We were lucky to catch up with Rebecca Castonguay recently and have shared our conversation below.
Rebecca, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I stem from a long line of incredibly strong women and can attribute much of my own resilience to them; both grandmothers overcame tremendous adversity living through the Great Depression and having many personal struggles all while maintaining an unmatched sense of integrity and grace. That strength was passed down to my mother and then, of course, to me. When I was a child, my mother told me that every day was an opportunity to wake up and make a choice. You can choose to be happy or choose to be saddened by the world around you, but you and only you – are in control of that choice. Those words still resonate with me today.
Now that I’m a mother, I’m trying to impart much of this learned wisdom to our son. My husband and I were discussing this topic the other day and a question was raised – if we could give him anything in the world, what would it be? Money? A House? A Car? Without a beat, my husband turned to me and said “Grit. I’d give him grit”. A word not far from “resilience.” Resilience is our ability to bounce back AFTER adversity while grit, grit is about consistent effort towards a goal in spite of it. Grit. I like that word much more, it holds more weight. You will always have struggles in life, but having the tenacity and grit to pursue your dreams and passions amidst the noise and chaos around you, that’s a skill-set all on its own and one I hope to impart on our son.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Throughout my life, photography has been an integral part of who I am. It started when I was about seven years old, taking photos with my father. I vividly remember the excitement of capturing moments with his Minolta camera and then eagerly taking the film to the local camera shop for development. This early introduction to photography ignited a passion within me that has only grown stronger over the years.
My love for the arts doesn’t stop at photography. At the age of four, I discovered my voice. My singing voice that is and my love for drawing after watching Disney’s,”The Little Mermaid.” From that moment on, music and art became a significant influence in my life, helping to shape my creativity and artistic expression. It’s where my creative visions and expressive ideas come into play. At one point, I sought a life on the Broadway stage, so I auditioned and was graciously accepted to The Hartt School for Musical Theater earning my BFA in 2009. Much of that experience brought me out of my shell. I had always been a shy kid, but wanted to really know where I fit into the world. Being able to take up space on a stage and project my voice gave me great confidence that has only aided in this journey of self-discovery.
Over the years as my journey progressed, I found myself landing different odd jobs in between the passion and pursuit of a career in theater. One of those roles had me delving into the world of wedding planning which I found out I really enjoyed. I was a wedding planner for the better part of five and a half years prior to the pandemic and this background allows me to not only be creative, but to truly help people; something that is intrinsic in my nature. My husband influenced me to pursue my passion of photography full-time during the pandemic and I’ve never looked back. I’m so grateful to him for his continued love and support which has allowed me to find success in doing something I truly love.
Having a background in planning has brought a unique perspective to my photography business. Understanding the small nuances and intricacies of orchestrating a couple’s day has allowed me to capture the most intimate and cherished moments in a way that truly reflects their love story. Photography has transformed from a childhood hobby to a lifelong pursuit, intertwined with my love for music, art, and connecting with others. I am grateful for the path that has led me here, and I’m committed to continuing to share this gift with the world. To preserve the moments that truly matter and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Right now, I’m currently working towards offering fine art styled shoots for photographers and wedding professionals which allows me to use the combined planning skills I’ve acquired, the ability to be creative in various forms all while doing what I’m most passionate about; photography. It’s a great way to give back and help teach others what I’ve learned along the way.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I don’t know that I can offer three specifically, but what I can offer is some advice that I’ve come to understand over the years…
Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s easier said than done, but losing sleep over something that’s completely out of your control will never help you on your journey. Pursuing your passion is a life-long process and something that I’m constantly working on.
Never, ever, stop learning- once you believe you’ve come to a point in your career where the learning has seized, your ability to be creative is dead in the water; so never stop learning. Dead fish get eaten.
Don’t be afraid to pivot. Life is a journey, not a destination and sometimes you have to shift gears in order to find a new path that works for you. Self-discovery in art is a constant, ever-evolving process.
Build a sense of community with other creatives and surround yourself with people more talented than you. It will raise your skill-sets to get better, to try harder – to get stronger. Believe wholeheartedly in community over competition; it will be your greatest ally when finding work in this industry. This ideology and thought-process crosses all platforms of work; you must learn how to set aside your own ego for the greater good and I firmly believe that we rise by lifting and helping others in order to grow ourselves.
Kindness is key – not only in being kind to others, but by being kind to ourselves. Don’t blame your younger self for what you didn’t know. You can only make decisions with the information presented to you now. As you continue to grow and emerge as an artist, it’s important to be kind to who you once were, to acknowledge your present self and who you want your future self to be.
Become your own best friend, because in doing so, that love and respect will radiate to all you meet. You’ll be able to reach and affect other lives in a truly positive and meaningful way.
Lastly, to be remembered, never leave a footprint, but rather an imprint on the hearts of all you meet.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
Just imagine it… You’re walking along with your best friend in the entire world [in a stunning location we’ve selected – I might add] when suddenly they take your hand and get down on one knee. Your palms get sweaty, butterflies start fluttering and tears gently fall down your cheeks as you await this most anticipated question. It’s the moment you’ve dreamed of and it’s finally here. They ask, “Will you marry me?” and you immediately spill over to joy as you answer in a resounding, “Yes!, Of course!” This is the exact moment where I’d love our story to begin – the beginning of your love story. While the question is being asked, I’ll be hidden in the wings with my focal lens on watching it all unfold before my eyes. It gives me a vested interest and visceral response to being part of the journey from the very beginning. To be able to connect with you almost on another level before we even really get to know one another. For you as my client, it allows you to feel that you’ve got the personal and professional support from your photographer throughout the entire experience.
As a fine art wedding and portrait photographer, my aim is to capture that essence of true love and create timeless memories that will be cherished for generations to come. My ideal couple is one that exudes an undeniable romance, a connection that is palpable and a love that shines through every photograph. With an aesthetic that leans towards a bright and airy film look, I strive to capture images that are not only visually stunning as if they could grace the cover of a magazine, but also evoke true emotions. I have a passion for candid moments, those fleeting glances and tender interactions that reflect the authentic love shared between two people. Balancing this element of spontaneity with a level of sophistication, I believe in creating images that will withstand the test of time. My goal is to provide my clients with a collection of photographs that not only capture the pure joy and celebration of their wedding day, but also tells their unique love story in the most beautiful and genuine way possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rebeccacastonguayphotography.com
- Instagram: @rebeccacastonguayphotography, @momentswithada
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/rebeccacastonguayphotography
Image Credits
All photos @rebeccacastonguayphotography
