People regard photographs differently. Some define it as the universal language of the modern era, given that everyone might have hundreds or even thousands of them in their pockets. Meanwhile, others perceive photographs as forms of activism, an effective means to advocate for a cause. For award-winning photographer Christina Gressianu, a photograph is proof of defeating time.
Christina Gressianu, Award-winning photographer from Colorado
Christina's obsession with time can be traced back to her first double-digit celebration. Reminiscing the events that occurred during her 10th birthday, the photographer shared, "I was suddenly struck by the realization that I'd spent ten full years of my life, yet I barely noticed it go by. I turned to photography as an attempt to hold on to the happy moments, the things and people I love, all the wonderful things in the world, even just a bit longer–a slice of life snatched out of time's grabby hands.”
The Loveland portrait photographer's battle with time started when she was a mere ten years old, but it was at the tender age of six that she developed a love for capturing moments that cannot be re-created, re-taken, or replaced with her pink and black 110 film camera. Many years later, the New York-born hired a professional photographer to capture her headshots despite the skyrocketing price after seeing their outstanding portfolio. She spent hours figuring out what to wear, did her hair and makeup, and met the photographer.
After the session, Christina received a disk in the mail. The somewhat straightforward process turned out to be a disaster that she would remember for the rest of her days. As she went from photo to photo, she realized how her beige pants made her look naked and how a piece of hair was flipped the wrong way. This experience strengthened Christina's resolve to become a portrait photographer who goes beyond their way to flatter everybody and every face with excellent lighting and posing.
Happy clients of Christina’s and their pets
From then on, Christina also made it her mission to honor the unique and profound connections between an individual and their loved ones, their clients, and themselves through the art of photography. The New York-born has been photographing professionals, families, children, events, and weddings since 2000 before graduating from New York University in 2002. She started her business in 2009, offering various portrait services, from personal branding to family, glamour, senior, boudoir, and pet portraits.
The WPPI Silver Award Winner employs a unique approach to her art, addressing the issues many face, such as the feelings of photography being a waste of time and money, a means to feel bad about oneself, a trigger for anxiety, and a grueling, awkward experience. She remarked, "My idea is that you must feel beautiful during the shoot, and when you get your photos, you will see a reflection of how beautiful you felt while we were taking photos. It's the love coming out of your eyes that matters every time you look at those photos. We all walk around with an idea in our heads of who we are and how we look, and there's nothing worse than seeing a bad photo of yourself and thinking, 'Do I actually look like that?' So, let's create some beautiful photos so that you walk around with this majestic image of yourself in your head to make you feel empowered.”
Christina goes the extra mile to provide her clients with the best photography experience by doing in-person consultations, which allows her to assess what makes her clients feel comfortable, from clothes to their immediate environment. Her specialty is her ability to capture emotions and intent, giving utmost importance to what they wish to portray, whether to feel desirable or look professional.
This unique approach is illustrated in one of Christina’s memorable experiences of photographing a woman who has always hidden from the camera and decided to gift her husband of 43 years some sexy photos for Christmas. The photographer recounted, “She had a really fun experience and found something new in herself. This is what I love about what I do, helping people discover another facet to them through photography.”
Media Contact
Name: Christina Gressianu
Email: [email protected]
