Patricia is a retired pediatric occupational therapist who lives on Seabrook Island, SC with her husband. Although always fond of taking photos, Patricia's interest in photography peeked after she moved to Seabrook Island and found herself surrounded by beautiful nature and wildlife. She took her first photos of the dolphin in 2006 and has not stopped since. She has ventured into other areas of photography including street photography and macro shot.

She received her first award for her work in 2007 from Dunes Properties. Her work has been featured in the Neighbors Magazine, in the South Carolina Wildlife, Charleston,Designer and the Island Magazines. She received the First Federal People's Choice Award for Dolphin Strand Feeding Line Up in October 2012. .She received first place in the 2013 Piccolo Spoleto Festival Juried Art Exhibition for Heron Steals Dinner. She has received numerous awards from the Charleston Artists Guild. She has exhibited in the Wells Gallery, the Gibbes Museum, the Charleston Center for Photography,Charleston Artist Guild Gallery, and Artfields 2015 and 2017. Her photographs have been used on educational signage at Seabrook and Kiawah Islands and at the Georgia Aquarium. National Geographic Channel published several of her photos to advertise The Secret Life of Predators September 2013. A photograph of the dolphin was used in a Japanese children's book in 2014.

She has self-published over 30 photo books and several are available for sale including: Wild Things on Seabrook Island, Dolphin Strand Feeding Second Edition, The Colors of Seabrook Island, Dolphins From A-Z and The Colors of the Lowcountry. Some of her work can be viewed on her web site at www.patriciapschaefer.com. Framed and unframed photos, canvases and cards are available at several local shops and directly from Patricia or on the fine art america web site.

Patricia serves as past president of the Seabrook Island Photography Club and is an exhibiting member of the Charleston Artist Guild, member of the Charleston Center for Photography, and Seabrook Island Natural History Group. Besides photography she enjoys bird watching, gardening, reading and spending time with her family and friends.