We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cristal Veronica Wallin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cristal Veronica below.
Cristal Veronica, appreciate you joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
Something that sets me apart in the wedding photography industry, is that I openly share my core values on my website. These beliefs are central to who I am, both as a photographer and as a human being. They include:
Black Lives Matter.
Love is Love is Love.
No Human is Illegal.
Stop AAPI Hate.
Gender is a Construct.
Everyone is Deserving of Love and Belonging.
These principles extend far beyond photography—they guide how I live my life. I believe it’s important to be transparent about what I stand for because I want to work with clients who not only appreciate my art but also connect with me on a personal level. By sharing my beliefs openly, I’m able to attract like-minded individuals, fostering relationships built on shared values. Similarly, if someone doesn’t resonate with these values, they’ll know that we’re not the right fit for each other, and that’s completely okay. I don’t aim to appeal to everyone, nor should I.
When I connect with clients who share these values, they tend to feel more comfortable and understood. This deeper connection helps them show up as their authentic selves, creating a space where I can capture them in the most genuine way possible. It also allows me to take creative risks and produce art that resonates with my own vision. In turn, this leads to my best work, giving them images that truly reflect who they are. By creating this safe and welcoming space, I aim to make sure every client feels celebrated for exactly who they are.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Cristal Veronica (she/her), a proud Queer Chicana feminist photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. After earning two degrees and starting my career in higher education, I found myself craving a creative outlet. I decided to teach myself photography as a fun hobby, which took a pivotal turn when a friend asked me to capture their queer wedding. That experience sparked my passion for documenting love in all its beautiful forms—weddings, families, and furkids. I quickly immersed myself in expanding my skills, and when I launched my small business, Cristal Veronica Photos, it was an easy choice to focus on celebrating LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.
My work has been featured in publications like BuzzFeed and The Knot, and I’ve had the honor of speaking at photography conferences. One of my most significant achievements was receiving the “Heritage of Pride – Pride Creativity Award” from SF PRIDE in June 2019. Although I appreciate the recognition, for me, photography is heart work. My goal is to ensure that the lives and love of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities are captured for future generations. I honestly get excited by each inquiry – just ask my wife!
In addition to photography, I’ve worked in higher education for over 20 years. While I will never be a fan of #KarltheFog, I adore my city of San Francisco. I’m obsessed with our rescue pup Magdalena (and every rescue dog I see on social media every day if I’m being honest). In my free time, my wife and I spend time with family and travel as much as we can. My least favorite thing is being asked what’s for dinner.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
As a creative, a key part of my mission is to stay true to my unique vision. In a world where social media has such a strong influence, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing my art to others. However, it’s essential for me to remain grounded in who I am—embracing all of my identities and lived experiences—and to recognize that my art isn’t about being better or worse than anyone else’s. It’s a reflection of my personal journey and the connection I share with my clients.
Being an artist is challenging because art is subjective. I understand that my work won’t resonate with everyone, and I’m completely at peace with that. I love the art I create and the amazing people I collaborate with. While I’m always grateful for compliments, my primary goal is for my clients to love the images we create together. At the end of the day, these photos will become a part of their lives and stories, and if they cherish them, I will feel immense pride in my work.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most fulfilling part of being a photographer is capturing the stories of my communities and creating images that affirm our existence. This has two key aspects.
First and foremost, while we live in a country that prides itself on freedom, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC folks are all too familiar with the reality that we are not truly free. Our basic human rights are challenged and restricted daily. Through my work, I want to show my communities that our lives not only matter but are also significant and deserving of recognition. We lead rich, beautiful lives that are worthy of love and celebration, and I want my art to be a testament to that truth.
Secondly, on a more personal level, I’m most proud of the images I create with and of my own family. Family is the most important part of my life, and after losing my Mom to breast cancer years ago, the photographs I have of her have become invaluable. Now I make it a priority to photograph the people I love as often as I can. These images are my way of holding onto them and keeping them close to my heart. My hope is that the photos I create today will continue to be cherished by family long after I’m gone.
The truth is, none of us know how much time we have in our physical bodies, and images are all we will have to remind us of the loves in our lives who left too soon. Through my photography, I want to create a lasting archive of these moments, the fleeting beauty of everyday life, and the essence of the people who make it meaningful. These images are not just for today—they’re for future generations, to show them where they come from, who loved them, and who fought for their right to be seen and celebrated.
In a world that too often tries to erase or diminish the existence of marginalized communities, my work serves as both documentation and resistance. It’s a way of saying, “We were here. We mattered. We lived full, beautiful lives.” Whether it’s through portraits of my own family or images of the wider communities I’m a part of, my goal is always the same: to create art that tells our stories with honesty, love, and pride.
At the end of the day, my greatest reward as a photographer is knowing that these images might help someone feel seen, valued, and remembered.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cristalveronicaphotos.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cisforcristal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cristalveronicaphotos
- Twitter: https://x.com/cisforcristal
Image Credits
Cristal Veronica Photos