Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Brown.
Hi Christine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Photography has been a longstanding interest of mine, dating back to my childhood when I would set up “photo shoots” with my Barbies using a small pink 110mm camera. I explored capturing subjects such as flowers, landscapes, and friends, even submitting some entries to the local county fair. My interest in photography continued through high school, where I contributed to the yearbook team, documenting sporting and school events. Post-graduation, my focus shifted, but recent years have revived my passion. In 2019, my husband gifted me my first DSLR camera for Christmas after hearing me talk constantly about how much I wanted to get into it. This reignited my love for photography, and I was ready to get going with the proper tools now in hand! I began my journey by snapping shots of my kids, dogs, scenery, landscapes, and other things. Then came the pandemic, which provided:
- An opportunity for self-teaching.
- Joining various Facebook photography groups
- YouTube tutorials
- Free courses
- Following photography blogs
I absorbed knowledge by actively participating in photographer communities- reading people’s questions and all the professional answers- gaining a comprehensive understanding of concepts. Once I felt like I had a good hold on the basics and was producing images I was genuinely proud of, I started offering free sessions to family and friends. After two years, I decided it was time to try offering my services to the general public. I created ‘Old Barn Photography,’ named for our 125-year-old barn on our property that I often shoot in and around. And I never looked back!
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have been blessed with some great clients right off the bat. I have had a lot of word-of-mouth business, thankfully. Since photography is my side hustle outside my regular corporate, full-time job, I only have a small budget for advertising and web pages. So far, I have been incredibly busy with families and seniors and holiday sessions- primarily by personal referrals and through my Facebook page posts. My one central area for improvement is having studio space. Navigating the challenges of needing a physical studio space has been my number one obstacle in my photography venture. Operating without a dedicated studio means relying on warmer months for outdoor shoots. The absence of a fixed space limits the number of sessions I can offer outdoors. This also narrows my scope of sessions, like newborns and boudoir sessions. The struggle of not having a studio space is fundamental. Still, it also fuels my determination to create stunning images in diverse outdoor conditions, turning limitations into opportunities for unique and memorable shots. It’s also led me to connect with local communities to find indoor locations I can rent or use for a day or two, such as Airbnb.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For me, the essence of photography lies in the ability to offer beautifully captured moments. Witnessing the joy on people’s faces as they see themselves perfectly captured in a photograph is a source of immense pleasure for me. I find genuine excitement in freezing candid moments and preserving the emotions and love shared within families with a single snap. Photography becomes a medium through which I document life and contribute to creating lasting memories that hold such sentimental value for my clients.
One of the things I love most about taking photos of people is watching them start a session timid, not really being sure of what to do- and then seeing them by the end of the session being confident and feeling beautiful or handsome. Seniors are some of my favorite sessions for this very reason. One session that stands out as an example of this is that of a male senior I did for the class of 2024. He was super shy and ‘didn’t like his photo taken.’ He wasn’t interested in photos and wanted ‘just a few.’ We spent almost two hours together, and watching him bloom out of his shell was terrific and rewarding. When he saw his final images, he said, “Wow! That’s me!” That is why I love doing this.
Specializing in portraits allows me to create images that reflect the love and bonds I see shared. Whether it’s capturing the milestones of seniors starting on new journeys, the innocence and joy of kids being kids, or the silliness of pets, I love the opportunity to freeze these moments. I focus on snapping real moments for real people. I capture it all. I’m open to people’s wild photo ideas: their ideas, my lens. I’m open to it all. I’m most proud of providing affordably priced, professional-quality photos – it’s crucial that everyone can access these moments without breaking the bank. As this is my side gig, I have the flexibility to keep prices reasonable, ensuring that capturing beautiful memories remains accessible to all. When I started my business, making professional photography a realistic option for everyone, not just a select few, was my priority.
One of the things I’ve become known for and that sets me apart is running with client ideas. I’ve done a couple of “awkward couples” sessions that resulted in so many laughs, our faces hurt by the end, and these are some of my favorite sessions! I’ve also done a session for a beloved dog about to cross the rainbow bridge and commemorated a final farming season as a multi-generational family farm had its last harvest together (unknown to them at the time). It’s more than just capturing perfectly posed families. Capturing moments and candid emotions you aren’t even aware of will be priceless memories. In addition to those things, I also do not use any pre-sets when developing my images. Everything I do is 100% hand-edited, and I focus on deep, authentic, rich, warm colors. I also really dislike posing clients. My favorite thing is telling a family to ‘just play with each other’ and snap away. The results are almost always images that are impossible to beat with a pose.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I hope my business keeps growing enough to be my primary source of income with an entire studio. Photography, in general, is getting even more popular, especially with AI in Photoshop and Lightroom, making it easier for folks to get creative with their cameras. But, the flip side is that these tools make it a breeze for anyone to grab a camera, plug in pre-sets and AI, and call themselves photographers. There’s a clear gap between photos created by someone who knows their composition nuances and the ingredients for a great photo and shots that are just AI jazzed up or pushed into a pre-set or filter. I’m crossing my fingers that people can see the difference and still back local photographers who correctly put real heart and skill into their work. I hope that clients continue supporting those of us who invest genuine passion and skill in their craft, ensuring the integrity of professional photography.
Pricing:
- Senior Sessions from $250
- Family Sessions $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oldbarnphotography.mypixieset.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldbarnphoto/
Image Credits
Old Barn Photography
