Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Pierce.
Hi Courtney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I knew from the age of 12 I wanted to be a photographer. I was always stealing my mom’s point and shoot camera to take photos of our many dogs, horses and cat. There was something magical about capturing a split second on film and seeing them come back to life in print form. Picking up a roll of film from the drug store was as exciting to me as Christmas morning, every photograph a treasure.
I majored in Photography at St. Edward’s where I fell in love with the darkroom. Still to this day, the chemical Fixer is one of my favorite and most nostalgic smells. Upon graduating, I had numerous jobs in and out of the art world. Eventually, after getting laid off from a corporate job, I decided it was time to bet on myself and start my own my photography business. It felt like something I just had to do. If I failed, then at least I wouldn’t wonder and regret it later in life, or even the next job where I felt chained to a desk. It’s now been ten years and I am so grateful to be able to wake up every morning doing something I am passion about.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely, 100% it has not been a smooth road. I still have moments where I have to remind myself, “if it were easy, everyone would be doing it”. After battling Imposter Syndrome, there is the constant hustle, especially in the beginning and dealing with people who wanted to pay me in exposure and not with actual money. It was difficult for me to know my worth and put a price tag on it. Also, starting my own photography business, I discovered was way more than my passion of taking photos. I suddenly had to learn about the “boring things” I thought I was avoiding like actual business aspects and how to advertise myself. So, one thing I would do differently if I could go back to college is to take business classes. In a school setting, I feel like it should be required coursework just as all the other basic classes in your major are, especially those wanting to freelance or start their own business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have two sides – photographing people whether it be a newborn/family session or an engagement/wedding, I specialize in capturing those candid in between moments. I’m after the authentic laughs and smiles. Part of what makes an image truly great is raw emotion and soul and that is what I strive to create. Every photograph is a portal to the past and they become more valuable with each passing year. It is my honor to capture memories for families that will last generations.
On the other side, I specialize in food and beverage photography to be used for marketing/brand photos. While I can’t make a dish of pasta laugh, I can showcase its best angle. Food and Beverage photography is a different mindset but the gist of storytelling and highlighting a vibe is still at the core, especially for marketing campaigns.
I love that I am able to shoot both sides as it satisfies my creativity in different ways.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
My prediction for the future of photography is that as technology advances, we will continue to see smaller cameras with more megapixels than anyone needs. haha
It will also be interesting to see the role NFTs play in the future. I think it will change the way we buy all art, photography included.
Contact Info:
- Email: courtneyrpierce@gmail.com
- Website: https://courtpiephotography.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: @courtpie
