ABOUT THE ARTIST

Christie, holds the Professional Photographers of America, "Master of Photography" degree, "Photographic Craftsman" degree and is a Certified Professional Photographer. She is a member of Professional Photographers of America. She has served on many committees through PPA over the past several years.

Since 2006, Christie has won numerous awards for her photography on a local, state, district and international level. These awards include the prestigious Fuji Masterpiece Award, 3 Kodak Gallery Awards, 2 CPP awards, 2 Lexjet awards and many others. She has been part of team USA competing in the World Photographic Cup!! Her work has been featured and published in the PPA International Loan Collection, PPA magazine and Lensational magazine. She has also been named in the top ten photographers for Illinois several years.

Christie is now speaking and sharing the studio's success with other photographers across the country. Giving back to the profession that has given her so much.

MOTHERHOOD

Motherhood is one of the biggest roles in my life.
I Currently have a 17 year old, 15 year old and 6 year old and the one God chose to be with Him in Heaven. Motherhood is something no one can really prepare you for. I have learned so much in 18 years. I have failed as a mother, I have accomplished things I never thought possible as a mother, I have been through some things I wouldn’t wish on any one else as a mother, I try to make decisions in my life that will reflect how they grow up to be and I love each one of them more than they can even imagine.

As a mother our days are wrapped around them. Our schedules revolve around their schedules. Getting them to and from and everywhere in between. I wouldn’t change this for anything. I pray they grow into young men that are polite, treat others well and grow into men who honor their wives to the highest capacity.

One thing I have learned over the past few years when my little boys quickly turned into teenagers is that we raise our kids the best we know how. Pass on qualities our parents and grandparents instilled in us. Then there is a point they start making their own decisions. This is a hard time in life where we have to be okay with the ways we have taught them to this point. We can not make the decisions for them. We can not feel guilty for things they choose to do. We just hope and pray they make the right ones and if they don’t that they learn from those life experiences.

To any momma out there that might come across this and read it. Know that you are doing an amazing job. We do not get the recognition we should for having one of the hardest jobs there is. Raising humans in the world it is today is not an easy task. We have to do the best we know how and let them grow. You are seen, you are loved and you are freaking amazing!

BLACKBIRD

This image represents me as a mother. The 3 eggs in the nest resemble my 3 boys and how I would do anything I can to protect them as they grow. The tiny feather on my shoulder resembles the baby we lost that God chose to have home with Him.

A PIECE OF ME

Growing up I was very tiny. I had a very high metabolism which was the death of me. Very awkward and skinny in grade school, then into middle school. This is when pieces of me started to fly away. I was bullied and shamed about my body constantly. Hearing negative comments from fellow classmates and adults. I moved schools in the 8th grade because the bullying got that bad. Spent my high school years trying to gain weight. I was very active in sports so I was thin and in shape but just “too skinny” for everyone else’s liking. I spent my afternoons after school looking up what I could eat or do to gain weight.

The older I got the comments got worse. People asking me if I was anorexic. Telling me to go eat a cheeseburger etc. Every single time someone would say something directly to me or behind my back another piece of me flies away. It blows my mind how much body image and confidence can be completely ruined by others words. Too skinny, too short, too fat, too tall… when will we accept ourselves the way we should? It is hard I know.

So when a woman contacts me to do a session but sends a list a mile long of all of her insecurities and I reply… I understand where you are coming from. Now is the time to face those fears and let me show you how crazy beautiful you are. The way God made you. Helping her embrace from the core her true beauty.

It took me two marriages into my mid 30’s to finally stop caring about what other people thought. My husband constantly telling me how much he loves me and loves me for who I am. Telling me I am beautiful. Isn’t it funny we think we know ourselves so well when we are teenagers we know it all, in our 20’s we have life figured out, in our 30’s we figure out we really don’t know a damn thing and 40’s we might actually start to know who we truly are. This is me now. I turn 40 the end of April and I love myself more than I ever have. Giving myself grace when I should. I can’t wait to see what my 40’s bring.

Those pieces of me that flew away have made me the person I am today. If I wouldn’t have gone through that time in my life I might not be as passionate as I am about Embracing Boudoir. Empowering woman to love themselves and show them their true beauty. Each one of my clients teach me something new about life. Each one of their stories is inspiration for me. Telling their stories and sharing their experiences help other women maybe going through the same thing.

So I am thankful now for those pieces lost as new ones have grown inside me.