Meet Christina Swanson | Photographer for real life and real people

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Swanson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

In the beginning my business was my baby. It consumed all of me and my time. I poured everything I had into it. It was my career, my social life and everything in between. Now it serves to provide for my family in a manner that allows me to be there for my family. Priorities have changed but the business has flowed with the seasons of my life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

My photography focuses on real life and real love stories. Pictures are beautiful. But a photograph that shares your family and your story well there is nothing more beautiful than that. I started out photographing children I nannied for. Documenting life as it was happening. One of them battling cancer. My husband pushed me to persue photography. I jumped in head first. At the time the industry was very much close mouthed and more competition than community. It. is not how I would recommend starting. And I am always happy to meet with new photographers to give tips and advice over a hot cup of tea or glass of sweet tea. I learned by doing. I constantly worked to know more. I made a lot of mistakes and learned from them. Built relationships with incredible clients who have stayed with me over the years. In photography I learned that its all about the eye. There is no one right answer. Everyone sees things differently and is seeking something different. There is no perfect bubble you need to fit in. What is most important is that you are your true and authentic self. If I wanted to the world to know anything about my brand or my photography journey it is that their life is beautiful. It is worthy of being captured and told in the most genuine of ways. Real life is messy and it is oh so very beautiful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I live just north of Nashville. We would definitely need to eat at Monells a family style dining restaurant inside an old home that you sit with strangers and leave feeling like family. We would visit Cheekwood for their beautiful botanical gardens. I live near the Kentucky border so we would need to make a trip to the amish bakery Schlabachs in Elkton KY. It literally smells like heaven and the yummy treats taste like they are from heaven. We’d probably have to pack a lunch and take a day trip to hike Cummins Falls. I live on a cattle farm and absolutely love to cook so we would have some home cooked meals and visit while sitting on the porch at SouthwindS Cattle Co watching the sun set while we ate the most delicious wagyu burgers. The little town I live in is known for the Bell Witch so we would head out to have lunch at our favorite little bbq place Adams Station and then head over to tour the bell witch cave. Or visit the museum and old town buildings in the center of Adams. Im a small town girl so while everyone may want to say go see downtown NAshville I would have to say visiting with the historian who sits at the museum or anyone you see in town is interesting to talk to. In Adams everyone will stop to chat and we all have a story to share. If you are visiting in July the Thresherman show would be where I would take you for sure. The people, the atmosphere and the fun can not be beat for family friendly entertainment. They have mules pulling wagons of wheat to be threshed the old way. An old lumber yard showing you how they cut lumber. Steam engine train driving around. And so much more.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Oh this is a hard one. The ones who encouraged and pushed me the most are either no longer here or no longer serving in the same industry. If i had to choose one person it would be my husband. He encouraged me to let go of the known and do something I loved and was passionate about without fear of the outcome. He himself has dreamed for years to own his own cattle and provide the highest quality beef to our local community. We are now the proud owners and cattle owners for SouthwindS cattle. All thanks to his dream and his hard work over several years without any reward back until recently. To see someone work so hard and not even be able to pay himself but still be so driven you know they are passionate about it. All the while he pushed me to do the same in photography. Purchasing my first camera and pushing me to do something I loved rather than just a job.

Someone else would be Ayla Whitehead with Rustique Essentials. She has built a business sharing her love of homesteading and the need for truly natural products. She is selfless and works harder than anyone I know. True meaning of community over competition sharing all her information to anyone who wants to learn. Even supporting those who take classes from her to go on and create their own soap business. She is a light in the world and an encouragement for anyone she meets.

Website: www.savedbygracephoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savedbygracephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savedbygracephoto

Image Credits
My head shot image credit is to: Sarah Moser Photography, Nashville TN

All other images are by Saved By Grace Photography, Christina Swanson