Many of you have come to know me throughout some of your milestones in life by the photos I have captured for you, but many of my clients have claimed not to know much about me. One of the first questions I am usually asked upon meeting with a new client, is how long I have been taking photos...and how long CJ Photo has been around. I believe that when choosing a photographer, it is important that you know what you are getting into! The relationship between a photographer and a subject is, in many cases, a close one (but is often overlooked). As such, I am hoping that this page will give you some insight into who I am and what CJ Photo is about!
Photography has always played an indescribable role in my life, beginning with a fascination with a 35mm camera that my dad inherited from my grandfather. In truth, I think that I have my younger brother to thank for my career in photography. At a young age, he was always the daredevil...never thinking twice about defying gravity on anything he could get beneath his feet. At first, I thought it would be nothing to keep up with him...but, after my first major wipe out and some wicked road rash....I decided that those antics weren't for me. Not wanting to be the odd one out, I opted to act as cameraman!
Throughout the years, family and friends relied on me to provide photos at every event. You could be certain that wherever I was, there was generally a camera not too far behind. My first posed portrait session came when I was 15 years old, using one of the neighbourhood kids in her tutu as my subject...I still have a small album containing her photos, that I keep as an inspiration to keep growing!
CJ Photo (short for Charissa Joy Photography) came about in early 2010, when I realized that the hobby I had been chasing for so many years was ultimately my dream job. I invested in a better camera and equipment, and started pursuing my dream! For me, photography isn't just a hobby...it's my life.
