Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassandra Fulford.
Cassandra, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
My relationship with photography began while I was young, like many others. Working as an editor at my high school’s newspaper, I soon realized the excitement that comes from catching the perfect moment at the right time on film. Before long, I would begin to take portraits of my family and friends and I found the incredible joy that comes with capturing those I love in an image. Nothing makes me happier than taking pictures of my family and friends and seeing the excitement that comes from it.
Shortly after high school, I enrolled at the NH Institute of Art where I studied photography. The first year was dedicated to black and white photography, primarily working in the dark room. (Am I dating myself here? Eek!) The second year of the program explored digital color photography, where I worked on manipulating images within Photoshop. My career with photography, though, had not yet begun. It was really intimidating to just jump into a career as an entrepreneur with no safety net. Instead, I began to work toward becoming a high school English teacher and after graduating accepted a job as an English teacher in a special education setting.
In the meantime, I got married to the best guy and moved to the Northshore of Massachusetts. (After years of pestering, I turned a cat-guy into a dog lover when we became pet-parents of our little schnau-zu monster, Pippa).
It wasn’t until 2014 that I picked my camera back up with a vengeance, registered myself as a business, and got to work on building my photography portfolio. The best part of this journey is that as my business grows, so does my experience. Each new client is a learning experience and opportunity for growth. It’s incredible how much there is still to learn even after years of having a camera in-hand!
By 2016, our little family grew large over night when my husband and I learned that we were expecting identical twin girls! Being a twin mom is something that I never would have thought would experience, but it didn’t take me long to realize how truly special it is. Now we are expecting a third (baby boy!) and are fully expecting a circus in our house for the next few years. All of this has made me fully appreciate the value of a family photograph, especially with getting Moms in front of the camera!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Living only minutes from the beach, it was a no-brainer that it should be the backdrop for my portrait sessions. The light on the northshore is like no other, and I’ve learned to use it in my photographs to make people glow. (I’ve been known to squeal with glee during photo sessions when the light hits my subjects JUST RIGHT!)
I love to create portraits of people at each momentous stage in their life–as eager and excited seniors in high school, as couples in love, and as family’s ready to create their own legacy. It’s so important to me that people end their experience with me equipped with images they’ll be excited to share with their children and their grandchildren for years to come. That moms take the time to get out from behind the camera and get in front of it, so their children can say years from now–“look how beautiful my mom is, and see how her eyes shine when she looks at me.”
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
For many artists, the biggest hurdle is themselves. It’s so easy to fall into this trap of negativity or low self-worth. Sometimes it can take several years (or a good hard reality check) to honestly evaluate yourself and your work and determine your truth worth. It’s tough, but it’s an exercise that can prove invaluable and pay off dividends in pursuing your art as a profitable business.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Most of my current portfolio is on Instagram @cassandralaurenphoto . You can also get in touch with me via my website www.cassandralaurenphotography (be sure to check out my blog for a closer look at what it’s like to have a portrait session with me) or on Facebook www.facebook.com/cassandralaurenphoto.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cassandralaurenphotography.com
- Phone: 9782902312
- Email: Cassandra.Fulford@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/cassandralaurenphoto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/cassandralaurenphoto
Image Credit:
Cassandra Lauren Photography, Nicole Starr Photography
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