We’re looking forward to introducing you to Meredith Gruenes . Check out our conversation below.
Hi Meredith , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Robert Frost once wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
Let’s play a game. You’re in the middle of the woods. You come across two paths. One has a sign that reads: This is the path of simple. You will always know where you’re going, and it will never be scary. The other says: Adventurous. Unpredictable. Can be scary at times.
Which one would you choose?
For a long time, I thought the goal was to find a path — something clear, linear, safe. But the truth is, you never truly get anywhere meaningful by walking in a straight line. Growth happens in the mountains. In the river crossings. In the unexpected stretches of Death Valley. In the lush, tangled rainforests.
My journey as an artist began in nature. Before I ever photographed people, I learned how to listen to the world. One of the moments that shaped me most happened at Franz Jevne State Park. It was pouring rain — the kind that soaks you instantly, where the whole forest smells like pine and earth. I was completely alone, standing at the edge of the Canadian border, staring across the river as it churned and moved with purpose.
And then something hit me — a moment of stillness in the middle of the storm. I felt infinite, like a little girl twirling in her favorite dress, weightless and completely unselfconscious. For just a breath, the world stretched wide open, and I could finally understand why I was here. I felt God whispering that my purpose was simple: to remind people how breathtaking and sacred this world truly is — and to remind them that they are important, beautiful, and deeply human too. In that moment, photography became more than a craft. It became a calling.
But purpose doesn’t protect you from doubt.
When I transitioned from nature photography into portraits, I hit one of the hardest seasons of my life. I couldn’t book clients. Every door that I tried to open seemed to close just as fast. I began to question everything — my talent, my direction, my identity. I wondered if I had misheard my calling in the woods that day.
At my lowest point, I grabbed a notebook, got in my car, and just drove. No destination. Just miles of road, my thoughts, and a quiet prayer for direction. I asked God to show me what to do next.
And after that road trip, something changed. Slowly at first, then with momentum. I booked my first weddings. More inquiries came. Little by little, the narrative shifted from “I can’t do this” to “I can do this.” And eventually, to “I was always meant to do this.”
Photography taught me steadfastness. Persistence. Endurance. Faith. Healing isn’t linear, and neither is art. Some days I walk with intention; other days I wander. But I’ve learned that wandering doesn’t mean being lost. Sometimes wandering is exactly where life happens — the very joy that becomes the images I create.
So if you ask whether I’m walking on a path or wandering?
I’m wandering — joyfully, faithfully, curiously. Because as Bob Ross said, there are no mistakes… only happy accidents.
And some of mine have led me exactly where I needed to be.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Meredith, the owner of Cross Lake Media. I’m a wedding and lifestyle photographer and social media manager based in Minnesota. I started Cross Lake Media in October 2020 from my kitchen table, originally as a creative outlet while I traveled across Minnesota and Wisconsin, hiking state parks and photographing the quiet, untamed beauty of the natural world. While my business has evolved since then, my passion for capturing small, meaningful moments remains at the heart of everything I create. Every session and every wedding reminds me of the world’s true beauty — and how a single click can preserve time.
As a documentary photographer, my lens is a tool for storytelling. I’m drawn to the raw and unfiltered moments — the soft ones, the honest ones, the ones you feel in your chest. Every photograph becomes a window into the human experience, revealing emotions that words don’t always know how to hold. Through observation, empathy, and a commitment to authenticity, I aim to highlight the beauty in vulnerability, the joy in connection, and even the quiet weight of sorrow.
My work is shaped by faith, grounded in curiosity, and guided by the belief that there is extraordinary meaning in the in-between moments. Whether I’m documenting a wedding, a family session, or a fleeting expression you didn’t know anyone else saw — I’m there to honor your story with the same reverence I once held for the wild places that raised me as an artist.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that shaped how I see the world didn’t happen in some breathtaking location — it happened at my kitchen table during COVID. Life had paused, the world felt frightening and uncertain, and yet something inside me began to wake up. I started picking up my camera again, not for clients or deadlines, but because I needed to remember that beauty still existed somewhere.
Those early days taught me to slow down. To pay attention. To look for the small, quiet miracles happening right in front of me. From that kitchen table, I dreamed about the kind of life I wanted to build — one rooted in creativity, purpose, and connection. Eventually, when the world opened back up, I stepped outside with new eyes. The light felt different. The ordinary felt sacred. And suddenly, I could see what I now call the “collateral beauty” of the world — the beauty that exists even in the middle of pain, uncertainty, or change.
That shift shaped everything about Cross Lake Media. It taught me that photography isn’t just about capturing perfect moments — it’s about honoring the real ones. The tender ones. The ones that remind us we are seen, known, and loved.
This is why I do what I do. Because during a time when the world felt shut down, photography helped open my heart. It reminded me that humans are resilient, stories are powerful, and that even in hard seasons, there is always something worth holding onto.
