Cristy Cross from Clovis, New Mexico. She rocks. I love her pinkness. And I have to say the line about Cris-Cross will make you jump, jump had me laughing out loud! Check out her work people. You will like it. :0)

Also congratulations on being pregnant Cristy!   :0)

Cristy Cross Photography

Cristy's blog

1. What drew you to photography?

I loved taking landscape pictures and in high school my senior year my parents bought me a canon rebel. It was my first real camera, and I thought I was so cool. My friends and I would take random portrait and abstract pictures, which if I were to look at those today, I'd be so embarrassed. Buty hey, you've got to start somewhere I guess. I loved being behind the camera and in front of it. I loved the idea of creating a pictures and it being something that I created. I continued with this love in college and took photography classes and graduated with a degree in photography. My roommates were my subjects and again, those pictures are horrible, but hey, I was learning. If you were my friend or family member, you were a part of my assignments for class.

2. Are you self taught or do you have formal training?

I went to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX and received my degree in Photo communications which is basically photography and my minor in find art photography. I learned all my basics there. For example, I learned what an f-stop was and that it is the same as your aperture. (Who knew) I learned about my shutter and the curtains that were behind the lens. It was all so cool and very intriguing to me. My first professor was very hard on us, because he wanted us to be successful. And I think that is when I learned the most for my basic camera skills. I got to experiement with large format cameras too, like the 4x5 camera. It's the one where you have to wear a black cloth over your head to see the picture. Now that was a cool class! Yes, I learned so much in college about photography, but where I gook off and really found my true calling was when I went to a school called Texas School of Professional Photographers (TSPP). I met some awesome people there and learned so much about marketing and having a business and most of all, I learned what my style was. I bought a digital camera there, Canon 5D, and I've been going ever since. And that was just a year and a half ago. I would highly suggest to take seminars and go to photo conferences. You will meet so many other photographers who are willing to give you tips and tricks here and there and too you will learn mor about what YOU want to do as a photographer.

3. How did you make the leap from hobby to career? What did you do to start?

I worked as a photographer's assistant for a year, and it was in a studio setting. Something I'm not used to and it isn't the environment I like to work in. I saw how a photo business runs and what it's like to work with clients. Honestly, after working for this studio I didn't want to do anything else with photography. I think I was burned by the way they did business, and the way I was treated from time to time, and the fact that it wasn't the style of photography I wanted for myself. After working for them I never wanted to have a business of my own. It terrified me to run a business. I was a photographer, an artistic person. Not a business girl. But thankfully, God had a different plan for me. My mom always says that if you have a talent you need to use it for the glory of God. And well, that is what I'm trying to do now. Also if it weren't for my parents I wouldn't have gone to TSPP. They suggested it and paid for the trip. I wouldn't have been able to do that on my own. And so, after I talked my husband and my parents into letting me get this new awesome 5D camera, I came home and started planning. I couldn't do this without my husband, Ben. He is the business man and he fills me on the the business rules. I don't understand it sometimes or I may want to do it my way because I put my emotions behind the business and I'm realizing that you have to separte the two. My first thing to do to get my business started was to get a name for the buesiness. And well that was easy. I love my name and I couldn't let it go to waste. Cristy Cross Photography. My husband really loves my name because he likes to joke around and tell me Cris Cross will make ya jump, jump." Now if you weren't raised in the 90s then you probably just think "what?" But I mean who doesn't know that cool song. Anyways, I then started looking for web designers. I chose to go with a web designer that didn't cost too much. I wasn't sure how long this photo business would last and I didn't want to pay a bunch of money and only last 5 months. Thankfully, I've almost been in businesss for 2 years. It has been one full year with the website and the websites was the best thing to do. I also started a blog, and that was my website for a while until I had my official one up. Website advice: know someone that can help you. It can get a little stressful sometimes, but it will all work out. Then I also took pictures of a few friends for free to get pics on my site. I researched what I wanted to charge for prices, what I wanted to offer and then I started charging people. When I first told people the session fee was $55, I was so nervous becauses I thought they would think that was too much. But people kept coming and it was so cool. I have gone up since then and again was nervous, but if you give peole something cool and different and you have good people skills, you have nothing to worry about. Don't charge a high price because everyone else is. Charge what you feel comfortable charging, and what seems to be your market (a business tip). Then when you feel like it's time, raise prices, but raise them for a reason. I raised my prices for example because I was getting too many sessions and not enough time for my personal life. And then, some people would pay for the session and never order pictures. So I had to raise my prices so I would still make money, and have time for family. And the clients that are coimng to me now, are clients who are guaranteed to buy pictures after the session.

4. What inspires you?

Photography related-People who try different techniques, peple who are my age and are striving in the business. (www.theimageisfound.com, www.boutwellstudio.com) These are two sets of photographers that are my age and have been doing this for a while and I mean wow! They are awesome! Not photography related-my best friend's dad, who sacrificed his life for the well being of others. He was someone who was so selfless,, and humble. Got to respect someone like that!

5. What other jobs have you had?

I've mowed lawns with my brother, I was a kindergarten teacher, worked in two photography studios, and I worked at a Christmas store that was open all year around. I love Christmas, but that was a little too much for me.

6. What's your favorite part about being a photographer? least favorite?

I love taking pictures, and being creative in photoshop and trying new techniques. Least favorite, editing through all the pictures. It takes so long. I've barely been out all summer, so needless to say I have no tan!

7. How do you deal with creative blocks?

I research and keep looking for new ideas and waht best fits my business and style. I will sometimes try something and if it doesn't work, then I won't do it again, or I'll try it again from a different angle. I love to look at magazines. Before every session I have, I always research new pictures. I look at other photographers websites or blogs and I have a binder full of magaine pages that I've torn out for pose ideas. That way I stay fresh with my work, hopefully.

8. How do you define success?

Well, are you happy? Then I would say you are successful.

9. Who would you choose to do portraits of you?

Well, this is actually a question I've been trying to think of for a while. I'm 13 weeks pregnant and I want someone to take my pictures. I have a few that I'd want, but I don't have it narrowed down. Chenin Boutwell, my lovely friend Lauren Clark, another sweet friend Davina Fear, and then Jennifer Bebb. I really don't know. They are all so wonderfully talented! I did just look at "Mrs. Relish" and saw some awesome maternity shots too, so now Maile is on the list too.

10. Do you have a favorite lens? I love shooting my new 100mm 2.8. But I also love shooting wide angle shots and I don't ahve a true wide angle lens. So that is on my wish list right now. Along with another computer, to minimize work load, and a new website.

11. What do you do to get a great shot in bad lighting? I love playing with all kinds of lighting. I do'nt know what you would consider bad lighting, but if you have realy dim lighting, get your tripod out and play around with slow shutter speeds. If you are taking pics in the bright sun, use backlighting and get some lens flares. Don't be afraid of your lighting. Just experiment!

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