Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Blackburn.
Hi christine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I think my love for photography grew out of a few things that have always been a big part of who I am—my love of nature, creativity and connecting with people.
My appreciation for nature started when I was a kid. My mother would take us on road trips and insisted that we look out the window and appreciate the beauty around us. In high school, I was also very social and loved connecting with people. When I got my first little digital camera, my best friends naturally became my first subjects. I was always taking pictures of them, although at the time I had no idea photography would eventually become my career.
Creativity was also a huge part of my life. I studied acting and pursued an acting career after high school, which I now realize has had a big influence on the photographer I’ve become. Acting taught me about expression, movement, emotion and storytelling—all things I use behind the camera today when I’m directing and connecting with my clients.
In my early-20s, I got my first DSLR and moved back to New York, and began taking photography classes at a local community college. I was fortunate to study under a photographer who worked at Popular Photography magazine, and I became very interested in nature and landscape photography. Then my nephew was born, and photographing him made me realize how much I loved photographing people.
When I moved back to California four years later, I began working as a traveling newborn photographer before eventually taking a more traditional corporate job—which, incidentally, is where I met my husband! Photography remained my side business for many years. I photographed weddings and families while continuing to work full-time, and after having my first daughter, family photography became an even bigger part of my work.
Eventually, my husband encouraged me to stop treating photography as a side business and give it my full attention. I took the leap, and over the last several years I’ve really focused on growing my business. Today, I continue photographing families, but over the last couple of years I’ve especially found my niche in high school senior photography. As a mom of three daughters who have essentially been my muses over the years, I’ve developed a real passion for photographing girls and women and helping them feel comfortable, confident and beautiful in front of the camera. And just because I shoot more females, does not mean I don’t also love photographing men. They’re just as gorgeous and fun to work with too.
Looking back, I love that so many seemingly unrelated pieces of my life have come together in what I do today. My love of nature and beautiful lighting influences where and how I shoot, my acting background influences the way I direct and bring out personality, and my love of people is really at the heart of all of it. Photography has allowed me to combine those things into a business that I truly love.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not! Like a lot of creative people, I think one of my biggest struggles was believing that something I loved so much could actually become a viable career. For many years, photography was the thing I did on the side while working a more traditional corporate job. There was security in having a steady paycheck, and it was scary to imagine walking away from that and relying entirely on myself.
There were also many years when I was juggling photography with raising three daughters and everything that comes with having a busy family. I would work during the week, photograph sessions or weddings on the weekends, and then edit whenever I could find the time. Looking back, I’m not entirely sure how I did it all!
Taking the leap and deciding to really pursue photography was exciting, but it came with a whole new set of challenges. I quickly learned that being a photographer and running a photography business are two completely different things. I may love being behind the camera, but owning a business also means marketing, social media, websites, bookkeeping, scheduling, client communication and constantly figuring out how to stay relevant in an industry that changes very quickly.
One of the biggest lessons for me has been learning to trust my own style and not get caught up in what everyone else is doing. Photography can be a very comparison-heavy industry, especially with social media. Over time, I’ve become much more confident in knowing what I do well, the kind of experience I want to give my clients and the type of work I want to create.
There are still ups and downs. Some months are incredibly busy and others are quieter, and as a small business owner you’re always thinking about what comes next. But I think those challenges have pushed me to keep learning, evolving and getting better at what I do. And even after all these years, I still genuinely get excited before a shoot. That’s how I know I’m doing something I really love.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a natural-light photographer specializing primarily in high school seniors and families, although I still photograph graduates, events and other milestones as well. My style is clean, natural, vibrant and timeless, and I love using San Diego’s incredible outdoor locations as the backdrop for my work.
Senior photography has really become a passion of mine. I especially love working with young women and helping them see themselves in a way that feels beautiful, confident and authentic. Having three daughters of my own has definitely influenced that part of my work. They’ve been my muses for years and have taught me so much about photographing women—everything from flattering angles and movement to recognizing the little insecurities we all tend to have about ourselves.
I think what sets me apart most, though, is the experience I try to create. One of the first things I hear from clients is, “I don’t know how to pose,” or “I’m terrible in front of the camera.” My response is basically, “That’s my job!” I don’t expect anyone to arrive knowing what to do. I guide them throughout the entire session—where to stand, what to do with their hands, how to move—and I’m constantly talking, encouraging and usually laughing with them along the way.
My acting background actually comes into play quite a bit here. Sometimes I encourage clients to almost step into a role for the session. You may not *feel* completely confident standing in front of a camera, but for that moment, you can play the part of someone who is. Move, laugh, be playful, be dramatic, try something you normally wouldn’t. Somewhere along the way, people usually stop “acting” and start genuinely having fun. Those are often my favorite photographs.
I’m also very hands-on before and after the session. I help clients with locations, styling and what will photograph well, and I personally hand-edit every final image. I’m admittedly very detail-oriented, and I want the entire experience—from the first conversation to the final gallery—to feel personal.
What I’m probably most proud of is the trust my clients place in me. So much of my business comes from referrals and families who return year after year. I’ve had the privilege of watching children grow up through my camera and then photographing them for their senior portraits and other milestones. When a parent tells me, “You captured my child exactly as they are,” that means more to me than almost anything.
At the end of the day, I don’t want someone to walk away from a session simply thinking, “We got great pictures.” I want them to say, “That was so much fun.” The beautiful photographs are incredibly important, of course, but I want the experience of creating them to become part of the memory too.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m definitely someone who is always learning and looking for new ways to be more creative and efficient. A lot of my favorite resources are actually the tools I use every day in my business. Photoshop is obviously a huge part of my photography workflow, and I use Canva constantly for marketing and social media. Pixieset has also become an important part of how I manage the client experience, from booking through gallery delivery.
I also get a tremendous amount of creative inspiration from Instagram and other social platforms. I love seeing what other photographers and creatives are doing—not necessarily to copy what’s trending, but because it can spark an idea and send me in a completely different creative direction.
And lately, I have to say AI tools have become one of my favorite business tools! As a small business owner, you wear so many hats, and it’s been incredibly helpful for brainstorming, organizing ideas, working through marketing strategies and sometimes just helping me get all the thoughts in my head into some kind of order. I suffer from ADHD, and this tool has really helped. I also shifted my thoughts on ADHD from a negative to a positive. Being able to pivot creatively during my shoots, has really served me well. I give my ADHD brain all the credit!
More than any one book or podcast, I think staying curious is probably my biggest resource. Photography, technology and marketing are constantly changing, so I’m always trying to learn something new and find ways to grow both creatively and personally. My favorite Podcasts are Mel Robbins for her amazing guests, that provide so much wisdom and ways to help improve my life. For lots of laughs, I always turn to Smartless. The banter between those guys and their guests always has me rolling. Laughter is essential to my well being. One of my favorite daily books to read that provides great inspirational quotes and practical solutions is “Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness” by Vex King.
Pricing:
- Signature Senior Session $675
- Family/Maternity/Newborn/Couples $875
- Signature Family Session $1200
- BFF Senior Session $1200
- Branding/Corporate Headshots $475
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christineblackburnphotos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christineblackburnphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christineblackburnphotography/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/christine-blackburn-photography-san-diego
- Other: https://share.google/HrplzvGC9nyMarxlq
