Meet Christina Childress of Christina Childress Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Childress.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Christina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began my career as a graphic designer after graduating from TCU. I worked with a great group of people at Switch, a boutique branding and strategy firm where I worked on a wide variety of projects and was on the art director side of photo shoots before I became the one behind the camera. Fast forward a couple of years when my husband and I found out we were expecting not one, not two, but three babies (that’s right, triplets) and our whole world changed.

It was bittersweet to leave my job but made the most sense for our family that I stay home with the babies. As they grew I, of course, took loads of photos, and the more I photographed our kids the more I realized I could develop my skill and make a career for myself making beautiful portraits for other families, too. I started photographing friends, then friends of friends and my network of clients has grown each year.

After the first year of family portraiture, I began shooting weddings as well, and love having a mix of both wedding and family clients to work with. My background in graphic design has definitely influenced the way that I see images and gives my work a blend of editorial and documentary styles that I feel inspired by and think brings a unique perspective to family and wedding photography.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’ve been fortunate to see my business grow each year and am incredibly thankful for the support of my clients who have shared my work with their friends and helped to expand my business. The biggest challenge has been balancing work life with family life.

The triplets were home with me from birth to kindergarten, so finding little bits of time to work in between all of the daily things that three kids require was really hard, and sleep was minimal, to say the least! My husband is amazing and we live pretty close to both our parents who love to get in some snuggle time with the grandkids, so that has made it possible for me to pursue my career and be present with my kids. The kids are now first graders so it’s much easier to get my work done during the day while they’re at school.

Christina Childress Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My company is called Christina Childress Photography, and I specialize in both family portraiture and wedding photography that is full of life and artistry. I’m most proud that I get to make images that move people and remind them of the beauty in their own lives. For me, this kind of photography is about capturing the relationships between people who love each other, whether that’s a couple getting married or a mother and child or close friends. These are the things that matter most in life and I’m proudest when someone tells me I’ve captured the essence of someone they love in a photo.

There are so many talented photographers all over DFW, and I’m happy to call many my friends. I would say that every photographer who is truly passionate about what they do has something special that is unique to them. It feels a little trite to try to find one or two talking points as to what sets me apart from others—I think the thing for people to know when looking for a photographer is to find someone you connect with and whose vision inspires you. I’m thankful I’ve found many people who feel that way about my work and hope that I continue to connect with more people on a deeper level so I can tell their stories in a genuine way.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
My primary definition of success is growth. I’m always asking myself if I’m growing creatively throughout the year. Am I consistently producing stronger work by the end of the year than I did at the beginning? I think there’s a certain point where client expectation plateaus and if you are only working to please your clients then your work also plateaus. To keep growing creatively, you have to push yourself further and have higher expectations than anyone else.

Secondarily, I count myself successful to have a business which contributes to my family’s income and allows me a flexible schedule so I can enjoy my kids’ childhood. I love what I do, but I don’t want to do it at the expense of my family, so it’s highly important to me that I make my business work without overworking myself.

Pricing:

• Wedding Packages range from $3500-$5000+
• Family Portrait Packages range from $850-$2500+

Contact Info:

• Address: 606 N Edgefield Ave. Dallas, TX 75208
• Website: www.christinachildress.com, www.christinachildressfamilies.com
• Email: hello@christinachildress.com
• Instagram: @christinachildressweddings, @christinachildressfamilies
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/christinachildressphotography

Image Credit:
Andrew Shepherd

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