We recently connected with Cerissa Tulop and have shared our conversation below.

Cerissa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

My work and art-wise, I hope to be remembered as someone who saw the music in the moment and showed that in her clients’ and subjects’ portraits.

As a person? I think people will say that I was honest and true to who I was and what I felt (and what I felt was everything, very deeply). I hope they remember me as a warm and committed mother, and a person who was never boring.

And hey let’s throw this in here, I want to be remembered as a woman who could catch fish in any body of water where fish can be found.

Cerissa, 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 a lifestyle photographer, mom, wife, outdoor adventurer, and cheese fries enthusiast (no, seriously, tots also acceptable). I earned my BA in English (Creative Writing) at George Mason University and dove into a 9-5 world of marketing, sales proposals, and technical writing.

When my husband and I had our second baby, I craved more flexibility so that I could be more present for our family. Photography had been a side hustle for me for some time, but I wanted to devote more of myself to it and be more present for my family.

I remember noticing little details about my day, always, even as a child. I would notice how shadows moved throughout the day, I would notice textures on walls I walked by daily. I began to photograph these details as a teenager. And I noticed that when my husband and I had our first baby, noticing those little details were what grounded me amid sleepless nights and the huge adjustment to parenthood. Photographing those little details became an exercise in mindfulness.

When I decided to leave my full-time position and start Cerissa Photography, a mission of mine was to show my clients the beauty in those little details and those seemingly-insignificant moments. Whether you’re a parent coming to me for newborn or family portraits, or an entrepreneur looking for headshots or branding photos, what I photograph is what’s real.

Sessions with me are hangout sessions, whether we’re doing an in-home session with you and your children, or an engagement sesssion walking about town, or updating your headshots. Basically, if you think you’re awkward in front of the camera, I’m your girl, because there is no pressure ever. You be you, and I’ll capture it. I want my clients to leave their session feeling that they were seen, that we had good conversation, and that they were comfortable.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When my husband and I had our second child, I knew I had to pivot to have more flexibility and be more present for our family. Photography had been a side hustle for me for years, but I had been craving time to devote to my art. Pivoting required an ocean of bravery for both myself and my husband (so thankful), and so much adjustment to a completely different lifestyle. It’s amazing what full commitment does, though. Even a year in, my skills had developed so much more than the decade prior.

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

I keep in touch with my clients and foster brand loyalty through Instagram and e-mail. It’s so important to me to share glimpses into my everyday life, my process, and my recent work. Staying real and sharing my struggles and wins not only invites my clients and prospective clients to reach out and start conversations, but it shows where my work comes from. My personal experiences directly impact the work that I do, by feeding my soul, energizing or weighing me down, and pushing me to grow. It’s so vital that my clients understand who I am and who they are working with.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cerissaphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/cerissaphotography