Chrysty Clarkson Photography
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I'm taking a break from photography....

7/6/2016

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These are my two daughters, my reason for starting my photography business, and the lights of my life!

Throughout my photography sessions with families, I always take time to chat and get to know my clients.  The most often asked question I get is, "So how did you get started with photography?"

The answer is simple.  I needed money.

But my story is long.  Stick with me.

I have always loved photography and loved seeing beautiful photos.  It wasn't until my second daughter was born that I purchased my first D-SLR camera.  I bought it because I was spending so much money going to photography studios to have my kids' photos done that I figured I might as well save a few bucks and have fun doing it myself.

I taught myself how to use the camera and played around with Photoshop.  I participated in a ton of Flickr groups (a photography social media website) and that really helped me to learn my camera settings.  I eventually took a few courses at the local community college to gain more experience as well.  I posted my fun photos on Flickr and on my personal Facebook page and my family and friends were loving them!

During this time, I went through a divorce.  It was really hard going down to just one income.  I am a teacher full time and my teaching salary was not enough to support me and my two daughters.  I was making $35,000 with 8 years of teaching experience here in Arizona, but I couldn't even afford to go to the grocery store and buy anything except the bare essentials.  I was going to Goodwill for sweatshirts for my kids and asking my ex-husband to buy them shoes because I didn't have an extra dollar laying around.  I knew I had to get another job, but I didn't know what I could do that would bring in enough money, yet also have a flexible schedule so I could work when my kids were at their dad's house.

It started with a mutual friend...an attorney who needed a headshot for his website and business cards.  I had no idea what to charge, but I was so excited!  I wanted to do a great job for him!
From there I had lots of friends ask me to take their family photos for Christmas cards, maternity photos, or senior pictures.  My business had slowly began!

I maybe had one or two jobs each month, but every little bit helped!  I started my website here www.chrystyclarksonphotography.com and started my Facebook photography page www.facebook.com/chrystyclarksonphotography.  Friends of friends began contacting me for photos.  I had never taken a business course, but luckily I am very organized and detail driven.  I set up spreadsheets for my client information, made template emails, set up billing accounts and a business bank account, got business cards made, and stayed on top of everything.  I started my business all by myself without any help and it was slowly growing and bringing in additional income.

My big break came when Living Social (similar to Groupon) contacted me about running a photography ad with them in September of 2012.  I immediately said yes because it seemed like a great idea to get a few more clients in the door.  The coupon would be for a $39 photo session for one hour that included a free 11x14 print.  I would keep $19 of that $39 and then Living Social kept the rest.  I was not expecting the hundreds of inquiries I would receive because of that ad!  I had a ton of people purchase the coupon and start contacting me immediately to set up their photo session.  It was so exciting!  I went from 1 or 2 photo sessions a month, to 5 or 6 a week!  It was amazing!

Looking back, I am thankful for Living Social because it really boosted my business.  However, it was for very little money.  To receive less than $20 to drive sometimes an hour to meet a client, spend an hour shooting them, then driving back home, spending 2-3 hours editing the session, spending 1-2 hours uploading images, blogging, adding some to Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest, emailing clients, and paying for the 11x14 print myself and then also paying to mail the print to the client's home was definitely not worth $19.  But I wouldn't have expanded my client base so quickly without it, so I am forever thankful for the opportunity!

With my check from Living Social, I remember the first present I bought myself was a Keurig coffee machine!  God knows I needed that extra caffeine for what was coming....

Those months following were the busiest of my life.  Besides working full time as a 7th grade math teacher and being a mom, I was also tutoring multiple times a week before and after school, driving my kids to various sports and activities after school, in charge of putting together my school yearbook, and also coaching the girls basketball team at my school.  I was working my butt off to make sure my bills were paid and I was able to finally purchase things for my daughters.

This busy lifestyle has continued since then.  As I have continued to grow and gotten more training, I have been able to raise my prices and thus take on fewer clients.  I have gotten a little bit of free time back, but not much.  I was able to stop coaching and working on yearbook.  I finally cut back and stopped tutoring this past year as well.  I have been able to not only start saving money, but also have hired a financial adviser who has set up additional retirement resources for me.  I have been able to afford to take my daughters on vacations and trips and make lots of memories with them!

