Hey you all, guess what?! I'm a Grinkie Girl now! And seriously, I can't say enough good things about my experience.
Let me tell you more!
Christi provided lots of information in advance as to what to expect for the day/shoot experience, but I still found myself feeling a bit unsure as I drove up to the studio space. But from the moment I walked inside, after admiring the pink flamingos at the front doors of course, I felt right at home.
I'm not sure how I originally found her on social media (I will admit that I spend a decent amount of time on Instagram scrolling around), but I've been a fan of Christi's work for quite some time now. I remember seeing some of her images for the first time and thinking just how empoweringly beautiful they were. I also really liked how everything Christi does just oozes fun. You can just tell she love what she does. It's not just fun though, Christi is a true professional. You can see in her work her desire to continually expand her skillset to try new things and push against the social constructs of beauty. So, when I had the chance to be photographed by Christi, I couldn't let it pass me by. I even drove 4 hours round trip to make it happen!
I'm sure others go to be photographed by Christi with a clear plan, but that was not me. I didn't really know what I wanted to look like or what I wanted from the photoshoot experience beyond just wanting to feel good with the final images. Honestly, I really just wanted some pretty pictures of me. I'm a fairly awkward person at times. I'm that friend who might "ruin" your photo with squinty eyes or a random look on my face if you don't give me a lot of advanced notice when we take a picture together. I'm not a good candidate for the candid photo. But that's okay, that's just me! I'm not big into makeup, fashion, or style either. Those things don't come as naturally to me, and I'm most comfortable with sweatpants, messy buns, and dog hair everywhere. When I do "dress up" for something, I know I look great just like I know I look good as the natural, relaxed version of me. I haven't always felt so comfortable in my skin; it's been a journey to where I am today. This context is important to know, because Christi was able to work with all of this. She was able to see me and capture me in an authentically enhanced way. And even as someone who typically is more comfortable in a dressed down style, I truly enjoyed the process of being professionally glamourized and photographed. I didn't feel like I lost myself in that process. And, just like I wanted, the final images were very much me. I got my pretty pictures of me.
Everything about posing for photographs was new to me. Christi patiently helped me move into various poses, answered all my questions, showed me various shots along the way to help me trust the process even more, and provided jokes that kept me laughing throughout the process. Seriously, she just gets on the floor with you and pours her heart into getting that perfect shot captured. This lady has all the skills!
As we moved from taking photos into reviewing them, I was shocked at the number of images that I actually liked. I kept thinking wow, that's me. Wow! The wrap up process of selecting images and ordering was relaxed- no hard sell at Grinke Girls. If you like it, let's talk about what you want to order and what works for you. I ended up ordering an album, and I can't wait to see the finished product and share it with my partner. Best gift ever, right?!
Final thought: You are good enough to have a professional photoshoot. Christi will make you comfortable, even if you're totally new to the experience, and you'll love the results. Invest in yourself and this amazing artist. You're worth it, and you won't regret it!