Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Marks.
Hi Christy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I fell in love with photography when I was gifted my first disposable camera in 6th grade. I started to capture snapshots of my friends, family, and the things I felt were beautiful in my life. When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to do something creative so I spent a year searching for the creative outlet and photography was the one thing that I truly felt passionate about. While working towards my Bachelor degree in Photography, I explored the various genres and fell in love with photographing people. After I graduated, I continued to do shoots on my own to really discover what I loved about photographing people until one day, it just hit me. I loved making portraits that made my subject feel beautiful in their own skin. Experiences that make them feel like a celebrity for a day. I’ve made it my mission to empower preteens, teens, and women through portrait experiences and be able to capture their essence and boost their confidence.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say it was the easiest road to get here. When I graduated college, my now-husband and I moved to Florida and I found a job at a magazine styling. I continued to explore and fine-tune what I wanted to focus on until I was laid off a few years later. All of a sudden, I had to make photography my sole income and learn the ins and outs of marketing, networking, accounting, and just running a business.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a portrait artist with a love for both the modern and fine art styles of portraits. I specialize in creating portrait experiences that boost confidence in preteens, teens, and women where they have their hair and makeup professionally done and they are guided throughout their magazine-style photo session. The end result is an overall feeling of empowerment that they are amazing, beautiful women. I also design custom artwork and albums that they can share with their children as a reminder of the importance of self-love, not only in our lives but our children’s.
I am most proud of my Proud to Be Me sessions, which are geared towards preteens. They are in a time in their life when many adults describe them as awkward and when they are just trying to find themselves and begin to grow into the person, they feel they are meant to be. I talk to the child to learn about them and secretly send their parents, family, and friends a questionnaire to fill out before the session. Afterwards, I share the photos and quotes from their family and friends in a slideshow set to music so they are surprised and filled with love and support and a growing sense of self-esteem. The thing that sets me apart from others is my use of light. Even when I do sessions on location, I utilize both the natural light and additional light sources to make my clients stand out. When I’m working in the studio, I choose a lighting style based on the client’s concept, anywhere from soft and ethereal to something a bit more dramatic to capture the subject in a style that is appropriate for them.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I would love to be able to photograph and empower more teens and preteens in the Orlando area, so a great way to support Aura Lux Photography would be to Nominate a Tween for a session. In terms of collaboration, I always enjoy working on creative portrait concepts, so if you have an idea for a portrait that you feel needs to be in your life that is a bit out of the box, reach out and let’s make it happen.
Pricing:
- On-Location Session Fee: $650 includes $300 Artwork Credit, Wardrobe and Planning consultation, the session, Reveal and Ordering Appointment.
- Studio Session Fee: $650 includes $300 Artwork Credit, Wardrobe and Planning consultation, Hair and Makeup, the session, Reveal and Ordering Appointment.
- Wall art starts at $225
- Albums start at $1,325
- Portfolio Boxes start at $400
Contact Info:
- Email: christy@auraluxphoto.com
- Website: www.auraluxphoto.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/auraluxphoto
- Facebook: facebook.com/auraluxphoto
Image Credits
Photo of Woman in profile (grey dress): Hair and Makeup by Laura Reynolds
Artistry Photo of Blonde girl in pink and purple dress: Hair and Makeup by Laura Reynolds Artistry, Styilng by Brittany J Styles
Photo of Woman with Purple Hair in black dress: Hair and Makeup by Gabriella Anthoney’s Design Artistry
