Story & Lesson Highlights with Christa Schiessl of Lincoln, Nebraska

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Christa Schiessl. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Christa, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Honestly, my biggest joy lately has been my family and all the adventures we’ve taken together this summer. We’ve been road tripping all over, spending long days at the lake paddle boarding and kayaking, and just soaking in that slow, sunny pace of life. There’s something about being on the water, phones tucked away, and laughing until our cheeks hurt that makes me wish summer could last forever.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Christa Schiessl, a wedding and lifestyle photographer based in Lincoln, Nebraska. I capture everything from heartfelt “I do’s” to those perfectly imperfect, every day family moments. My husband and I work together as a photo + video team, which means we get to tell love stories in a way that feels cinematic and true to each couple. I’m known for creating a relaxed, joy-filled experience that allows people to be fully present while we quietly capture the magic of their love story.

While my main focus right now is serving couples and families, I’m also dreaming up ways to support newer photographers down the road—helping them build businesses that give them more freedom and joy. It’s a passion project in the making, and I can’t wait to bring it to life someday.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was fun, joyful, and always chasing adventure. I loved being surrounded by a small, close-knit community, where relationships ran deep and moments were treasured. That’s still at the core of who I am today as an entrepreneur—I create space for my clients to feel seen, connected, and completely themselves, so we can capture not just photos, but the real, joy-filled memories that matter most.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that held me back the most of my adult life, was relying solely on my passion to be career. This fear kept me stuck for almost a decade. It took a hard loss to finally flip the table and start doing work that truly lights me up, instead of just exchanging my time for a paycheck. I was terrified to take the leap into entrepreneurship—maybe it was the fear of not being enough, or just a constant “lack” mentality—but once I pushed through, I discovered that following my passion wasn’t just possible, it was everything I needed.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to firmly believe that the harder I worked, the more I’d get—and that if I just put in enough hours, everything would fall into place. Over time, I’ve realized that mindset was naive. It’s not about working more; it’s about working smarter, creating systems that free up time, and focusing on the work that truly moves the needle—both in business and in life.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing? 
I’ll always regret not taking the leap into entrepreneurship sooner. I spent years in a corporate job, working 50+ hours a week while my older children were babies, and I wish I had trusted myself sooner to create a life that gave me both fulfillment and time with my family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.christaschiesslphotography.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/christaschiesslphotography
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/christaschiesslphotography