Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Woodford.
Hi Crystal , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I would love to walk you through my story of how I started and how I got to where I am today. Growing up, I loved to create! I loved drawing, I loved building, and yes, taking photos. I didn’t truly find my passion for photography until my junior year of college, when I won an award for one of my photos on film at an Art Show put on by my college and a college the next town over. I would say the beginning of my photography journey was always underneath the surface, but I remember my college roommate asked me to take her first baby’s maternity photos. I remember feeling like I wasn’t going to be able to produce for her what I would want to produce for my college roommate’s first baby. After she begged me and spoke confidence into my heart, I ended up buying my first camera and on that beautiful summer evening, captured my first clients, back in 2010. It took a few years of practice and consistency before I was encouraged that I had a gift and I needed to utilize it. So in 2014, I started my photography business and began to step into the lives of people. I really developed my craft over the years and in 2018, when I began to see a bit of a change and maturity in my frames, I decided that it was time to then also find a new name and it was here that I changed my business name to America Roe Photography LLC. You’re probably wondering how America Roe was birthed? Well, I love that I live here in America where we get to run after our dreams and “Roe” stands for a unique trait and beautiful, which I find this medium to be both of these.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This is an excellent question. I am self taught, self trained; from Photoshop to Lightroom to learning my camera to understanding, light, etc.,which has been so much fun. I’ve also developed all of my websites and am my own social media manager, so these have been excellent and fun challenges to have been able to figure out. And as an Entrepreneur, I always hope that with each circumstance or challenge, to choose to learn from each and every interaction that I have inorder to become better. Within this medium of Photography, there has to be a yielding to the process of Art and once I decided to surrender and allow Art to guide and lead/flow, as an artist, I noticed that my photography began to evolve, and I was really then able to capture moments as my heart longed to capture for my clients. Additionally, with all dreams and being an entrepreneur, the desire to hustle, create connections, and fuel the passion continues to develop this craft. I still go door to door to introduce myself to business owners who may need my eye to capture their passions to show their clients, and I gave current clients recommend me to their loved ones- which is such an honor. I think as far as struggles: with any client facing and client driven role there are always going to be opportunities to develop as an Artist and Business Owner; to have a growth mindset to approach every new opportunity, potentially different because each and every life, every person, every session, every frame is going to be different from one session to the next. It has been such a fun experience. I absolutely love my clients and feel so honored that they allow me the privilege to capture their life’s moments.
As an encouragement for people who are wanting to start their business and to live out their passion: we have to remember that we are here to serve and honor both our craft and our passion, and then also those we are stepping in to serve. So yes, there will always be challenges, but it’s what we do with those challenges to progress and become better: for our passion and for those we are serving.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Portrait Photographer, so I specialize in capturing life’s beautiful moments and being able to memorialize them for my clients through Prints to Heirloom Albums. This approach as a business model is VERY different, because I have chosen to be a full service photographer for my clients. This means: I omit giving high resolution digital images with my sessions (I know, gasp! ), because I want my clients to experience their moments in a tangible way, which is in the end, is having high quality, beautiful fine art prints or heirloom albums for their space that they can enjoy and look at every single day, and pass down to their children. Imagine if Grandpa and Grandma hadn’t printed off their photos. I know after my Grandpa passed away this past November, when we got home from his funeral, my mom and I sat down and looked at photos of him. Photos from 1960 that were prints! I am so happy to have these and want to give my clients the same when that day comes.
I would say as far as my photography style: I am passionate about being able to capture these microseconds, micro expressions. These beautiful snapshots are my clients’ lives so I would say that compositionally, I am wanting to really capture the feeling in the moment. I am a photographer who loves to see that quick smile exchange between a sweet couple, as well as that sweet little moment of two sisters playing in the grass and laughing at one another. I also love being able to capture professionals with my Headshot Sessions and Business Events as well. I have been able to really provide amazing moments for all of my clients. But I would definitely say that when you look at my work, you see the feeling and are able to just embrace that. In essence, I am most proud of the fact that I am in love with Jesus, the ultimate Creator. All that I capture…He has created. I want to reflect His beauty and for my clients to experience these beautiful, memorable moments this life has to offer. I know how quickly beautiful moments pass us by…so I use this medium to be the container I bottle these moments that become whispers of our past. I want my life to make an impact and for this gift to inspire and honor the lives of others.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Wow, that is another great question. I think the most important lesson that I’ve learned along my journey is tapping to who I am and to live that out without hesitation and with confidence, and to make sure that I surround myself with people who are going to see that gift set and also speak life into me so that I can live this passion out. We have to have our people: those who will encourage, because it can be hard owning a business that is in the Art sector! And to be a Portrait Photographer (when this is a different business model) there’s a lot of ups and downs. Being a business owner who is a creative: there are dry seasons and there are vibrant seasons, and I think the most important lesson that I’ve learned is to just do the best that I can. To serve my clients who find me and who allow me the honor to capture their moments and to give them my heart fully. It’s vulnerable and humbling. To know that I have been chosen, for such a time as this, to step into their lives and to capture their sweet moments that they will be able to look at and think, “Oh my gosh this is my life!! It is so beautiful!” So I think it is making sure that I’m being true to myself and to honoring this gift that has been gifted to me, so that I can give this gift of joy and love to others for their lives and their homes. To also be an encouragement to other entrepreneurs and professionals to keep doing what they love, too! When you shine your light, you can perhaps can be a beacon that guides others in their journey too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.americaroephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americaroephotography/
