Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Elrod.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Of course! So, my photography journey is a little bit different than your typical “I have loved taking photos as long as I can remember” story. Yes, although that is true, what truly sparked my passion was my wedding day! Unfortunately, we did not do our research when looking into photographers and our photographer gave us very few usable images. This gave me the drive to focus on photography – I absolutely love capturing special moments that people can look back on forever. My husband gifted me my first mirrorless camera in 2021 and I was instantly hooked! I was working as an EMT in both Brockton and Boston, MA and found myself spending any of my downtime researching photography and business. When I wasn’t working, I was taking photos of anything and everything. Within a few months, I created my small business, With Rain & Light Photography. Shortly after we moved to Austin, TX and photography has allowed me to embrace all of the elements. Now, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
While I was lucky to have a full-time job while still growing my business, at times it was challenging to balance them both. It came with lots of late nights after working my full-time job to work on editing photos, trying to manage social media profiles, responding to client messages, and marketing. It definitely felt like I hit a wall with my business – physically not having enough hours in the day to properly distribute my time. Eventually, I cut down hours at my full-time job so I could focus more time on my photography and that helped immensely!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am a destination wedding and elopement photographer based in Austin TX (but always down for a road trip!) Over the past three years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel all over the US to capture the most beautiful love stories. I adore capturing all of life’s precious moments, such as: weddings, elopements, proposals, engagement sessions, family sessions, maternity, etc.
My photography style can be described as: warm, earthy, true to color, and candid. My focus during every photo session is to capture the real and raw interactions between couples and families! Throughout every photo session, I plan a few prompts to help get everyone feeling comfy – it allows everyone to be their authentic selves without even thinking about the camera! The in between moments are my absolute favorite!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned so far is to work on your own growth and not worry about others. Social media is a powerful tool and can have both positive and negative impacts. At times, I found myself trying to change my editing style to match other photographers because they seemed more ‘successful’. I realize I was comparing myself to photographers who have been in the business much longer than I have. I learned to put my blinders on and work on my own growth. Now, I love seeing how far I have come from the beginning!
Pricing:
- Elopements starting at $1000
- Weddings starting at $2250
- 2-hour session $500
- 1-hour session $350
- 30-min session $250
Contact Info:
- Website: www.withrainandlight.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/withrainandlight
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/withrainandlight
Image Credits
With Rain & Light Photography