Photography takes a lot of work.  People sometimes think it's just fun and you go out and take some photos of people and it's easy.  I'm not going to lie.  It IS fun!  And when it's fun, it does come easily!  However, it takes a lot of time.  Between teaching full time, doing photography at what could be full time, and also being a mom, I am getting burned out.  I spend all my free time in front of a computer editing, responding to emails, or out doing photo shoots.  During the busy part of the year, October-December, I have ZERO time to spend with my own family.  This last October I didn't even have a free weekend to take my daughters to a pumpkin patch or do those fun Halloween-type activities (and Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday!)  I had little time to decorate for any of the holidays.  Even by Christmas, I didn't have time to do my Christmas shopping until just days before Christmas.  I have missed my oldest daughter's soccer games on numerous occasions because I am at a photo shoot.  I don't have time to read to my youngest because "Mommy needs to get back downstairs so I can get some more editing done before I go to bed."  My daughters are 8 and 10 years old and I can't afford to miss these special years in their lives!

And my body aches!  Carrying my camera equipment on photo shoots and standing and bending constantly with little ones, and chasing them around during a shoot, makes my back hurt.  After a newborn shoot my body is so sore for a day or two from being constantly scrunched over the little one and keeping them safe.

My family and I have decided that photography needs to take a backseat for awhile.  Maybe forever.  I want to spend time focusing on my main objective, which is my family.  I want to spend October driving up north and going on a hay ride at a pumpkin patch or going hiking in Sedona while the leaves are changing colors.  I want to spend November planning Thanksgiving and just enjoying the cooler weather here in Phoenix.  And I can't wait to spend December making cookies with my family, decorating the house, and getting into the holiday spirit!

I am so incredibly thankful that God blessed me with this photography career.  I am thankful for every single one of my clients, especially those who have come to me year after year.  I have loved getting to know each of you and seeing your children grow up over the years!  Photography not only helped my family financially, but it also helped me personally.  I have always been a very introverted person with severe social anxiety.  I hated meeting new people and I always felt like I had nothing to say in conversations.  Photography pushed me to break out of that shell.  If I wanted to be a successful photographer, I was going to have to be friendly with strangers and make small talk and do those types of things that had scared me before.  I'm happy to say that now I can strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone and I don't worry about it!  Small talk doesn't bother me because I love talking with clients!  I feel like I have made so many new friends over the years!

Thank you for your continued support!
​
Lots of love,
Chrysty
3 Comments

Baby Noah's newborn session:  Phoenix, AZ

5/12/2016

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Introducing adorable baby Noah!  He was so squishy and cute and I had so much fun doing this photo shoot!  We had the whole family at my home for this session and it was so lovely to meet them all!

Here are some of my favorites from the session.
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I love that he was awake for some of the shots!  He was so observant and loved looking around!

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An adorable family shot is always a must!

Mommy & baby photos are always a favorite of mine!  I love how this photo came out in black & white!
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Grandpa is a firefighter in Illinois and came to Arizona for Noah's birth.  He brought some of his fire gear for our newborn photos!  I loved it!!

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Noah on his daddy's Air Force gear.  So tiny!!

Thank you for letting me share in this special time!  I loved meeting your family!

If you are looking for a newborn photographer in the Phoenix area, please contact me at chrystyclarkson@yahoo.com
​Thanks!
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Kyler's senior session: Sonoran Desert

4/11/2016

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I have known this handsome, young man since he was in 7th grade!  He has grown up so much since then!  
We met up in the desert near our houses in North Phoenix, off Sonoran Desert Dr.  We went to the Apache Wash Trailhead and got some great photos with the gorgeous mountains around us.  I love the different textures and backgrounds!
Kyler has such a great smile and we got so many great photos in a short time!!  :-)

Thanks for a fun time, Kyler!
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I am still booking senior sessions for spring, 2016!  Please contact me at chrystyclarkson@yahoo.com to book your session!
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Preston's newborn session:  Phoenix, AZ

4/9/2016

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Introducing baby Preston....just 10 days brand new!  

I was lucky enough to also photograph his big sister for her newborn session.  I love seeing families over and over throughout the years and seeing the kids grow up!

