We recently connected with Christina Buckalew and have shared our conversation below.
Christina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
I take pride in defying expectations as a photographer with a disability that affects my motor function and coordination. In this industry, I stand as a rare but inspiring example that anything is possible when one’s spirit dares to dream. I embrace my identity as a photographer, a philanthropist, and a student with aspirations amidst life’s challenges, and proving the limitless potential that resides within the human spirit.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a 22 year old freelance photographer, passionate philanthropist, and full-time student. Photography has been a steadfast love in my life, and an inseparable companion since the age of nine when I received my first camera. Its ignited a joy that resonated deeply, offering solace when everything seemed to unravel. Each perfect picture captured inspires me, becoming an enduring source of motivation to keep going. I’ve done nature photography, senior pictures, and photoshoots of friends when they needed content for their socials. Guided by a commitment to showcase my subjects’ confidence through angles, lighting and words of encouragement. I am most proud of the impact I make through my work. In addition to providing beautiful photographs to my clients, I create a space for them to embrace self-love and savor these moments of personal appreciation.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Throughout my whole life, I had always envisioned myself as a surgeon and a photographer. However, life’s obstacles unfolded in unexpected ways. At the age of 15, I received a diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular disease that gradually would strip away my ability to walk. Initially, I was in denial. I battled with the notion that this would define my existence. But from the depths of despair, I searched for the strength to rise and harnessed a resilient spirit that would follow a different path. I carefully crafted a new plan with the determination to embark on a new journey. I was uncertain of the horizon of possibilities. But today, I stand proudly amidst the chapters untold, and I choose to move forward. I am pursuing a college education in Business Management. I have dedicated myself to volunteer work at a nonprofit, and an unwavering belief in empathy’s power to heal. In a world of wars, whether physical or emotional, there is a silent mark on each individual, I can only hope for a shared understanding that follows compassion, and an environment where the burdens of one another are met with empathy and grace.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
One of the most gratifying aspects of my work is cultivating a sense of confidence within my clients. In a world where humanity is persistently confronted with reminders of their imperfections, they gradually solidify over time. We find ourselves in an era where mental health concerns: such as body dysmorphia, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, have become alarmingly prevalent. In light of this reality, I wholeheartedly believe in the significance of mental well-being. Even if it is just for a fleeting moment, a photograph can spark the beginning of self-love within an individual, it is the most profound reward in my eyes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: xxtinaphotography
- Facebook: Christina Buckalew
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/christina-buckalew-208439214