Meet Christa McConnell | Owner, Christa McConnell Photography

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

Hi Christa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Having my own business is something I always wanted to pursue. While I was in school I had all these projects to brand yourself, and I always took them very seriously. I wanted to be my own boss and make it work. When I graduated, I had the opportunity to give it a go. I built up my portfolio and started the process of refining who I was as a photographer and what I was going to photograph. Those early days were hard, but I loved it! Having my own business lets me have the flexibility to photograph what I want and how I want. I feel like I can give my clients exactly what they want. I love photography and I love getting people excited about photography. Having my own business lets me share my passion for photography with others!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When people ask me what kind of photographer I am I tell them I photograph life cycles: people get engaged, married, have children, then those children turn into seniors, and get engaged… and the life cycle continues. There of course is more to it than that, but every moment of our lives is something special and I want to be there to capture it. You especially see the cycle with children. They grow so fast, you blink and they’ve changed. It’s one of the reason I love photography so much. I can capture that moment and it’s there forever for people to remember and enjoy! What I like to do for my clients is make sure that the images I capture represent them. I want their personality, their lives, to shine through. I tell all my seniors, “Don’t wear things that aren’t you. These photos are of you and about you.” Hopefully when all of my clients look back at their photos, they see themselves for the beautiful people that they are! One of my favorite aspects of photographing people is not photographing them at all, but getting to know them. Especially for weddings, when you know your photographer, you will get better photographs. I like to think that every person I photograph is a friend. I love talking with clients and getting to know them. It’s an aspect that I didn’t expect when I first started my business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Indianapolis is a beautiful city. I would first take them to the Canal Walk Downtown. It takes you by some museums and some lovely art. Then for lunch we would go to Bluebeard. The food is so amazing! Then we would go to Newfields for the afternoon to enjoy art and the outdoors. The next day we would drive up to Turkey Run State Park. It has a beautiful hiking trail that takes you through a canyon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband. From the very beginning of my journey he was there supporting me. While we were in school he helped me with my projects and when I was just starting out he encouraged me and worked all the numbers with me so we could make my business a success. We’ve been together for 18 years and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am professionally without him. He is an amazing person and an amazing photographer as well!

Website: https://www.christamcconnell.com

Instagram: @christamcconnell

Image Credits
Christa McConnell