We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cassie Waits. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cassie below.

Cassie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

In the summer of 2024, I went on a two-week family vacation to the New England Coast, visiting Maine, Massachusetts, and New York. Naturally, my camera was my constant companion, allowing me to capture the stunning beauty of the landscapes and the special moments shared with my family. While the experience of photographing a new place with loved ones was deeply meaningful, what truly made this project transformative was the creative block I encountered along the way.

At first, hitting a creative block felt frustrating—like the opposite of what I wanted during such an inspiring trip. But in hindsight, it was exactly what I needed. Editing gave me the opportunity to reimagine my work, allowing me to show the world the way I envisioned it when I captured those moments. I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with different styles and techniques, but some of my best ideas emerge when I push through moments of creative stagnation.

With this particular set of photos, I challenged myself to go beyond the basics of exposure, highlights, and shadows. I started experimenting with hue shifting and color manipulation, transforming the already stunning landscapes into something uniquely vibrant and surreal. The result was a fresh, creative look that I had never explored before, and it opened the door to new artistic possibilities.

Now, this editing style has become an integral part of my creative process. I even carve out time between client projects to play with these techniques, allowing myself to stay connected to the joy of creating purely for the sake of art. This project didn’t just reignite my creativity—it reshaped the way I approach my work and helped me find a style that I’m proud to feature in this article.

Cassie, 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, I’m Cassie Correna, a photographer based in North Georgia specializing in lifestyle and wedding photography. Beyond weddings, I also love capturing special moments from birthdays, baby showers, business shoots, and more. In my free time, I enjoy taking nature shots and self-portraits, which allow me to explore new techniques while building my modeling portfolio. I also sell my nature prints through my online gallery: cassiecorrenaphotography.pic-time.com. My passion lies in documenting life’s meaningful moments and bringing joy to my clients as they look back on their cherished memories.

My journey with photography started early—I first picked up a camera as a toddler, playing with disposable cameras at my grandmother’s store, surrounded by girls trying on prom and pageant dresses. At twelve, I got my first real camera, a gift from my other grandmother before a big move from the Southeast to Washington state. Growing up with a deep appreciation for capturing life’s special moments, I’ve made it my mission to do so full-time, creating timeless images that my clients will treasure forever.

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.

As someone who didn’t fully embrace their creative side until my early 20s, I understand how people often perceive those of us pursuing careers in creative fields. The questions usually center around stability: ‘Can you really make a living doing this?’ Many associate creatives with the ‘struggling artist’ stereotype—and for a long time, I did too. I went to college with the goal of becoming a pediatrician, following a path of stability and service like my mother, a single mom and full-time registered nurse who provided for me despite life’s challenges.

However, my mother has also been my biggest supporter in my creative pursuits. She believes in my goals and knows I can back them up with determination, hard work, and a commitment to honing my skills every day. What I’ve come to realize is that creatives can not only exist but thrive in the world. Our work may not always seem as traditionally ‘important’ as other professions, but we bring joy, inspiration, and beauty into people’s lives. We brighten the world in ways that matter, and I hope that by sharing my journey, I can help others see that a creative life is not only valid but valuable.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

My journey into photography was made possible by the incredible support of my family. After my last semester of college—a time when I struggled deeply with depression and uncertainty about my future—they surprised me with new camera lenses and encouraged me to revisit something that had always brought me joy. It was a gesture of love and belief that I’ll never forget. They even gifted me a brand-new model of my Nikon camera before I shot my first wedding, giving me the tools and confidence to pursue my dreams.

Now, I want to emphasize that my success hasn’t been handed to me. My family isn’t well off—I worked throughout college as a server to pay for groceries and rent, rarely asking for help so my grandparents could focus on the younger kids. That’s why their support means everything to me. For them to believe in me so wholeheartedly and invest in my passion showed me that my dreams were worth pursuing. If any of you are reading this, thank you for believing in me—you mean the world to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cassiecorrenaphotography.com/
• Instagram: @cassiecorrenaphotography @cassie_correna
• Facebook: Cassie Correna
• Youtube: Cassie Correna
• Other: https://cassiecorrenaphotography.pic-time.com/portfolio