Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carissa Gray. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

In August of 2016, a good friend of mine asked me if I would take family pictures for her. She said she liked the pictures that I would post of my family, nature, and more and that she would love it if I would take family pictures for her and her family. That led to her asking me if I ever considered running a photography business. I said I had, but that my work wasn’t good enough. To which she replied, stop that nonsense and quit being so hard on yourself. We talked for a long time and in the end, I decided I would give it a try. If nothing came of it, at least I would know I gave it my all and that I tried. Photography has been a passion of mine since childhood and it’s something I had considered doing for many years. When my friend talked with me, it lit a fire inside me. I knew I needed to give it a shot. My husband supported me and my decision to go for my dream. I talked with him about it for a long time and he helped me come up a plan so I could get started. He helped me buy my first DSLR, helped me turn our junk room into a small studio that I could use during the colder months, and so much more. As things started coming together, the feeling that this would turn into something real grew. One of the reasons I felt that my hobby and passion could turn into something more was that I had a ton of support. I feel a dream will go further when other people believe in it too. Another reason is that when you love what you do, you will fight harder to succeed. Getting to capture special moments for others so that they would turn into memories they could look back on for years to come was and is an amazing blessing. The longer I keep this going, the more I love what I do and what I continue to build upon.

Carissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! My name is Carissa Gray and I own and run Forever in a Moment Entertainment, LLC. It started out as Carissa Gray Photography, LLC in 2016 and evolved into what it is today in 2020. I began as a photographer and within a few years, I expanded my services to include event coordinating and planning, officiating, and two unique photo booth options. When I began to add other services, I thought it was time to rebrand and change the name of my business. I got into business when I friend of mine suggested I turn my hobby into a career. I started out by doing family sessions, senior pictures, and maternity sessions. In 2017, I started photographing weddings, birthday parties, and more. In 2018, I added a Polaroid booth as an add on to my packages. I also added coordination services to my top tier packages. In 2020, I made those services available as standalone services. I also decided to take a leap and do something I had been thinking about doing for years, I got ordained. I have been a writer since grade school and wanted to chance to custom write ceremonies and then perform them for amazing couples. When I would photograph a wedding, I would often watch the officiant and as I would, the desire to do the same grew and grew over the years. So, in 2020 when the wedding industry took a hit and I wasn’t sure how I would keep my doors open, I began to think about how I could be there for more couples.

I created a must have vendor list by looking back on vendors I had already worked with, reaching out to others and getting to know them, and more until I had a comprehensive list to share with couples. I grew my coordination skills, and got ordained. I hoped by offering more services that I would be able to book more weddings and other events. In 2022, I bought upgrades for my photo booth so that now I can offer two photo booth options. I have been committed to growing my business and learning as much as possible so I can provide the best for the clients who hire me and the fellow vendors that I work with. I want to give them all my best, no matter what it takes. I am here to help you have the best experience, because it is what you deserve. If something doesn’t go as planned, I will work hard to make things right. What I believe sets me apart is the level of care I give to my clients. I don’t view anyone as a paycheck or as just another face I will forget. I view everyone as a person who has thoughts, feelings, and dreams of their own and that should be treated with respect, kindness, and love. The closer I feel to someone, the more of myself I put into what I do. So by forming a close bond with my clients, I am promising to give them all of me and that I work tirelessly to give them the best day possible. I want everyone to look back on their time with me and smile, to be glad that they chose me to be a part of their lives.

I am proud of myself for keeping my business going as long as I have, that I made it through the COVID mess, and that I keep fighting to keep it going. I have never put so much of myself into anything else I have done for a living. When I look at where I started and where I am today, I smile. I have accomplished so much in the last seven years. Part of that is due to the support from my family and friends. They have kept pushing me forward and been here to help however they can. They keep supporting me and what I do. So as much as this is about my successes and what I have done, it is also about those who have helped make this all possible. I feel that the main reason we are put on this earth is to share in it all with others, to love one another, and to leave this place a little better than how we found it. I have been given so much love and been shown so much kindness in my life and my desire is to give as much of what I have been given to others. We all need love and kindness. It helps us keep going, even when we don’t know how we will make it through and it helps drive us to follow our dreams and to succeed. I am where I am because I busted my butt and because others have been here to keep me going. I feel it is important for anyone who wants to get to know me as not only a business owner, but also a person should know that I value honesty, integrity, hard work, laughter, friendship, and love above all else. They are what make me who I am and what drive me to treat others the way they should be. When you hire me, you get more than just someone providing the service you’re looking for. You’re also getting someone who really cares about you and will work hard for you.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

There are many avenues for people to stay in touch and not everyone prefers the same one, so I try to be flexible. If you are a texter, then shoot a me a text and we will chat that way. Are you someone that’s often found chatting on Facebook Messenger, we can use the app to connect. If you prefer to e-mail back and forth, we can do that. If you’d like to talk on the phone or have a Zoom call, I will make it happen. If you would like to meet in person, then let’s set up a time to get together. I don’t have only one or two ways to communicate with me. I want to make sure I can be there for you in the way that works best for you. I pride myself on being respectful, responsive, and there for every client. I show my loyalty by communicating in a timely manner, listening and proving that you have been heard, give thanks for referrals, go above and beyond to show that I am committed to giving them an experience that they will want to remember for years to come.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

There are a few things that I believe have helped me make a name for myself as a reliable wedding and event vendor. The biggest two are that the more events I have worked where clients are so pleased that they leave good reviews and where other vendors will refer me to others helps potential clients see that I am someone they can rely on and that may just be the right fit for them. When someone wants to hire a carpenter, plumber, or roofer, they often look into them before they choose someone. If you’re looking for a hair stylist, nail tech, or makeup artist, you will want to see their work before hiring them. Someone who does their research will look at websites, check for and read reviews to see what kind of service others received, and find out as much as possible before making a decision. When a potential client does their research on me, they will see a lot of good reviews, a lot of my work to show the quality of what I do, and plenty of info so that they can get to know me, as both a business professional and as a person. When you work hard and others not only see it, but tell others as well, that helps get your name out there. I think that’s one of the best ways to grow your business. Word of mouth gets me a great deal of my business. I am thankful for every referral, it reminds me that I am doing something right.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://foreverinamomententertainment.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/foreverinamomententertainment
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/foreverinamomententertainment
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carissa-m-gray-50043496/

Image Credits
All images were taken by me.