How did it all begin?

Clairelyseen Photography came out of a lasting love for preserving memories of people and places. Ever since I was little, my parents constantly brought the camera along for any and every occasion. I learned from them that pictures are worth investing in. I remember the first time I got to use a DSLR; I was 10 and giddy at the opportunity. Now photography has been a great joy in Czech, in Chicago, in Colorado and beyond.

The name is a play on words - it both combines my first and middle names (Claire Alyce), but also represents how photography begins - through the way that "Claire" goes about "seeing" the world. 

What is Clairelyseen all about?

I specialize in natural light portrait photography. Clairelyseen Photography began in Chicago, but I currently live on the eastern side of Czech. ​My vision is to bring a smile to your face as you look at stories as seen through my lens and hope to capture the way you felt in the moment. It is a privilege to document genuine emotion, whether that be for an engagement session, for two best friends, or for a family when they're together.

​Who is Claire?

My name is Claire Patty. ​I was born in Germany, grew up in the Czech Republic my whole life, but am American by birth. I moved to Chicago in 2013 to study Children's Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. I moved back to Czech in 2017 and am so grateful to get to work with kids here in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as continue photography here. 

If someone interviewed me for a random magazine article, they might find out that:

My family means the world to me
I drink a couple cups of tea a day
Snowflakes and thunder make me happy
Being in the mountains refreshes my soul
Really dark chocolate is my favorite
Snail-mail is the best day-maker
I love to paint and illustrate
Gluten and lactose-intolerance means creative alternatives 
I'm a little obsessed with honey
I enjoy travel (I especially love trains, and planes!)
I have two passports (USA and CZ)
Jesus changed my life. I love him.