Today we’d like to introduce you to Cerria Chadwick.
Hi Cerria, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My photography journey began about four years ago while I was working full-time in the corporate world. My background is in accounting, project management, and procurement, so photography started as a creative outlet that allowed me to connect with people and preserve meaningful moments. Because I worked a traditional Monday-Friday schedule, weddings naturally became my primary focus. I could spend weekends documenting some of the most important days in people’s lives while continuing to build my business alongside my career.
Over the years, what started as a side business grew into something much bigger. I found myself constantly pulled toward photography—not just because I enjoyed it, but because it felt like the work I was meant to do. In May 2026, at the four-year mark of my business, I officially made the leap to full-time photography.
Around that same time, I experienced something that completely changed how I viewed my work.
While preparing for a branding session, I was sorting through old family photographs looking for childhood pictures of myself. As I dug through boxes of photos, I found images of my grandmother, who rarely went anywhere without a camera. Then I found photographs of her as a child. There were handwritten notes, family updates, and decades of memories carefully preserved and passed down.
Sitting there on the floor surrounded by those photographs, I realized something that had been right in front of me all along. Long before photography became my career, preserving memories was already part of my family’s story.
Those photographs taught me where I came from. They introduced me to family members I never met and helped me understand the people who shaped my life. They reminded me that photographs are more than images—they become part of a family’s history.
That realization gave me a deeper understanding of why I do what I do.
Today, I photograph weddings, couples, families, and milestones with the belief that the moments we preserve today become the stories future generations will treasure tomorrow. My goal is not simply to create beautiful images, but to create photographs that help tell a family’s story for years to come.
As a wife, mother, and woman of faith, I believe every season of life has value and every story deserves to be remembered. Whether it’s a wedding day, the beginning of a family, or an everyday moment that feels ordinary now but won’t years from now, those memories matter.
Looking back, photography started as a side business. Today, it’s a calling rooted in faith, family, and legacy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely. Like many business owners, I’ve faced challenges with marketing, pricing, balancing work and family life, and learning how to run a business while still growing creatively. But honestly, the biggest struggles have been mental.
For years, I built my photography business while working full-time in the corporate world. There were many late nights, weekends spent photographing weddings, and moments where I questioned whether I could realistically grow something meaningful while balancing a career and family responsibilities.
I’ve also struggled with comparison and imposter syndrome. Photography is a highly creative industry, and it’s easy to look around and wonder if there’s room for you when so many talented photographers already exist. I’ve had moments where I questioned whether I was good enough, whether my work was unique enough, or whether I should continue pursuing photography at all.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that comparison can distract you from your purpose. The more I focused on what everyone else was doing, the harder it became to recognize what made my own story and perspective valuable.
In 2026, I was unexpectedly laid off from my corporate position after nearly a decade in the corporate world. While it was difficult and uncertain at the time, it ultimately became the push I needed to fully invest in the business I had spent four years building.
Around that same season, I discovered the deeper “why” behind my work while sorting through old family photographs and realizing that preserving memories had been part of my family’s story for generations. That experience reminded me that photography was never about competing with other photographers. It was about serving people, preserving their stories, and creating something meaningful that would outlive us.
My faith has also played a significant role throughout this journey. There have been many moments when I wasn’t sure what the next step would look like, but I’ve learned to trust that closed doors can create space for opportunities we never would have pursued on our own.
Today, I still have moments of doubt because I think every entrepreneur does. The difference is that I no longer let those doubts determine whether I move forward. I’ve learned that confidence doesn’t come from having all the answers—it comes from taking the next step anyway.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Texas, serving couples and families throughout Texas. While weddings are my primary focus, I also photograph engagements, couples, maternity sessions, families, graduates, and other meaningful life milestones.
At the heart of my work is the belief that photographs are more than images—they become part of a family’s legacy.
For a long time, I described my work as simply capturing memories. Over the past year, I’ve realized it’s much deeper than that. While sorting through old family photographs, I discovered generations of images, handwritten notes, and stories that had been carefully preserved and passed down. Those photographs helped me understand where I came from and inspired the way I approach my work today.
Because of that experience, I view every wedding, family session, and milestone as a chapter in someone’s story. My goal isn’t just to create beautiful images for today, but photographs that will still matter decades from now.
I would describe my style as a balance between gentle guidance and genuine moments. I love helping my clients feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera, while also leaving space for authentic emotions and interactions to unfold naturally. I believe some moments deserve direction and intention, while others deserve to be documented exactly as they happen.
One thing that sets me apart is my commitment to providing a complete experience. I communicate extensively with my clients before their wedding or session, helping them prepare so they can feel relaxed and present when the day arrives. I also deliver full galleries because I believe your memories belong to you. I never want clients to feel like they’re choosing which parts of their story they get to keep.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a particular photograph or award—it’s the impact photography can have on people. That belief is what led me to create Framing Grace, a nonprofit organization that provides portrait experiences to individuals and families who may not otherwise have access to professional photography. Through partnerships with local organizations, we help preserve important moments and remind people that their stories matter too.
Ultimately, I hope people know me as someone who creates meaningful photographs while serving others with care, authenticity, and purpose. If my clients feel seen, valued, and leave with images that become part of their family’s story, then I’ve done my job well.
How do you define success?
My definition of success has changed a lot over the years.
Earlier in my career, success often looked like promotions, titles, degrees, and professional achievements. Those things certainly have value, and I’m grateful for the experiences and education that helped shape me. But as I’ve grown, I’ve realized that success is much more holistic than that.
Today, success means living a life that aligns with my values.
It means being present for my family and watching my children grow into kind, compassionate, and capable people. It means having a marriage and relationships that are strong and meaningful. It means finding peace in who I am rather than constantly comparing myself to others or chasing someone else’s version of success.
Professionally, success means doing work that feels purposeful. I spent years building my photography business while working in the corporate world, and one of the greatest gifts has been discovering a career that combines creativity, service, and connection. Knowing that my work helps preserve memories and tell stories that may be treasured for generations is incredibly fulfilling.
Success also means having the ability to serve others. That’s a large part of why I founded Framing Grace, our nonprofit organization. I believe everyone deserves to have their story preserved, and being able to use my skills to give back to my community is something I consider a true measure of success.
Most importantly, success means being at peace with where God has called me to be. It doesn’t mean everything is perfect or that I have every answer figured out. It means trusting the path in front of me, using my gifts well, serving others, and knowing that the work I’m doing has meaning.
If I can build a life centered on faith, family, purpose, and service, then I would consider that a successful life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cerriamaryannphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cerriamaryannphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cerriamaryannphotography/
