Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Connell.
Christie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my love affair with documenting life while I was in high school. I jumped right in and got both feet wet being the head of the yearbook. I attended Providence College and Rhode Island School of Design to pursue a photography and psychology double major. I started working for a studio while still in college and became classically trained in medium format film.
As most life-changing events often happen, a two-week sojourn to Europe opened my eyes. Sipping family made wine while taking in the awe-inspiring views of the Italian Riviera, I had an epiphany: I was going to make a new way of life. I left the studio I had been with for seven years to venture out on my own. Azure was born in 2006 and would be named after the enchanting shade of blue used to describe the Mediterranean.
My husband and I moved from New England in 2013. While I was born and raised a Rhode Island girl, I fell in love with McKinney instantly. The process of rebuilding in Texas has been aided by the wonderful community I am blessed to be a part of in the Downtown square.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting a business is always going to require hard work. You need to get your name out to people that may not know who you are. It is even more challenging when you are new to an area, as I was in Texas. Referrals are a huge part of the photography industry so I was basically starting from scratch upon my arrival here. I spent three years building my clientele from my second floor studio in Downtown McKinney. In June of 2017 I realized one of my professional goals and moved to a storefront in the square. It has always been my belief that if you stay true to yourself, you will find your tribe. Embrace what makes you unique instead of trying to be mainstream and your audience will find you.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Azure Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Azure Photography is a full service photography studio. Having a brick and mortar studio allows for limitless in-studio and on-location options. What truly sets us apart from the competition is the experience we create with our clients. From the session to the packaging, our personal touch comes across to the client so they know they are considered part of the Azure family.
One of Azure’s first clients were the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution. Needless to say that was a dream job but the commute from Texas made it difficult to maintain. The experience of photographing professional sports coupled with thousands of weddings, refines a skill set that knows the perfect moment to capture. Since establishing our studio in Texas we have done commercial work with Dude Perfect, NERF, Warner Brothers and Honeywell. We specialize in weddings, family, headshots and high school senior portraits as well as commercial work. It is amazing to think our images can be found in the aisles of Lowe’s, Target AND your living room.
Working with people and building relationships is the utmost importance. Many people are not comfortable in front of the camera and we love the challenge of making someone feel natural and comfortable during the session. Nothing brings us more pride than having a mom tell us how much her husband or kids hate taking photos and then after the session we get a note about what a great time they had and how they can’t wait to do it again. We are real and sassy which most people find refreshing. We use studio lighting techniques to create bold beautiful colors that make you look your best in a timeless photo.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I would not have thought I could find a smaller town feel than being born and raised in Rhode Island. I love that a town of nearly 180,000 can maintain a small town feel so successfully. DownTown McKinney called to me the moment I first visited the quaint square. I felt like I had been transported to the quintessential Americana town. I knew my boutique photo studio would be a perfect fit within that community.
I would love to see the city as bustling into the evening hours as it is during the day. As the city continues to grow and change I think the downtown demographic will strengthen its demographic to be more lively. Downtown additions such as the Comedy Arena and Davis at the Square will continue to make those strides possible.
Contact Info:
- Address: 113 S Tennessee Street
McKinney, TX 75069 - Website: www.azurephotostudio.com
- Phone: 469.400.8155
- Email: info@azurephotostudio.com
Image Credit:
Andy Riley Photography – personal photo
Azure Photography
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