Meet Carianne McElrath

We were lucky to catch up with Carianne McElrath recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carianne, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I grew up experiencing a lot of childhood trauma. I had to endure a lot of abandonment and rejection by people that should have been taking care of me and nurturing me. Because of this, I became a survivor. I learned how to push through hard times, deal with difficult people, and show up giving my all no matter what. I have been described as one of those old inflatable clowns that you could knock down and it would bounce back up. I may get knocked down, but I always get back up. I am too stubborn to stay knocked down.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have been an elementary school teacher for 25 years. In 2010, while going through a divorce, I took up photography as a hobby. It was a distraction from everything I was going through. Learning something new took focus and hard work. I began just taking photos of my kids, but then my friends started asking me to take pictures of theirs. That led to taking their family photos. One of my friends got engaged and asked me to take her wedding photos. She was going to have a small ceremony in Yosemite. I wasn’t at all ready for that yet, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. It was after shooting her wedding that I became hooked on wedding photography! Being a teacher, I work well under pressure. I am able to manage large groups of people, and I am able to adapt quickly when things change or go off plan, so this helps me handle the pressures that come with a wedding day. The one thing I love most about being a wedding photographer is serving my couples. We are together almost their entire day. I have an opportunity to help make their day even more memorable by the way I show up for them. It is my whole purpose. The best compliment from a bride was when she said she loved my work but she wanted ME there by her side. She said she knew having me by her side would calm her nerves, ease her mind, and she would be able to enjoy her day. That is what it is all about for me. That is how I show up for my couples every time.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

As I mentioned, my experience as a teacher has shaped who I am as a photographer. My attention to detail, working well under pressure and being flexible are the key qualities that have made me successful. In the beginning, things were tough. I wasn’t achieving the type of images I wanted. I took the time to study what about my images I didn’t like and I looked for images that inspired me. I spent time learning how to achieve the look that I admired. There were times the clients weren’t booking. I was feeling so defeated and felt invisible. I decided I could either quit or find a way to be seen. I decided to find ways to be seen. I used social media as a way to get my work out there. I put together styled shoots or offered heavily discounted packages and only shared images that I was most proud of. Slowly the bookings started coming in more and more. My advice is to find a way to push through the tough times, because there will always be tough times, but there is also a way through them, or around them.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

My ideal clients are salt-of-the-earth people. They have a tight circle of family and friends who they enjoy spending time with. They believe in honoring traditions and heritage. They are outgoing, playful, adventurous, and love to laugh. And finally, my ideal client values relationships and they want one with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stargazerphotographyca.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stargazerphoto.ca/

Image Credits

Stargazer Photography