Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Freeman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been exposed to photography for as long as I can remember. My father did sports photography for the local papers throughout his college and early business years, and he was always the dad with his Nikon around his neck. When I was in grade school, he typically was lugging around his giant video camera over his shoulder at every family event. I was always embarrassed at the time, but now I can see the irony in it all, as I am now that mom for my own kids.
My dad did his best to transfer his love of photography to me, but it took a while for me to discover it. Once, he offered to buy me my first real camera for Christmas, but I turned him down in favor of one of the tiny point and shoot 1 MP digital cameras that were popular at the time. I hated the thought of carrying around a bulky film camera, and it was before the DSLR movement became a thing. The ironic thing was that even though I didn’t think I was interested in photography, I still always had at least a disposable camera on me at most times. I was always the person trying to capture the candid, funny moments as they happened, and I loved the thrill of picking up my prints from the local Wal-Mart photo lab every couple of weeks.
In 2008, my now-husband and I went on a college trip to Europe, and it was during this trip that I began to fall in love with photography. I found myself unable to put my camera down, and for the first time, I was exploring all of the limited ins-and-outs of what my little camera was capable of doing. I was a musician at the time — I taught privately in Austin for several years before joining my husband as an active duty musician for the Navy. I had been classically trained for over 20 years in the art of practice. However, as much as I enjoyed music, it was photography that was slowly becoming my passion. Music was my job; photography was the thing I couldn’t wait to get home to study and practice.
When my second daughter was born, I left the Navy to stay home with the kids and finally pursue photography seriously. Once my husband’s contract was up, we moved back to the Dallas area, and here we are!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My largest struggles have mostly been due to being a military family. We usually were only in one location for just enough time to get settled and start getting established before picking up and moving. I got more inquiries from Chicago in the single month after we moved to Dallas than I had received in the six months prior. It was always hard to build the business up, knowing that it would only be temporary. If I were to go back, I would probably tell myself to slow down a bit and enjoy that season more.
Christina Freeman Photography – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I seek to be genuine, both in my life and in my photography. I have tried so hard at times to be someone I’m not, and have discovered I am a much better person and photographer when I focus on the beautiful imperfections instead. For these reasons, I seek to keep things simple — the focus in my photography is always on the story I am trying to tell. I love to celebrate the everyday stories of individuals’ lives, from beginning to end. There is a reason why my motto for my company is “capturing joy amidst the chaos.” I truly believe that the joy and beauty in our lives is found amidst the everyday chaos. I never want a client to feel stressed about looking or posing perfectly for our sessions together; I don’t want to capture the stress of something disingenuous. Instead, I seek to capture the joy found in everyday, imperfect moments.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
To me, success is where passion and reality meet. It is a wonderful thing when a person can make a career of doing something they love to do every day — something that makes them come alive and brings out the very best in them. Obviously, bills still have to be paid (which is where reality comes in), but many of the most successful individuals I have known in my life have not been the richest, but rather the most joyful. They have found that sweet spot where they are able to care for their families while every day bringing the very best of themselves to their work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christinafreemanphotography.com
- Phone: 940.453.4962
- Email: christinafreemanphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/christinafreemanphotos
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/christinafreemanphotography
Image Credit:
Headshot c/o Nicole Aston Photo. All others Christina Freeman Photography.
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