Preston slept really well for our first hour or so and we got some gorgeous, sleepy shots!  He loved being bundled up and wrapped, so I was able to get lots of different shots with some of my colorful wraps.  He is such a great baby!!  I am truly blessed to have this job!

Here are just a few of my favorites from our shoot!
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Juniper's 1st birthday photos:  February 27

3/16/2016

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When Mom contacted me to ask about doing Juniper's first birthday photos, my first thought was, "No way has it been a year!  I swear I just did her maternity photos a few months ago!"  Time sure flies!!
Look at how grown up this little peanut has gotten!  She did a great job for our session and was full of smiles!
We met at Anthem Park where we also did Mom & Dad's maternity photos.  It was a GORGEOUS day out and Juniper was in a great mood for photos!  With just a few teeth coming in and her adorable "Pebbles" hairstyle, she was the cutest little one-year old ever!
​Here are some of my favorites from the day!
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Happy 1st birthday, baby Juniper!

If you are looking to have your family photos done in the Phoenix area, contact me at chrystyclarkson@yahoo.com
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Allie's Senior Session at Anthem Park

3/8/2016

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I love doing senior sessions, especially when they are former students of mine!  This adorable girl is graduating from Boulder Creek High School already and I feel like it was just yesterday that she was in my 7th grade math classroom.  Time sure does fly!
I love that she has kept in touch with me over the years and I am so proud of the kind, beautiful woman she has become.  I had so much fun during our session!  It was a beautiful spring day here in Phoenix, Arizona and we got a TON of gorgeous shots!
Congrats on your upcoming graduation, Allie!
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If you are looking to have your high school senior portraits taken, please contact me at chrystyclarkson@yahoo.com
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Reagan's newborn session:  February 6

2/26/2016

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I am so honored to have parents that come back with their newborns for me to photograph after doing the older siblings!
I met this beautiful couple first when I did their maternity photos before their son was born.  I have been lucky enough to photograph their family many times over the years!  I was so excited to meet their newest addition, Reagan.  She was absolutely perfect and I loved all the pink colors!  She is going to be a girly girl and protected by her big brother who loves her dearly!
​Look at this little angel!
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Thank you for another beautiful session!
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Roger's newborn session:  January 31

2/15/2016

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Introducing baby Roger!  He was such a sweet little man and slept really well for the first half of our session!  Luckily I got a ton of great sleepy photos before he decided to be wide awake!  
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Such a beautiful, sweet family!  Thanks for sharing your beautiful, little man with me for the day!

If you are looking for a newborn photographer in the Phoenix area, please contact me at chrystyclarkson@yahoo.com
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Serrano family at CCV Peoria

2/8/2016

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Our session started with dark skies and incoming rain, but luckily within 20 minutes the sun came out!  The beautiful skies made a perfect backdrop to our family session today!
These 3 kids were absolutely hilarious and so much fun to photograph!  They had 3 very different personalities and the two little girls reminded me so much of my own 2 little ones.  They were so cute and I know Mom and Dad will LOVE the photos of them all!
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If you are looking for a family photographer in the Phoenix area, please email me at chrystyclarkson@yahoo.com
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Grimes family January 31, 2016 at CCV Peoria Campus

2/8/2016

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It's rare to have a stormy, gray day in Phoenix in January, so I was a little worried when looking at the weather forecast for my photo shoot day.  Rain was coming, but since it wasn't going to hit until the evening, we decided to take advantage of the clouds and get some great photos with the beautiful diffused sunlight!
We met up at CCV in Peoria to take advantage of the gorgeous rock backdrops and desert landscaping.

I was looking forward to seeing this family again since I last saw them over a year ago when I did senior photos for their middle child.  Her senior pictures are some of my FAVORITE photos ever!
And I was excited to see their youngest daughter, as I had her in my math class about 4 years ago and haven't seen her since then!  I love seeing my old students as they grow up!

Thanks for a wonderful afternoon, Grimes family!  Here are some of my favorite photos from our day!
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If you are looking for family photos in the Phoenix area, please contact me at chrystyclarkson@yahoo.com
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    Chrysty Clarkson

    Specializing in family photography, as well as newborns and high school seniors

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