Christina Jackson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Christina, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The moment my alarm goes off at 5:45am and my feet hit the ground it is go time! I am a mom of 3 (14, 5, and 2) and they keep me busy busy. I start my morning with a cup of coffee, early morning meditation and prayer. Once 6:30 rolls around I am getting my middle child ready for school and out the door by 7am. He is not a morning person at all and I love every bit of it, he won’t stay little for long so even though he’s a sloth to the start I can still sneak in a few snuggles. After I drop him off I am back home and waiting for my 14 year old to finish her morning routine (which like me she started at 5:45). My morning doesn’t slow down until about 1030 am. No two mornings are ever the same and there is never a dull moment in our crazy house hold.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi and Hello! I’m Christina, the smiling face behind the lens. I’ve been photographing weddings for over five years, but my photography journey started more than a decade ago. When I started my wedding photography business I had one task in mind, to create beautiful keepsakes for my clients. I aim to capture love in its most enchanting form. I am best known for my soft and romantic style and imagery that captures my clients day as a timeless fairytale.
What makes me unique and stand out from the rest isn’t just my artistry, but the heart behind my work. Inspired by my relationship with God, I view every wedding as a celebration of love…a gift meant to be cherished and remembered for generations. My couples often describe me as bubbly and joyful presence, which allows for them to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of their day. I enjoy building client relationships and that starts from the moment they hit my inbox. I strive to provide my clients with the ultimate client experience and for me the key is communication. My clients will always know I am a text or phone call away.
Beyond the lens, I love to give back to my community through my involvement with Night to Shine, hosted by my church. It truly is a time for me to enjoy each and every person that walks the red carpet and just have fun with them. It’s the highlight of my year and I love watching everyone come together to make this such an amazing night. When I do put the camera down, I am spending time with my husband and three kids. We enjoy traveling and finding new foods to explore.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My husband hands down. Growing up my mother always told me to stick to a certain path and that there was no money to be made in creativity. I come from a very creative family on my father’s side, so it was heartbreaking to have that hanging over my head. I love doing photography, but never thought it would evolve into anything more than a hobby. One year for Christmas my husband bought me a brand new camera, I told him it was too much and that I was fine with what I had, but he knew I was going places before I did. He saw the potential and the vision. I am usually the one that goes all in and he’s the one that proceeds with caution, but in this instance it was the other way around. He has pushed and encouraged me to take the leaps, which included quitting my job, going back to school all to further my passion and turn it into a career. He believed in me before I could believe in myself and for that I am forever grateful for him.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
It was the end of June, this year. I had been an orthodontic assistant for almost 12 years and the last year I just wasn’t happy anymore. I would dread going into the office and come home crying other days. I absolutely loved my patients, but the work environment was exhausting and negative. I am not a negative person and I could tell being in that environment was starting to really take its toll on me and I couldn’t do it anymore. With my husband’s blessing I ended up quitting my job as an orthodontic assistant to go full time photographer. It was the most freeing thing I could have done, so much weight lifted from my shoulders, it was truly a blessing in disguise.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
My faith. My faith in God and in my church are the reasons I am here today. God never gives you more than you can handle, and while most days I think God knows I love a challenge he is constantly guiding me.
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?
Oh man that’s such a great and loaded question. My closest friend has always told me I need to write a book about my life story, I’ve been through so much and it would most likely be a best seller. But honestly the story I hope people get to hear is how I over came it all and still managed to be happy and bubbly. No matter what life throws at you, you don’t have to let it define your future. Every thing in my life the good, the bad and the ugly had to happen to make me the person I am today. I often get asked “how can you still smile after it all”, I can’t change it, I can learn from it, I can heal from it and I can choose to let it go. It’s not always easy, but man smiling and being happy is such a great feeling, I don’t want my dark days to ever define who I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christinajacksonphotography.com
- Instagram: Christina_jackson_photography
- Facebook: @christinajacksonphotography
