Meet Kristina Sterling

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kristina Sterling. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kristina, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I found my purpose in photography because I’ve always believed that every moment tells a story worth holding on to. For me, it’s more than just capturing a few photos – its about preserving a feeling, it’s about capturing the laughter, the quiet glances, the in-between moments that might otherwise be forgotten. I want people to be able to have those same butterflies, warmth and love that they felt in that moment, almost like stepping back into a dream. My heart is in giving people the chance to be fully present, to live their moments without worry, knowing I’m there to preserve them forever.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a lifestyle photographer. Photography is exciting and so special to me because it is so much more than freezing a moment – it’s capturing the emotions that come with it. There’s something magical about knowing that years from now, someone can look at a photo and instantly be brought back to the way they felt. One of the most meaningful sessions I offer is end of life (or as I like to call it – Celebration of life) pet photography. I began to offer and really highlight these sessions because it feels like a chapter that people often forget to capture. These sessions are a way to honor the bond, to freeze those last cuddles, wet noses and soft goodbyes in time. Even more special, I use the sessions to help raise money for local shelters, so that other animals can have the chance to find a loving home too.

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?

Having compassion, drive and a whole lot of time management has helped pave my way to success. I know that understanding the emotion of others will help me better capture those perfect moments for clients. I work solo, there’s no secretary answer calls for me, there’s no middle man. My clients get all of me from start to finish. They have my full heart and attention to every little detail, as they should! Having a drive to give people something tangible forever always continues to push me forward.

I always hear people say that the area is over saturated or there’s a lot of “competition”. My best advice for people in their journey is Don’t sell yourself short. Everyone has a place and everyone is welcome. Each photographer has their own vision of how they see a story unfold in front of their lens, it’s unique and powerful. Community over competition is the best way to see it. We’re all in the business of making sure people have their memories the way they want to see them, and sometimes there are others who are better fit, and that’s okay! It’s okay to cheer on other photographers as hard as you cheer on yourself. This is a business where we all just want to see beauty unfold.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

I feel like a balance between work and personal life is always tough no matter what your job is. I constantly battle with the thoughts of – Am I being enough for my family, Am I showing up for my kids and am I being someone my family can be proud of, Am I giving my clients the full attention they deserve while at the same time putting my family first.

I get caught up in making sure everyone else has their memories, that I sometimes forget to step back and make sure I am capturing my own as well with my family. This past year I have worked on to being more vocal with other photographers and building those great working relationships so that we have each other to lean on in those times where we need to re focus of ourselves. We look out for each other, we make sure that each others memories also get captured. As a community I feel like we do sure a great job of working our business alone but also together. We make sure that everyone is doing ok and no one is facing burn out, we refer clients to each other so that when a break is needed to make sure that we can be present with our families, we have the opportunity to do so without hesitation or guilt of letting down our family or business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kristinalorrainephotography1.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinalorrainephotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinalorrainephotography1

Image Credits

Personal photo was taken by Shamirelle – edited by me
Photo of me and my dog was taken by Kaci Roscoe Photo – edited by me
Photo of me by the water taken by Sambroskyphotography – edited by me