallmark in 2003, Bridgette moved back home to Indiana to start making her dream a reality. In June of 2004, Bridgette opened the doors to Harmon Photography Inc. on the West side of Peru, Indiana. After operating there for almost a year, Bridgette purchased a building on the East end of town. It took her four months to renovate today’s location of 288 East Main Street.

Weddings were the starting point in Bridgette’s photographic career. She captured her first wedding while still in high school. Since then, she has photographed numerous weddings. At one point in her career, she had captured 22 weddings in one year.

Bridgette loves being able to create family heirlooms for you to cherish for years to come. She has fun working with children. You never know what you're going to get from them. It is an adventure within itself, from crying to silly faces and everything in between. Patience is the key while becoming their friend. Bridgette also enjoys working with pets. Having three dogs of her own, she gets her practice. Maternity and Newborns are a growing trend and Bridgette likes the opportunity of being creative and photographing this special time in ones’ life.

Bridgette enjoys being a wife to Roy Smith.  They married on November 15, 2008. She is the daughter of Danny & Annamaire Harmon, sister of Brandi Harmon, granddaughter of Charles & Shirley Thibaeult and Kessel & Norma Harmon, and a goddaughter to Dick & Deloris Hostetler.

Overall, you may be able to see that photography is not just a job for Bridgette; it's her passion and her life. It has been a dream come true for Bridgette to have a photography studio and capture moments in time for everyone that she has come to know. You might walk in the door as a client but you will leave as her friend.

Organizations that Bridgette Belongs to:

• Professional Photographer of Indiana, Board Member
• Professional Photographer of America
• United Way of Miami County, Board Member
• Ambassador of Peru/ Miami County
• Business and Professional Women’s Club of Peru
• Career Advisory and Development for Peru Community Schools
• Peru Community Schools’ Internship Program
• Miami County Leadership, Participant
• St. Charles Catholic Church

 

Lindsay Myers, Office Manager/Sales and Event ordering

Lindsay started with Harmon Photography in Sept of 2007. She started out as a part-time employee and has since grown to become a full time employee. She also helps manage the Office. Lindsay does most of the ordering on the school and event side of the  business. If you have any questions about your school, event, and/or orders, Lindsay is your go to gal.

She is also artistically talented. She brings an art background, which gets put to great use when creating wedding albums,  customized prints, and slideshows. Lindsay also helps by assisting Bridgette during maternity and newborn sessions.  She has three beautiful children herself so she knows just how to help during these sessions.

The thing Lindsay enjoys the most is she's doing what she loves. How many people can say they really love their job? Lindsay looks forward to coming into work everyday and helping create the memory that will stay with clients forever.

 

Kaylie Harteroad, Assistant

Kaylie came to Harmon Photography through the Internship Program at Peru High School in 2008. Since then, Kaylie has become an employee helping to check in orders and assisting Bridgette with most of the sessions. You get to talk to Kaylie as she calls you to let you know that your order is complete and ready for pick-up.

 

Mariah Davenport, Office Helper

Mariah started with Harmon Photography Inc in late 2009. She works mostly behind the scenes at the studio helping to check in orders and making phone calls letting you know your order is ready. You get to see Mariah as she also helps Bridgette during local sports photo days.

 

Rob Edwards, Assistant Photographer

Rob works part-time in helping Bridgette with the school contract photography. Many may recognize his name because he was our Peru Tribune Photographer. You get to see Rob at sporting events, school portrait days, and he also assists in sports day helping photograph the team and individuals. Rob brings much knowledge and has a great background in sports photography. He has two children with his wife Wendy.