Today we’d like to introduce you to Christen Talley.
Hi Christen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I come by my passion for photography honestly. My mom loved capturing those memories between me and my sister growing up on kodak cameras. She’d always print them as little 4×6’s, then stash them away in a shoebox underneath our beds. It wasn’t very often that we got to look through them; life is busy. But when we did, we’d always get that warm, fuzzy feeling going down memory lane. Being in the industry as a “shoot-and-burn” photographer for 10+ years, I went back and asked my previous clients what they did with their images after they received their digital gallery. Every one of them admitted they put them up on social media, got their 15 minutes of fame. But ultimately filed it away on their computer or on a flash drive that’s now in a junk drawer, having good intentions of getting them printed but never had the time or skill to. That’s when I realized that digital files on a flash drive in a junk drawer really is no different than stashing 4×6’s in shoeboxes underneath our beds. So I made it my mission to help my clients get the fullest out of their sessions and became a boutique photographer, offering a higher, luxury service from start to finish. Displaying their custom art on the wall so every time they walk through their homes, they get that same warm, fuzzy feeling every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Challenges will always be present when running a business. Learning what to do next and being able to shift when obstacles are in your way. I realized I was doing a disservice to my clients by not finishing their art for them. However, being a boutique photographer is very different from regular photographers – it takes a lot of educating my clients why it is so important to get back to the physical media and how to do so. That’s why I take the extra steps before our session by offering a complimentary consultation to determine if we are a right fit. And instead of sending you on your way with a digital gallery at the end of the day and saying “good luck!”, I hold your hand through the entire process – from planning your outfit to fit your homes style, to planning activities for your session, to helping you make those hard decisions on what is best for your home and your needs.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in families creating beautiful, large wall-art to decorate their home and bring families closer together. I do that by holding your hand through the entire process. From planning your session at your consultation, to fun activities during your session, to your ordering session where I help you make those hard decisions on what to do next, even to hanging your art on your wall for you. Every session is curated to fit the needs of each individual client, so you get everything that you need and nothing that you don’t. I photograph a little bit of everything, but families and life stages are my passion. I want to be a fly on the wall and capture memories made with your family without all the stress.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My husband and I finished building our first home together in 2024, one of our longest projects since purchasing 50+ acres of raw land in the county in 2018. After many contractors that simply weren’t there to listen to our needs, I restructured my business to be sure my clients would be treated the way I’d expect to be treated. I wanted someone that heard me, understood me, and wanted to help me. When I recognized that my previous clients had a need of finishing out their art, I stepped into action to create heirloom quality products that were made specially for them! I don’t work to make a sale, I work to bring my clients closer to their families and make a house feel more like a home.
Pricing:
- Every session is curated to fit the needs of the client, so every package is created according to their needs analysis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christentalleyphotography.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christentalleyphotograph
Image Credits
Christen Talley Photography
