We recently connected with Caitlyn Schantzenbach and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Caitlyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I actually came to photography through an unexpected and deeply personal moment. By trade, I’m a nurse, but by passion I’ve always had a creative eye. Years ago, at a family gathering, I snapped a picture of my dad without realizing it would later become the very photo used at his funeral. That single image now hangs on the walls of my siblings, my grandparents, my aunts and friends — it became the way we all hold on to him. That experience lit a fire in me. It showed me how powerful it is to document the ordinary days, because you never know when they become the moments that matter most.

As a mom, that conviction only deepened. I once read that children who see their photos on the walls of their home grow up with more confidence and a stronger sense of belonging. That struck me, and I wanted to give my own kids — and now the families I work with — that same gift. So photography became more than just a creative outlet; it became my way of preserving love, legacy, and confidence through images that will outlive us.

Caitlyn, 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?

I’m Caitlyn — a nurse by career, but a photographer by calling. My business, Voir Clair Photo, was born out of both love and loss. Years ago, I took what I thought was just a candid picture of my dad at a family gathering. I never knew it would become the last photo we had of him, the very one used at his funeral and now displayed on the walls of my family. That moment changed me. It opened my eyes to the power of photography — how it preserves a person’s presence long after they’re gone, how it turns fleeting days into something we can hold onto.

As a mother, I also carry that conviction into how I photograph families. I once read that children who see their photos displayed at home grow up with more confidence and a deeper sense of belonging. That resonated with me, and it shapes how I document my own kids, as well as how I serve my clients. Photography, to me, is not about posed perfection — it’s about legacy, confidence, and telling the truth of who we are in a way that lasts.

I specialize in weddings, newborns, motherhood, and boudoir — each a season of life where emotions run deep and time feels slow but disappears without warning. What sets me apart is not just the images I create, but the intention behind them. My work is built in faith, purpose, and care. I want my clients to feel seen, valued, and cherished — not just during their session, but every time they look back at their photos.

What I’m most proud of is that my brand has grown from a very personal place, but it now gives others something eternal. For my couples, I preserve their beginnings. For mothers, I honor their strength and beauty. For families, I capture the love that fills their everyday. At the heart of Voir Clair Photo is this simple truth: life is fragile, but love is enduring — and photography is the bridge between the two.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One thing I think non-creatives sometimes struggle to understand about this journey is that being a creative isn’t just about making something pretty or pressing a button on a camera — it’s about carrying the weight of people’s memories, emotions, and legacies. As a photographer, I’m not just capturing a smiling face; I’m preserving a moment that might someday become the way someone is remembered. That responsibility is both beautiful and heavy.

What often isn’t seen is the invisible emotional labor that comes with this work. I pour myself into every session — not just technically, but spiritually and emotionally. My heart is always asking: ‘How do I honor this story, this person, this love?’ That’s something that doesn’t neatly clock in and out. It’s always with me.

Creativity also requires constant vulnerability. Every image I deliver isn’t just a product — it’s a reflection of how I see the world, and sharing that openly means exposing a piece of myself to critique and judgment. That can feel raw, but it’s also what makes the work authentic.

If there’s insight to offer, it’s this: the creative path isn’t just about talent, it’s about resilience. It’s learning to hold both the joy and the ache of human life in your hands and turn them into something lasting. To create is to serve — and I think that’s the part that often goes unseen.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my creative journey was stepping into boudoir photography. As a Christian woman, it wasn’t something I took lightly. At first, I wrestled with how to navigate it — how to honor my faith and still create an experience that felt authentic, empowering, and purposeful. I didn’t want boudoir to just be about pretty pictures. I wanted it to be about restoration.

What I found is that so many women — especially mothers — come into the studio feeling disconnected from themselves. They’ve poured everything into their families and marriages, and in the process, they’ve lost sight of their own worth and beauty. Photographing them isn’t just about capturing an image; it’s about helping them see themselves again. I’ve watched women walk out of sessions standing taller, with tears in their eyes because they finally recognized the woman God created them to be. I’ve even had couples tell me their marriage found new spark and closeness because of the confidence a wife rediscovered in that experience.

That pivot — moving into a genre that can be misunderstood, but transforming it into something redemptive and life-giving — has been both the most challenging and the most rewarding step in my journey. Boudoir, for me, is deeply personal. It’s not about perfection. It’s about identity, healing, and giving women permission to be seen again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.voirclairphoto.com
• Instagram: @voirclair.photo
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/voirclairphoto

Image Credits

Margarita Dewalt Photography took my brand photo!