Meet Cristen Geller | Photographer

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

Hi Cristen, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Growing up, I had an interesting nomadic type of lifestyle. My father had a job where we traveled, moving our family to lots of different places, spending a chunk of my life going to international schools. This was grounds for meeting all sorts of people and seeing all types of lifestyles and culture. Not only was going to school abroad a cultural awakening, from a young age I was encouraged to find an outlet that I thrived in. For me, this was anything artistic or creative. By the time I was in 4th grade I realized my passion was anything and everything related to the arts. I would be in art class chiseling away at whatever the teacher’s project of the week would be for hours after class ended. Whilst I was en route to becoming some sort of creative being, I also had my incredible parents – both with contributing work habits and attributes to look up to. My father was an engineer with probably one of the most diligent work ethics I’ve ever seen. Up before dawn, never missing a day of work, and always there for his company and colleagues. My Mother nurtured our home, and gave me the courage to do whatever it was I was choosing to concentrate on year after year. Slowly the coarse of life shapes itself, and I always attribute my business habits being formed from everything I’ve come from since day 1!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I went to a very unique art school for college (Brooks Institute of Photography). We were able to dive into specific genres of different types of photography throughout the 3 year program – which yielded a Bachelors of Fine Arts upon graduation. I photographed everything from fashion, to products, to cars, to fast action photography. It was truly an amazing experience, however by the end I was pretty set on shooting food and beverage photography. I loved culinary magazines and also loved to cook. Post graduation, I worked for a couple photographers who specialized in exactly that. It was lots of fun being hands on, but I realized that working for someone was much different that what I truly wanted – which was to work for myself. I began the journey of my own business at that point. I polished my website, and began marketing myself in anyway I could. I made flyers, cards and online email campaigns, doing everything I could do drum up anyone and any photo job I could get. I learned a lot in this time, I learned to put in the hard work whatever job I could get. Then I learned how to negotiate, and conduct myself with adults who were usually much older than me. This was the time I grew the most in terms of working for myself. I learned that answering the phone, the email, and being at the job or to meet the client on time are the most important things you can do for yourself. It’s only me in my company, so I learned fast that everything falls on me- no excuses. After years of working with different types of clients and different styles of shoots, I found that I loved photographing people, more so women. I realized this was a special niche that I had a gift for. I began specializing in shooting intimate portraits of women, from all walks of life and for all sorts of reasons. I love the human interaction and hearing peoples stories, and being able to photograph people in a vulnerable way while making them feel beautiful by way of my lens! It’s been over 12 years since I started my intimate photography business, and since have photographed over 5000 people! I absolutely love what I do and will continue for years to come!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Their is so much to do and see in southern California! The Broad Museum is top choice for me in Downtown LA for art! I’ve seen everything from Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room installation, to Keith Haring, to some epic Andy Warhol originals.

Outside lifestyle is definitely part of our culture here. If I had a perfect day, it would be to start with a hike that leads to the beach and ends at restaurant where you can get a cocktail close to the ocean. In Orange County, there is a beautiful trail called El Morro which leads to a tunnel that lands you right on the Crystal Cove Beach (just north of Laguna Beach). If you stroll about half a mile or so northbound on the beach, you’ll end of at the Beachcomber Bar. It’s one of the only places in socal that sits on the sand , where you can eat & drink! They have the best bloody mary with included a stone crab claw. People watching is great, and you can’t beat the beautiful scenic California coast backdrop!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many people who helped shaped me life, but one in particular who changed my trajectory of becoming a professional photographer. I went to high school in south Florida, in a small beachside city called Vero Beach. While I hadn’t delved too much into photography prior to my freshman year, I took my 1st photo class 1st semester, meeting my wonderful teacher Mrs. Sesack. Over the next few years, I found myself in the dark room and photo class countless hours. By my senior year I had been through lots of transitional and difficult times (as many young adults experience!) .. but Mrs. Sesack was always there for me. One day she came to me and said that she had a photography college that she just thought I belonged at after high school. It was called Brooks Institute of Photography, located in Santa Barbara, CA. My mom and I flew out right away to check out the campus.. and she was right. It was where I knew my next chapter of life would begin! I moved to California weeks after graduating , and have been here ever since , still shooting, and now as a professional photographer! Thank you Mrs. Sesack!

Website: https://cristengellerphoto.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=26825&Akey=78HLRW3J&ajx=1

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cgboudoir

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

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cg-studios-los-angeles-2

Image Credits
©cristengellerphotography