Story Time with Cristy Cross

How did you get started in your business?

It’s always a fun story to tell, and in July, I had the opportunity to share my story.

I started my business with not know exactly how I was going to do it, but I was determined to make it happen.

One thing I forgot to mention is, a several years back, I almost gave up my photography business. It was a scary moment when we realized my business needed to make more money to pay bills and it wasn’t.

I think that scare lit a fire under me and rebooted my business and thankfully here we are 15 yrs and going strong.

Are you starting a business, interested in starting a business or have questions about what I do?

Listen to the end of the video for the Q and A part, but also feel free to leave any questions in the comments here and I’ll get back with you.

How To Fake A Pool-Beach Look For A Product Shoot

Planning ideas for a product shoot can be extremely fun and hard at the same time.

The goal is to make sure my clients are 100% satisfied in the end. The professional photographs I provide for them are meant to connect their clientele-present and future, with the products they sell in hopes they become long time customers.

Sometimes the ideas might seem impossible. For example, I don’t live near the beach, or own a pool.

For one of my styled shoots, I wanted the setting to be at the beach or pool. So instead of it stopping my creative process, I made a beach/pool scene and I chose to shoot this outside to give it the high contrast light.

The tools used:

• Playsand

• Clear acrylic container

• blue poster board

• water hose

• beach props

• clients products

• white foamboard to reflect light on your subject and cancel out the warm tones from the brick.

• tripod

• Spray bottle with water to make the sand wet and condensation on products

Tips:

• As you are shooting, be aware of your own shadow

• Try several angles

• Move props around to try different looks

• Under-expose (darken) your photo when shooting outside. It’s hard to see the exposure correctly when shooting outside in the bright light.

• Shoot with a variety of lenses so you can get different looks

You can shoot these with your DSLR or iPhone. I hope you have fun creating.

If you have questions, leave a comment and I’ll be happy to answer them.

Featured product: Pure and Coco

Behind the Scenes Product Shoot: Pure and Coco

Behind the scenes product shoot

Today I’m highlighting a product shoot I did with Pure and Coco.

They are a product subscription client, and send me their products from Washington.

For 2021, I will have the honor of doing a shoot for them each month.

I’m excited for each shoot, because they will challenge me to be more creative than the shoot before, which will result in inventive photos for my clients.

Are you a product based business and interested to hear more about how a subscription shoot works?

Bloggers! Use these tips for your next photo shoot with your iPhone

When you are doing your own photoshoot at home, take note of these four tools to create product photos.

1. Clamps

2. Masking tape

3. Wooden blocks

4. Dumbbells

Are you more the ‘life of the party’ or ‘table for one?

Are you more the ‘life of the party’ or ‘table for one?
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I think I’m at my most productive when my favorite Spotify station is playing and I'm working by myself. It helps me stay on task, but I also love to work in a group and surround by the buzz of busy people.

This week a brand new co-working space is opening up downtown and I am so excited. A co-working space is great for people who usually work from home, but would like to have a change of scenery for their workspace. It can also be the place to work when you don’t have a home office at all.

The Firehouse Workspace has many things to offer, including a podcast studio, conference room, and photography studio among private offices to rent and open seating desks.

What are benefits of a co-working space?

-Meeting new people

-Possible collaborations to grow your business

-Office parties, which is so fun when normally you are a solo entrepreneur

-Water cooler talk :)

-Office comradery

Have you ever been interested in working in a place like this?

Food Photography | Cherry Pie

PRODUCT PHOTO SHOOT: Cherry Pie

By using my iPhone, good window lighting, filler light (poster board), and simple editing, I can create a professional photograph in under 5 minutes.
Follow these steps on the video and try it out yourself!

All edits were done using CC Mobile Presets. Simple and easy to use for product or service based businesses.

I Love Lubbock, Texas Wedding Vendors

It never fails when I have an event or wedding in Lubbock, Tx the vendors go all out. They hold nothing back and create some of the most amazing setups, which turn out beautiful in my pictures.

From The West Table providing a beautiful modern space and mouth watering food, to tablescapes and flowers from The Poppies and Peonies Floral Design, and homemade pies from Evie Mae’s Pit BBQ, you will not be disappointed.

As a photographer, it’s important to have a team to produce such an elaborate showcase and I recommend these businesses 100%.

Cheers to a gorgeous wedding!

The Sunny Side of Product Photography

If you’ve ever wished you could have professional photographs of your products, but were too nervous to hire a professional, worry no more.

My photographs of your products will make you fall more in love with them and eager to sell to the masses.

Doesn’t that sound great? Select the CONTACT tab at the top of this page to fill out the form and we can get started today!

Keep scrolling to see my favorites from this shoot for a Colorado based boutique.

Give Me All The Food

My two passions have officially collided. Food and photography.

It’s no lie that we all love to eat. Am I right? Let me guess. Right now you are thinking of your favorite dish or dessert that makes you go into a far off land. haha

Lately, I’ve been diving into brand and commercial photography and several of my clients are food companies. Yay for me, because AFTER I take all the mouth watering pictures, I eat all the goodness. And sometimes I share with my family too. Let’s be honest, they love my new job too.

Who’s hungry? Is your mouth watering yet?

Food inspires me and I am so thrilled this adventure has crossed my path. Ask any of my friends and family, and they will tell you all I talk about is food. I’m even talking about lunch while eating breakfast!

When we are passionate about certain things in our lives, we put our whole heart behind it, and that is what I do here for each of my clients.

I’m also passionate about taking adventurous trips, yet I’ve been able to do that. So for now, I’m living vicariously through my friend Kris McNeil. I’ve met her through a group of other photographers and her work is phenomenal. Take a look at her blog post. She just went on a National Geographic trip you guys!!! How amazing is that? I would give my left kidney to do be a National Geographic photographer. That has always been a dream. Just wait. When you see her pictures you will fall in love with the landscape. I’m pretty sure if I witnessed her photos in person, I would cry. I would cry, because God is so amazing at all the things he creates.

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