We recently connected with Meredith Gruenes and have shared our conversation below.

Meredith , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Photographers believe in celebrating life’s moments through the art of photography. Every laugh, tear, and shared glance tells a unique story, and we are passionate about capturing those fleeting moments of joy, love, and connection. As Arthur O’Shaughnessy wrote in his poem “The Ode,” made famous by the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams.” Through our lens, we aim to evoke emotions, preserve memories, and create timeless images of life’s most precious moments.

I met Lanoy and her family in February 2023. She had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and wanted a session to commemorate life. When I think about memorable sessions, I always go back to this one. Each member of the three generations there had a heart of gold and brought so much to the table. This was the first photoshoot they had together as a family. The grandparents were adorable, experiencing their first photography session. Grandpa would stand there, watching the others get their photos taken, feeling proud and even hyping up his wife. The grandkids wanted to be around their grandparents, creating a beautiful, intergenerational connection.

I got to spend some alone time with Lanoy during this session. We stepped into a corner of the studio, where she looked at herself in the mirror and told herself how beautiful she was inside and out. She stood in silence with her wig off, fully present in the moment. When she emerged from that space, her family surrounded her with love on the couch and embraced her.

At times like these, we need family to come together and be there for one another. Lanoy’s family had been by her side every step of the way, and that was evident during this session. Through all the tears and hugs, Lanoy was reminded of her family’s love and strength, giving her the courage to fight.

As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” but that day, I was speechless. Being reminded of the power of family, love, and faith reinforced why I do what I do. This is just one of the hundreds of stories I am privileged to witness, and I thank God every day for the opportunity to step into people’s lives, even if just for an hour. Photography is not just for happy moments; it’s also for remembering times because you never know when it will be the last for someone.

Meredith , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, I’m Meredith, the owner of Cross Lake Media. I’m a wedding and lifestyle photographer and social media manager based in St. Paul, MN. I started Cross Lake Media in October 2020 to showcase my art as I traveled across Minnesota and Wisconsin, hiking their state parks. While the focus of my business has evolved, my passion for capturing small moments remains central to my work. Every session and wedding reminds me of the world’s true beauty and how a single click can preserve time.
What I am most proud of in my business is my ability to enhance the stories already being told in my personal and professional lives. For my social media clients, I highlight your passion and what you love most about your business. I love seeing the spark in your eyes when you talk about your craft. For my photography clients, my philosophy is to ensure you know your life should be celebrated. I feel honored to be part of people’s lives when they choose me as their photographer. I aim to be your cheerleader, even if just for an hour. Every moment deserves to be captured and cherished for a lifetime. This is your story. This is your life. And what a gift it has been to do this for the past four years.
Each session I conduct is unique because no two people are alike. A great storyteller adapts to the story of each character. Before every session, I send out a questionnaire to my clients. Some of the questions include how they met, what makes them laugh, and my favorite: after this session, how would you like to feel? This process helps me connect with clients even before we meet.
On the session day, I have a few rules:
1. Never apologize for living your life. It’s okay if it takes a couple of pieces of candy to calm your kid down.
2. During a session, if you want to do something, the answer is always yes.
3. I learn to laugh with each person, whether it’s singing “Baby Shark” or telling a good Dad joke.
4. We dance. I love it when people show me their moves; it helps me connect with their lives. Each of these moments deserves to be captured and kept for a lifetime.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The mission of Cross Lake Media is to tell people’s stories, celebrate life, and ensure that everyone knows they are beautiful, loved, and seen. Every day, billions of people experience countless moments, and photographers, like myself, preserve these memories for current and future generations to cherish. Through photography, we gain insight into past generations—their appearance,  activities, and passions. I feel honored every day to pick up my camera and capture these moments.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I have been in this business for the past four years, and I can’t even imagine telling my younger self that I would have almost a thousand followers looking at my work. By building this following, I have joined an extraordinary community for which I am incredibly grateful. While I know my business is a work in progress, here are the strategies that have worked for me:

Finding Your SEOs: Optimizing your online presence for search engines is crucial. I use relevant keywords in my descriptions and titles to make it easier for people to find my portfolio. Facebook has spectacular groups that you can join to help get you started.
Interacting with Other Creatives: Engaging with other photographers and enthusiasts has improved my business. Simply commenting on their work, joining photography groups or forums, and participating in discussions have all been beneficial.
Collaborating with Others: Along with interacting with other creatives, collaborating with models, makeup artists, and other photographers helps create diverse content. These incredible creatives have played a pivotal role in how I make content for my business, allowing me to create some of my dream sessions.
Attending Events and Workshops: One of the greatest networking opportunities I’ve participated in has been styled shoots. Events like these have allowed me to become more creative with my art, step out of my comfort zone, and make creative friends along the way, fostering new followers for both my business and my new friends’ businesses.

For business owners or influencers trying to build a following, give yourself grace when your followers are few. I got a great reminder when I first started: picture your business as a brick-and-mortar store. If all your followers showed up at that store, you would be thrilled. So, never beat yourself up about needing more followers. It is the quality over the quantity of followers that makes your business. Some of my most valued supporters have come from the online community. Another piece of advice is to post for yourself, not for anyone else. I’ve talked to other creatives who feel burned out from posting or feel they have to post to keep followers. It’s okay to take a break from social media; your followers will still be there. Lastly, always keep learning and experimenting with new techniques. Stay updated with trends in photography while staying true to your unique style.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.crosslakemedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crosslakemedia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crosslakemedia

Image Credits

All of them are mine