Jonathan Betz Photography Blog bio picture

Portrait Artist | Jonathan Betz, M.Photog., CPP

Jonathan found his love of photography and light while working in Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 1999. During his time there, he mentored under a professional photographer that taught him how to see and capture light - the very foundation of photography. Upon returning home to St. Louis after that summer, he began pursuing a career in professional photography. In 2002, Jonathan accepted a position with a St. Louis Studio as a portrait & wedding photographer and studied under five different Master Photographers. In 2006, he and his wife Lindsay moved to Colorado and opened Jonathan Betz Photography in Colorado Springs.

Jonathan earned his Masters of Photography Degree (M.Photog.) in 2019 and Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) in 2015, conferred by The Professional Photographers of America. His work has been recognized with honors at the national and international level, most recently receiving the Platinum Medal and earning highest honors with a Grand Imaging Award. Jonathan served five terms as the President of the Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs. He has served on the Board of Directors for state and regional professional photography organizations. He's committed to lifelong learning and continually seeks to elevate his craft through professional training, education, and teaching opportunities to help younger photographers refine their skills and businesses.

Studio Manager | Lindsay Betz, Cr.Photog

Lindsay joined the photography industry when she and Jonathan moved to Colorado in 2006, filling the integral role of studio management in the business. Our client families benefit from her guidance for everything before and after the photography session.

As she has embraced the photography industry, she loves opportunities to teach and present to the community of professional photographers from her expertise on the business side of photography. She has presented to professional photographers on the national platform every year since 2018. In 2022, she was recognized with the National Award for Business Education by Professional Photographers of America (PPA).

In 2019, she earned her Photographic Craftsman (Cr.Photog.), the degree that recognizes those in the photography industry that serve through professional-level teaching. She was elected to the National Council for PPA in 2016 and continues that leadership into her third term. She also serves on the PPA Education Advisory Board Committee. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs since 2015.

Proud members of:

Professional Photographers of America
Professional Photographers Guild of Colorado Springs

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Megan | Air Academy High School Senior Portraits | Class of 2017

Our past year has held the hardest days our family has walked. Our business reached it’s 10th anniversary in October, yet that was significantly overshadowed by our son, Tyler, receiving his perfect and forever healing from cancer in heaven. We prayed for a healing here so that he would still be with us now, yet we trust in and find deep comfort knowing Tyler is healed and whole and in the best place possible. We miss him so much. Our business certainly looked different as we journeyed with Tyler through cancer treatments. We’re so proud of him. Because our time and attention was rightly with Tyler through his journey, our blog has been quite quiet. We’ll begin to share sessions again, beginning with Megan.

Megan’s is a special session. We believe God creates divine intersections between families, and this family intersected with our family this summer and shares a closeness through shared journeys. Years ago, they journeyed with their oldest daughter, Melody, as she battled cancer. Like Tyler, against what we humanly pray for, her healing too was given perfectly in heaven. When we met Megan’s family, Tyler was in the midst of his second treatment plan. We connected quickly in a deep way from the shared journeys we have walked. One of the sweetest aspects we love in our business is the relationships we build with our client families. We’re invited to capture incredibly important and special milestones and a part of us too is shared in the process.

Photographing Megan’s senior portraits has been such an honor. Megan dreams big and has a heart to love and serve those around her. Faith, family, and service are important to her. She’s active in ROTC and volunteered with the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for 5 years. She aspires to study psychology and counseling hoping to address healing from PTSD when her career begins.

She chose our Senior Experience, multi-hour, multi-location session and matched well with Cheyenne Cañon, Mesa Overlook, and the Air Force Academy. Favorites from her session are shared below.

Megan, congratulations to you for all of your hard work, accomplishments, and upcoming graduation from Air Academy High School. You have a beautiful heart and wonderful dreams for your future. We know your parents are so proud, and we pray you know that Melody is so very proud of you!