Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Krystal Neuenschwander. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Krystal, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I am very fortunate that I’m able to say that my parents have been amazing role models in my life. I grew up in a household where my mom was the primary breadwinner, worked long hours, and somehow still made it to my softball games and clarinet recitals. My dad was an engineer by night, and coached us kids during the day in all kinds of things. It sometimes felt like they were always working, but if that were the case, how could they take us on so many family vacations or to cheer me on in the stands during every one of my games? They showed up and made their children a priority, which has made a lasting impressions on the whole family. They worked to live, instead of living to work.
Not to be cliche, but life is short, and we are here for a good time, not a long time! So I have made it my priority to work hard everyday, but still be able to stop and enjoy life anytime I can. I want to ensure that I can take my future family on adventures and make more memories that hopefully they will always love and look back on.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am about to celebrate one full year of running my own business! I started NeuView Photography LLC with the goal of staying away from a 9-5, but now I work 24-7 and I would not change it for anything! The creative world of photography has brought so many amazing people and adventures to my life, and I’m still just getting started!
My unofficial title is Hype-Woman, so no matter the event, you will see me happy dancing and pumping up those around me. So many people ask, “Where do you get your energy from?” They usually notice it right from the get-go, and I have to take a step back and think. Truthfully, I love sleep more than anything else. If I had the ability, I would go for 14+ hours of sleep a night, but then I would never get anything done! So I get up, drink my cup – or two – of coffee, and try to show up and show out every time. I can only chase my dreams because of my clients, and therefore will do anything in my power to help them feel like they can be themselves and have a great time shooting, or even just hanging out with me! So it’s not difficult to get up everyday knowing that we’re going out for a good time, even if not a long one!
If you are new to my world, you must expect happy dancing when we capture those beautiful moments, and I tend to bring my speaker for music to help the groove along! Also, I’m not just your photographer and hype-woman, but also your personal stylist that will help with outfit suggestions, make sure your tie is straight and your dress is floofed and that there’s nothing in your teeth before we get started. I scout the photo locations beforehand to ensure we have a stunning spot and great lighting. When it comes to posing, I help guide the perfect shot with prompts and ideas all day long – but if you have a vision or idea that you want to see brought to life, I love to hear them and we can create it!
One of the most exciting parts about being a photographer is capturing a moment that can’t be recreated and have those same emotions when you look back on that photo, even months or years down the line. To be able to look back on an image and feel the positive vibes again is like reliving that moment for a split second. I do believe it is a priority to help my clients feel amazing from the moment we connect, and remind them that they are the main character in their story.
I really love that I’ve made photography my artform, and I’m learning new techniques all the time. It’s been crazy to be able to do or see or meet something new and different everyday, and still be able to tell a story and create new memories! Throughout my career, I have already photographed just about every type of event and subject, though now I have found my niche and thoroughly enjoy photographing Weddings and Major Events (with occasional studio sessions for a little more creative time)! I can’t wait to shoot your next big event, and just remember: I’ll be there for you every step of the way!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As I look back on my journey, I would say that the three most important things that I’ve learned and continue to practice are my lighting techniques, being adaptable to any situation, and exuding confidence (even if I don’t feel it right away)!
I believe that finding the best light is one of the most important parts of any session. I attended a lighting class some time ago, and the instructor drove home that “light is light” no matter where you are. Every time I schedule a new shoot, I try to keep that in mind and think of how I can utilize the environment as it is. Since I photograph primarily weddings and events, I encounter many different types of lighting situations both indoor and out and it can really affect the mood and overall quality of the photos. I have to admit, I don’t love using artificial lighting as my main source as it tends to cast a yellowy hue, which isn’t always ideal. Many places, unfortunately, are saturated with these types of bulbs but it can still be used as an effective tool when accounted for. There are a few other tricks I use in my camera settings, like shooting in Kelvin (a temperature adjustment) and monitoring the white balance to help create the light that I want or need. Alternatively, when the lighting just isn’t matching up with the vision, then we simply adventure to the nearest window for the natural lighting or pop on a flash!
Keeping the various lighting scenarios (and other contributing factors) in mind, being adaptable to any situation is critical! Often, a client will request a shoot in the craziest or darkest places, and I have to do my best to capture the photo they have envisioned no matter the area. In my outdoor shoots, the weather can bring rain and wind, while other times it’ll be the most cloudless day when all we really wanted was 65 degrees during the golden hour. Unfortunately, things don’t always go to plan. Nevertheless, I still attack any situation that comes my way with high energy – especially when I have to think outside of the box and pivot on the spot. My brain will start running through possible options for the client and I want to ensure that I hear their ideas too! In support, I have my ’emergency kit’ with me at all times, and it includes just about everything but the kitchen sink: Advil, fabric tape, scissors, extra lighting, sunscreen, bug spray, a sewing kit, and more! It’s come in handy more times than I can count. After every session I consider the needs of my clients, and add to it to make sure that I can take care of them no matter what happens!
Finally, I’ve learned to exude confidence, even if I’m feeling small in that moment. The truth is, I can do anything I set my mind to, I just have to try. If I’m scared of a task, then I do it scared and subsequently gain more confidence in future similar encounters. To my fellow Gen Z’s, I think I’m not alone in having an aversion to speaking over the phone, let alone needing to dial them myself! Now that I work in a world where I need to call (or zoom) and connect with my clients even before I pick up my camera, “facing my fear” daily has helped me overcome it, and now I can proudly say it’s a talent. I love meeting people, and they seem to love meeting me, but I had to move past my preconceptions and prove to myself that I could get through any situation, I just needed to rely on my past experience. Today, I can say confidently that I’m sure-footed and ready for anything – but it has taken a lot of trial and error to get here.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
After I went full-time into photography, I realized that I didn’t have a boss to tell me to take a break after hours of non-stop work. At one point, I looked at my calendar, and saw that I didn’t have one free weekend scheduled for the following six months. Obviously, I was overworking myself, and it took a lot of friends and family to help me realize that I still needed to take care of me, not just my clients. It was almost overwhelming when I realized that I needed to try and juggle my “new” schedule of photoshoots, editing time, client consultations, advertising, on top of remembering my personal time too! When I first started trying to schedule some me-time, it felt really selfish to not be working on the projects I had going on. However, when I stayed up late to finish editing a photoshoot, I would usually end up re-editing my work the next morning with a clearer head and better eyesight anyway. Long story short, a nap is worth a million dollars.
The first step of “not feeling overwhelmed” is realizing that you are overwhelmed in the first place. Sometimes it’s hard for me to acknowledge it, because I have such a optimistic view on most things. When I do feel it, it’s almost a tidal wave of heaviness. When I feel crushed by my workload, I need to step away from my screens for at least an hour, and switch my mindset to something completely different. I’ve found that going for a hike, while blasting the song I have stuck in my head that week, works very well! Then I can not only get that song out of my head, but also bask in some endorphins to reset. Once I return to my work, I feel like me again, and can truly put 110% into what I’m doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://neuviewphotography.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuviewphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krystal.hudson.3344/
Image Credits
Credit for my profile picture is @betweenthecanyons
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
