ChriLee Photography – Vibrant Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

Hi Lovelies,

We had the pleasure of interviewing Christine Lee (better known as “Chri”) of ChriLee Photography for our 2nd installment of our #girlboss series! Christine is a fantastic wedding & lifestyle photographer based in Toronto, and she also travels around the world for destination shoots. Many people achieve similar results with the best photo editing apps for iphone, but there’s something about her work that has its own energy. Whenever I look at Chri’s photos, I break into a wide smile – that’s the effect her photos have on you – they’re vibrant, happy and relaxed – just like Chri herself!

We hope you enjoy the interview as much as we did – and we hope that it inspires you kick-start your business, reignite your passion with it or simply introduce you to this beautiful art and artist! 🙂

1. When was the “aha moment” you had that you knew you wanted to be a photographer?
I’ve always been a photographer for as long as I remember. There wasn’t exactly an “aha” moment per say. Although, my adventures in photography started in high school when my art teacher a digital camera in my hands, told me to go out and start photographing. That afternoon I fell in love with photography and it has been a gradual growth since then. Digital cameras really do help massively for photography, as it’s a lot more compact and easier to navigate with a crisper picture, depending on the camera. The classic old cameras, click here to see some examples, are a beautiful sight to see, but they are not exactly viable for the needs of today!

2. Did you have a mentor or professional training, or did you just teach yourself everything?
I learned the basics of photography in high school and later on went to York University to study Visual Arts. During university, I enrolled in film photography classes and learned to develop my own film and prints the traditional way. Although I went to school for the arts, most of my skills are self-developed through practice and curiosity. Classes can explain concepts such as composition and directional light to you. But it isn’t until you start experimenting and practicing where you can truly develop your skills.

3. How would you describe your style and ideal clientele?
I like to keep my photography fresh, vibrant, and natural – always very candid and at the moment and never heavily photoshopped. I also love the color! I notice it everywhere; whether it is the chipped paint of an old door or a light reflection off a building. So when it comes to my photography, I’m definitely not afraid of color. I also like to keep things light and airy, especially for weddings since it is such a happy time. People always comment on how refreshing it is to look at my photos because they are so full of vibrancy and warmth. My approach is also very organic as I prefer to photograph moments as they happen rather than to stage them. I photograph these moments intuitively and from the heart. My ideal clientele would be fun, know how to enjoy moments, and love to laugh! We would share the same laid-back attitude as I do when it comes to capturing moments; focusing on the emotions of the moment rather than how it looks. And of course, love my style!

4. What’s a “day-­in-­a-­life” for you as a Full-­time lifestyle photographer?
As a fulltime photographer and business owner, I need to maintain everything! On the business side, I need to maintain tasks such as correspondences, website, and social media upkeep, setting business goals, action plans, marketing, meeting for consultations, and so on. Some of these things are more important than others of course. For example, marketing is essential for a smaller business like me. That helps me to get my name out there and get more clients and bookings. I’ve recently been told to get in contact with some of the top seo consultants in my area. Apparently, they can build niche links and get my website ranking much higher on Google searches, increasing my online visibility. Perhaps that would be good for my business, you can never have too many clients! I’d just have to manage my time better, as there’s also the creative side of the job to do too. As I also do all the editing photos and designing myself. Every day consists of a bit of all these tasks when I am not out photographing. The days that I am photographing, it will usually be for the whole day as a full-day wedding can take very long.

5. What is the most popular item or service that clients order from you? What would you like to do more of?
After the photography coverage and high-resolution photos themselves, it is tie between an album or large canvases. It took some researching and now I am proud to offer a coveted collection of fine-art albums and canvases that my couples and clients can choose from and personalize. It is so exciting to see my work in print and how happy my couples get when they can see and hold the photos in their hands! It would be amazing to travel more for destination weddings or engagements. Wedding or engagement elopement anyone?

6. What costs are there for booking ChriLee Photography for destination weddings?
Bringing your own photographer is always a smart choice rather than going for someone locally. Often the photographers at destination resorts still charge absorbent prices per print and you often will not meet them until the day of your wedding. Another major benefit to bringing your own is that it is much easier for you to keep in contact after the wedding. Whether you have misplaced your photos or need something urgently, you can easily access and contact your photographer. Along with the collection that the couple chooses, destinations also involve the travel and accommodations fees. I do offer destination/travel collections specifically designed to help offset some of the travel and accommodation fees.

7. Can you give us an idea of the process and what to expect when working with ChriLee Photography?
Every project starts with a consultation where I get to learn more about the couple, their vision, who they are as people, and what is important for them. From there we brainstorm ways to help capture their stories and their personality. My approach during the planning process is very collaborative way. This makes each photo session and experience highly personalized for each couple. I encourage them to tell me any ideas they have for their photo sessions and always stress that they can be their natural and comfortable selves in front of my camera. During the photo session, I always like to keep it lighthearted, active, and full of adventure. Spontaneity is always key! We laugh and joke more than we are “posing”. Afterward, all the photos are individually edited. The process usually requires me to go through the photos a few times. Weddings generally take 6-8 weeks for completion. However, as much as I like to maintain the quality I totally understand that there are instances where couples will need a certain photo ASAP. Perhaps to print for out of town guests who are leaving or to send out Thank-You cards. I have no problem accommodating and sending them specific photos before the rest are finished. I also send out sneak peeks so my couples wouldn’t have to wait the whole 6-8 weeks to see photos!

8. What would you say separates you from the competition?
Style-wise, definitely my use of colour and ability to capture moments candidly. I haven’t see many other photographers use the same vibrancy I do while still keeping the photos very natural looking. Approach-wise, I like make sure my couples and their guests are always having a good time and especially stress-free. In one aspect, I can capture them at their most relaxed states. On the other hand, it is also because I genuinely want to help them truly enjoy their special day. My happy and fun attitude comes in handy this way. I’ve had brides tell me that this has also helped put them at ease during moments of stress on their wedding day. It was absolutely amazing to hear that!

9. Do you have any advice you could give to those photographers who are just starting their professional photography career?
I began by diving into my own business right away and then I started freelancing for other photographers afterwards. I made a lot of great friends this way and created a network of trusted friends within the same field. Whether you want to first start your own business or not, I would definitely suggest freelancing for photographers/studios that you admire. There is simply so much to learn out there!

10. Besides photography, what are your other hobbies?
I love to eat.

Kidding! I have more hobbies. I like dancing, I’ve taken contemporary dance classes before and more recently tried aerial pole and silk classes. I LOVE hanging upside-down now!

Quick 5 ­ Q&A:

a) How would you describe your personal style?
I don’t know… one friend referred to me as ‘anti-style’.

b) What is your makeup routine like?
Semi-permanent lashes and a bit of blush, they make life so easy in the morning! If I do put on lipstick it would have to be NARS. Oh, and I always carry vaseline for my lips because I can’t stand the feeling of chapped lips.

c) Favourite colours:
Pink, yellow, and turquoise. If they’re metallic then all of them!

d) Favourite restaurants and food?
So many to choose from!!!!!! I would order fresh oysters wherever I can.

e) Favourite travel destinations:
I want to travel to outerspace and take some pictures. That would be so cool.

Thank you so much to our girl, Chri, for taking the time to answer all our questions! Be sure to check out her amazing work at http://chrilee.com/

Until next time! We promise we won’t make you wait so long for the next installment of our #girlboss series. 🙂

With love and gratitude,