We had the good fortune of connecting with Christie Abascal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Soon after the pandemic began, I found out that I was at risk of losing my teaching job due to budget cuts and a school closure. It was the second time I had been in this situation at the school within the last few years and I was terrified of having no other income to fall back on if I were to be let go. Thankfully, I was able to keep my job but it was exactly the fire I needed to finally start my own small business.

I had thought about starting a photography business for a while but didn’t have the capital to invest in a full-frame camera, something I personally felt necessary before diving in. At this point, I had been practicing my composition with friends and family for a couple years so I knew I had the skills (or at least the beginnings of them) to start offering sessions. Luckily, between the money I saved from not shopping at Target multiple times per week and receiving our stimulus checks, the pandemic helped kickstart my business and before I knew it, I had the money I needed to invest in new gear. I would like to add that I am extremely grateful that I was able to use our stimulus money towards my business, as I know many struggled and lost their jobs during the pandemic.

As soon as I purchased my new camera body and lens, I started making moves to create a name for my business and a target market. I knew starting with families would be the easiest way to build rapport and trust in my community while working on perfecting my style and skill. That said, I knew right from the start that my goal would be to specialize in elopements and intimate weddings. I had no interest in shooting large, traditional weddings, as it just didn’t fit my personality. It took a few months but I was soon booking intimate weddings and elopements both in Southern California and in other destination locations.

At this point in my photography career, I market myself as an elopement and lifestyle photographer, combining both my love of working with couples and families in a fun, documentary style. I love both aspects equally because I know I am capturing memories for my clients that will last a lifetime.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I first started my photography career, I didn’t know exactly what my style would be or how to even get there. I had seen photographers like India Earl, Anni Graham, and The Hearnes doing things that I loved and truly felt from an artistic standpoint. So my goal began to try to create something that felt a little like all of those styles combined. Over time my style has evolved to something I like to consider dreamy, somewhat documentary, warm, and romantic. I lean heavily into the photojournalistic style, especially during family sessions and throughout elopement days. That said, I am not afraid to prompt and pose to get some of those hero shots too. I like to believe I have a good balance between the two, which is fairly unique.

Aside from being proud of my style, I am extremely proud of the relationships I am able to build with my clients. Creating that rapport and trust with them truly helps me do my job to the best of my ability. I also like to believe that it creates a small community where many of my clients have slowly become friends that I am excited to see pop up on my social media feed with their own exciting life happenings and milestones, some of which I have even been able to be part of multiple times!

It is difficult to speak on how I am here today professionally without acknowledging the positive impact my family and friends have had throughout this journey. From helping with our kiddos to modeling for me to sharing my posts on social media, I have been surrounded by people who have been cheering me on since day one. That said, there have definitely been challenges along the way such as a massive rebranding only a year after starting my business, figuring out the work-life balance with my family, and even a little bit of imposter syndrome. Of course, all of these things, while difficult, have actually led to more success in my business and growth in myself as a person.

I would say the biggest lesson I have learned along the way is to show up as your most authentic self. Pretending to be someone else or staying quiet about things you are passionate about doesn’t really help anyone. I found more community in my business and life the moment I began showing my true self and not just the version I thought people wanted to see. The hard part is realizing that you may not be everyone’s cup of tea (or photographer) and that is totally okay. There is someone out there for everyone and I know that by being myself will help attract clients who can relate and appreciate the authenticity.

If I had to choose something I would want everyone to know about me and my business is that I am here to tell your story. As a parent, I am hyper aware of how fast time comes and goes and wanting to hold on to those memories. Whether we are talking about the day of your elopement or your holiday family session, I know that those moments are fleeting and how important it is to capture them because before we know it, your wedding day is over and the kids are all grown up. Making sure that those memories live on forever is incredibly important to me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of my favorite places to spend time in San Diego have been:

-Sunset Cliffs: the sunsets here are just spectacular. Bring a bottle of wine and a little picnic and you are all set for a romantic date!

-Cabrillo National Monument: I love the short hikes in this lesser known park! There are fantastic views of the city and incredible sunset views as well.

-San Diego Zoo: I feel like this is an obvious one but with kids in tow, we absolutely love visiting the zoo! Not only is it a fun, all day outing, it is a great way to get outside!

-Pump Coffee: I absolutely love this little coffee shop! Not only is their crafted coffee amazing, their pastries are delicious too.

Bonus:

-Anza Borrego State Park: While not in San Diego, I tell everyone that is visiting that they absolutely MUST take a day trip here to explore the slot canyon. It is the coolest place ever—highly recommend as a day trip!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I think of my success in this business, a few people come to mind. First, my husband, AJ, has been a rock through all of the small business highs and lows. He has taken time away from his own busy schedule to help me with our two small children and has sacrificed relaxing weekends so that I could build my business. He has endured endless talk about the photography world, editing, timelines, locations, and crazy ideas. I literally wouldn’t be able to do this without him and am eternally grateful for his patience and always being in my corner.

The second person that comes to mind is my sister-in-law, Stephanie. She is also a photographer and small business owner and has cheered me on from day one. She encouraged me to start this business years ago and helped push me to take the leap. She and my brother have modeled for me when I’ve wanted to try shooting at new locations and hyped me up to the masses. I truly couldn’t ask for a better sister and best friend.

The last person (or people) I want to recognize are my children, Luca and Siena. They were my first muses and have been an inspiration to me from the beginning. I hope that one day they see that their mom built something special from the ground up and know that they too can do anything they want in life.

Website: www.summitandsur.com

Instagram: @summitandsur

Facebook: @summitandsur