That kitchen-table moment changed how I see the world, and it continues to guide every photograph I take.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her that the things she’s scared of are the very things that will change her whole life. Fear doesn’t mean she’s on the wrong path — it means she’s standing at the edge of something important. She’s afraid because she thinks she’s going to fail, but that’s the beautiful part of life: even the failures become stepping stones. Even the missteps become lessons. And it’s okay not to have everything figured out yet.
I’d remind her that the things people picked on her for — her sensitivity, her depth, her way of seeing the world differently — will one day become her strongest qualities. The parts of herself she once tried to hide will become the very gifts that guide her purpose and help her tell stories with heart.
And I’d repeat the words a friend once told me — words I still carry close: “The sun will come out. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not even a year from now. But it will come out.”
I’d tell her to hold on. To stay soft. To trust the process. Because even on the days when everything feels heavy and uncertain, she is growing into someone she will one day be proud of.
You are not behind. You are becoming.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The project I’m committed to — no matter how long it takes — is building Cross Lake Media into a space where people feel truly seen. My mission isn’t just to take beautiful photos; it’s to create a brand that honors real human stories with authenticity, empathy, and intention.
At its core, Cross Lake Media is about connection. It’s about capturing moments that feel honest and alive — the kind of images that hold emotional weight years into the future. I’m committed to cultivating that trust with every client, wedding, family, brand, and community I serve.
I hold onto this reminder often: What a privilege to be tired from the work you once begged God for. What a privilege to feel overwhelmed by the growth you used to dream about. What a privilege to be challenged by a life you created on purpose. And what a privilege to outgrow things you used to settle for.
Those words keep me grounded. They remind me that this life, this business, this brand — it’s a privilege, even on the hardest days. They remind me that I’m building something I once prayed for.
2025 has already given me three powerful reminders of why I do this work, and why I’ll stay committed to this project for as long as it takes:
1. Dress for Success – Summit & EmPower 5K This year, I had the honor of photographing the Dress for Success Summit and EmPower 5K — an experience that moved me to tears behind my camera. Every photo reminded me what a gift it is to document stories that often go untold. I witnessed resilience, faith, joy, and the powerful community of women across Minnesota showing up for one another. It was a beacon of hope and one of the greatest honors of my career.
2. Aqua Essence Jewelry Company – Brand Storytelling Series A single comment on a Facebook post turned into a creative partnership I deeply value. Photographing Aqua Essence Jewelry Company — twice now — has been pure joy. Collaborating alongside talented hair artists, makeup artists, and models fueled my soul and reminded me of the magic that happens when small businesses and creatives come together to tell a story. Helping elevate another woman’s vision has been one of the highlights of my year.
3. The Power of Community – Growing an Unexpected Audience At the start of the year, I set a goal to reach 1.5k followers… then crossed it out and wrote 1.2k because I doubted myself. But then God laughed, and instead, it brought me a supportive community of people — many of whom I’ll never meet — who believed in my work before I fully believed in myself. Reaching 1.5k wasn’t just a number. It was a reminder that authenticity attracts connection, and that community can be built through heart, vulnerability, and staying true to your art.
These projects, these people, these moments — they reaffirm what Cross Lake Media stands for.
This isn’t a quick project; it’s a lifelong one. Cross Lake Media will continue to grow, evolve, and stretch as I do, but the mission remains the same: to create honest, heartfelt visual stories that make people feel known, valued, connected — and beautifully human.
If it takes years, decades, or a lifetime to build that legacy, I’m all in.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The mission of Cross Lake Media has always been simple: to tell people’s stories, celebrate life, and remind everyone that they are beautiful, loved, and seen. Every day, billions of moments happen — moments that might slip away unnoticed if someone doesn’t pause to honor them. Photographers are the keepers of these memories. We document the laughter, the tears, the small gestures, the in-between joy. We preserve the stories that current and future generations will look back on and say, “This is who we were. This is what we loved. This is how we lived.”
I hope people say that I didn’t just take photos — I saw people. I listened. I cared. I made space for honest stories and real emotion. And I hope they say I lived my faith quietly but boldly: that I showed up for people even when it was hard, that I gave grace where it was needed, and that I chased beauty because I believed it was a reflection of something divine.
I don’t need to be remembered for the business I built or the milestones I reached. I hope I’m remembered for the way I made people feel. For the kindness. For the joy. For the peace. For the light.
There’s a quote by Saint John of the Cross that I hold close to my heart:
“In the twilight of our lives, we are judged on love alone.”
At the end of everything, I hope that’s my story — that I loved well.
And sometimes, loving well is simple: showing up, being a person of hope, dancing it out, offering joy in dark places, and being the reason someone smiles today.
If that’s the story people tell about me when I’m gone, then I lived a good life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crosslakemedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crosslakemedia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crosslakemedia/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CrossLakeMedia
