We recently connected with Charleen Baggett and have shared our conversation below.

Charleen, appreciate you joining us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

As a child, I was intrigued by my family’s inexpensive Brownie camera. I believed that black square box made miracles, and I was determined to learn how to make it work. I recall asking my father how to photograph someone’s true personality. He explained that some individuals are not able to openly express themselves because they put their emotion in a hidden place in their soul.

When I asked him what he had hidden in his soul, he would close his eyes for a few minutes. Then he would reflect on deep and complex emotion from his time serving in the armed forces in World War II Europe. Our conversations were precious and at times, terrifying. I didn’t understand why he closed his eyes, but as I grew up, I understood that it was his way of connecting with that time of his life. Few truly comprehend the sacrifices our soldiers make for us and how they process their combat experiences in life.

I continue to learn from combat veterans most every day. My experiences and relationships have given me new insight for Photography. For me, Photography is capturing emotion and place whether it be in a portrait session with a combat veteran, capturing the sunrise at the ocean, or observing the habits various birds.
With that being said, my heroes have always been the men and women who served in the armed forces and fought for our freedom, especially my father. From them, I learned the importance of connection.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In high school, I joined a Photography class comprised of 25 boys and me. The boys were not happy about having me in the class because “girls can’t be photographers.” When returning the next day, I announced that my nickname was “Charlie,” Somehow that made things work and I continued the class for three years.

As a part of this class, I was able to have 30 minutes each day to walk the campus with a big professional camera. After I completed my assignment, I photographed anything I chose. I funded my expenses by photographing the girlfriends and boyfriends of other students. That was the beginning of my experience with portraits.

I had plans to become a professional photographer when I graduated, but I quickly realized that beginning salaries for photographers weren’t much more than minimum wage. I opted for continuing my education and made Photography a part time job. After receiving a BBA and MSL, my position as a certified project manager and financial systems implementation consultant kept me busy. In addition, I held various board positions for non-profit organizations. In 2018, I moved to the NC coast and transitioned to full-time Photography.

The combination of my business skills and my Photography experience positioned me to be a strong Photography business owner here in Wilmington. I professionally print my work and print for other artists. I also teach Photography classes for less experienced photographers to help them utilize their cameras and understand the technical aspects of Photography. I have a new Portrait Photography class that helps the photographer understand how to get the most of their portrait work.

My work is seen regularly at theArtWorks™ here in Wilmington as well as several art galleries and exhibitions in the south. I curated “Birds of a Feather” in 2023. This exhibition included seven prominent wildlife photographers who collaborate on a regular basis.

I am most proud of my 2024 portrait work in “Behind the Curtain: Portraits of Courage, Strength, Excellence. I interviewed and photographed 30 combat veterans. It was the most rewarding work of my career. My early experiences talking with my father about his military service guided me through the interviews. As a part of this work. I developed my own style of Portrait Photography, “Transcending Portraits.” With “Behind the Curtain,” I first spent time with the combat veteran, discussing their military history. Then I asked the veteran to close his or her eyes for a few minutes before I photographed them. The end result was powerful and sincere. I still have a close connection with these combat veteran heroes, and I cherish every minute I spend with them.

I quickly learned that this method of “Transcending Portraits.” lends itself to all types of portraits and achieves my lifelong goal of capturing true emotion and feeling in my portraits. This method also teaches patience, which is critical in the process of Wildlife Photography.

I continue to serve on non-profit boards and volunteer for art organizations in the area.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I started with a bare-bones, five-year business plan. Once I identified and costed the equipment and supplies/expenses, I determined that I could finance the business for five years without a loan. The next step was applying for Federal and NC Income Tax Ids, applying for an LLC and then filing for a NC Sales and Use Tax ID. Each year, I revise the business plan and plan for the following year.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love the freedom of creating and connecting. The most rewarding part of being an artist is the fellowship, support, and connectivity in the artist community. I am blessed beyond measure to have such talented and kind friends in the art community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.charlieandthemermaid.com www.facebook.com/charliemermaid/
• Instagram: dcharleen
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dcharleen/
• Linkedin: Charleen Baggett

Image Credits

Charlie Baggett