We recently connected with Courtney Santiago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Courtney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My journey from working and living just for the purpose of surviving to starting my photography business and prioritizing true happiness has been nothing short of transformative.
After fifteen years of neglecting my emotional, mental and creative needs, a near-death experience changed me to my core and redirected my focus in almost every area of my life. In the midst of that experience and after it, I came to fully understand that the only things that had ever mattered and would ever matter were the connections we make…to the people we meet, to the places we go, to the world around us. The depth of that realization served as a pivotal wake-up call, reminding me of the fragility of life and pushing me to stop believing I was limited in my ability to create more of those experiences. I began deep healing work in conjunction with feeding my creative side, creating art, connecting with people, and forming meaningful interactions and capturing memories.
After two years of prioritizing myself, my business and the legacy I want to leave behind, I am happier and healthier than ever. When it is my time to leave this earth, though, I want to be remembered for making a positive impact, even in the smallest of ways. One conversation, one interaction, sometimes even just one glance can be something that changes you, something you take with you forever. Traveling to beautiful places, making memories and capturing those of the people I met along the way brought me to the understanding that my true calling was always related to human connection- I was just going about it in the wrong way for all of the years beforehand.
My business’ mission is different because my photography isn’t just about doing a job, clicking a button, paying the bills; it’s about experiencing life with the people behind my lens. Those moments of laughter, quiet introspection, raw emotion…of learning their stories and helping them tell those stories through the images we create together. If I can be that conduit for human expression by spreading joy and capturing the beauty of the people and places I photograph, I am fulfilling my purpose.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As a photographer, I specialize in everything from headshots, business content creation, fashion and family portraits to events, engagements and elopement weddings. Whether it’s collaborating with business owners and freelancers on professional branding shoots to showcase their unique offerings and elevate their online presence, or documenting the heartfelt moments of families and couples celebrating their love, my aim is to create visual narratives that resonate deeply with my clients. Through my lens, I strive to not only immortalize these moments but also to convey the emotions and stories that lie beneath the surface, leaving a lasting impact on all those who view my work.
In the upcoming year, I will also be offering a program designed to elevate photographers’ portfolios, enhance their skills, and enrich their businesses through immersive styled photoshoots in some of the most breathtaking landscapes across the United States. Through this program, photographers will have the opportunity to embark on unforgettable journeys to stunning locations, where they’ll capture the raw beauty of nature against the backdrop of their subjects, collaborate with like-minded professionals and gain the same types of invaluable experiences that changed the direction of my own life.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
When I first began my photography business, I had just become a single mom, was living paycheck to paycheck and had very little to spare. I started out with the basics- in marketing, in web design, in gear- and slowly upgraded as I booked more clients rather than spending thousands and thousands without seeing a return for a long time. Some photographers will place a lot of emphasis upon having the newest and most expensive equipment, but the truth is that low-end images can be created with high-end gear, high-end images can be created with low-end gear, and excellent work can generate a great amount of business even if you can’t afford to pay for the most expensive websites and ad campaigns. It’s all about understanding the essentials, learning to work with various types of lighting, honing your skills through practice and working your way up!
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Social media- Facebook groups, Instagram and business networking apps! In my first few years of photography before I really starting putting my heart and soul into it, I wasn’t very active on social media and now this is where the majority of my leads are generated and connections are formed. Groups and apps specifically have been incredibly helpful, from finding potential clients to meeting other photographers, models, designers and business owners. Community groups (city or state=specific) usually allow for business promotion on certain days of the week, while photography-specific groups generally allow unlimited advertising for both paid and collaborative shoots, which are great for portfolio-building when you’re first starting out. You can also meet other creatives working towards the same goals, which is another great resource for learning. Everyone has different specialities and levels of experience, and while sometimes you will run into people who view you as competition, the majority are eager to help and learn from one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.caileen.photography
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/c.aileenphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/C.AileenPhotography
Image Credits
Courtney Santiago C. Aileen Photography