Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Casner Belknap.
Claire, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was 14, a family friend was showing us some prints she had just gotten back and I remember being mesmerized by the look and quality. They were not the standard glossy prints I was used to seeing, they were matte prints with a white border and I later came to learn that they were from a film camera. I ran home and told my parents about it and officially started saving for a film camera of my own. Finally, the time came and my dad took me to go buy a camera. Once home, I immediately ran outside and started taking photos of anything and everything. I loved it because it got me exploring outside. I went on to take every photo class possible in high school and began processing my own film as well as printing in the dark room. I was a Fine Arts Major at The University of Texas and specialized in Photography. Like most Fine Art Majors, one of the hardest parts after graduation is figuring out how to make a living doing what you love. I moved back to Dallas and got some experience with natural light portraits and about a year into that job a friend asked if I could shoot a small wedding and the rest is history.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning your own business is a constant learning experience. Recently, I have been thinking about how glad I am that I DIDN’T KNOW all that it entails before I started because I probably wouldn’t have started if I did. The best advice is to just start where you are and learn as you go. You won’t ever know everything or be great at every aspect but you can hire and consult with experts that are! So, while it’s not always fun, it’s definitely important to recognize your weaknesses as much as your strengths.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a Film Wedding and Portrait Photographer. I am based out of Dallas but travel often for destination weddings.
My style is elegant, timeless and genuine. I would say that I am laid back and honest when working with my clients and that my open approach puts those in front of my camera at ease and helps them to realize they can be themselves too. I am also super sentimental so that keeps me looking for moments that might seem small but are really impactful when looking back on your wedding day. I always try to keep it fun and memorable because having been married within the past few years myself, I know that it all goes by too fast.
My favorite part of what I do is making a personal connection with my couples! I get to form so many friendships and meet so many people that I wouldn’t meet otherwise.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Oh, yes! My bedside table has stacks of books.
I love anything by Brene Brown and I also love Girl Wash Your Face for a good boost of motivation.
I listen to Super Soul Sundays, Happier and a lot of Ted Talks.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.clairecasner.com
- Email: claire@clairecasner.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/claire_casner
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clairecasnerphotography/
Image Credit:
Claire Casner Photography
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