Hidden Gems: Meet Gina Christine of Gina Christine Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Christine.

Hi Gina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I fell in love with photography when I was just a kid and my grandpa gave me one of his 35mm cameras. I loved shooting film and spending time in the darkroom so much that I converted my dad’s bathroom into one while he was away on a business trip (sorry, dad!). There is so much magic in the darkroom, and I loved experimenting with photograms and double exposures, making pinhole cameras, and doing self-portraiture. All of those early experimentations laid really important groundwork, and the magic from those years will always be with me. After graduating high school, I studied at Montana State University where I received my BA in photography. After graduating, I started assisting commercial and editorial photographers, first in Seattle and then in Los Angeles, which was a second education for me. I also spent time as a production assistant and eventually produced photo shoots as well. It was wild being on huge sets with full crews, celebrities, and all the perks. I learned more about lighting that I ever could have learned in school, and I also developed my ability to communicate with all kinds of people. All of that experience has served me well as I built my own business.

I started Gina Christine Photography in earnest 13 years ago when a dear friend asked me to photograph her wedding. When I was editing the photos, the love between her and her husband brought me to tears. It made me realize how important it was to me to tell the story of real people’s lives. It felt so much more meaningful than the big commercial shoots I’d been a part of. Wedding photography naturally progressed to family photography. I started photographing one of my yoga teachers, and that led to me creating a visual brand for her international yoga school. This incredible collaborative experience opened the door to working with other entrepreneurs and is what inspired me to start doing personal branding photography. This work has been really lighting me up lately because, with all of my experience, I can bring so much value to someone else’s business. I especially love working with women-owned businesses, making them feel beautiful and celebrating what makes their offerings unique.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Things in my life and business felt so smooth before the pandemic, but since then I’ve had a harder time finding my flow. A lot of people I know have felt that, especially here in Los Angeles after the strikes and the fires. Budgets shifted for the nonprofits and clients I work with, and in general I’ve had less work. I also became a mother during the pandemic, so it’s hard to tease out where one challenge ends and the other begins. My son is four now, and I’m so lucky he’s in a wonderful preschool. I finally have the mental space to really be back in my art and my business, but balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship is a real challenge. I find myself wanting to give more in every area of my life. Even so, I stay open to new opportunities and trust that the path is unfolding. Last year I did the Artist’s Way with a friend. I found myself deeply refreshed and grounded in my purpose again, and I realized sometimes all it takes is a reset and a sense of community to feel connected again.

We’ve been impressed with Gina Christine Photography, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What I’m most proud of is how my clients feel during a shoot and when they see the images we’ve made together. I’m silly and playful on set because I want people to loosen up and feel at ease. I love getting to know my clients and creating a shoot that feels entirely personal to them. What makes my images stand out is the way I play with light and movement to create something truly impactful. Whether it’s the sun peeking from behind a cloud to create a flare, or a shadow behind the subject on a wall, light makes my images dynamic. I scout every location so we can be there at the ideal time of day. I also love movement, whether it’s a certain walk, spin or gesture, I make sure that my subjects stay in the moment.

Years ago, I identified my life’s purpose as bringing beauty into the world. When I can combine that with someone else’s purpose, it becomes bigger than both of us, which is why I want to highlight my personal branding offering. I work with entrepreneurs and small businesses to create artful imagery for their websites, newsletters, and social media. These photoshoots go beyond the typical branding session. I want to go deeper with my clients so they can have something that feels truly like them or their business. Maybe it’s that special location that is meaningful, maybe it’s that certain color palette or time of day. We start with a collaborative mood board, then plan out every detail together. My goal is to capture the heart behind my client’s brand or personality and have them walk away with something that stands out in a world saturated with images.

Soul Sessions is a newer offering I created last year, designed for women who are ready for a moment of self-expression and empowerment. These sessions take place in your home or in nature, and you’ll walk away with art that is completely unique to this moment in your life. Women walk away, feeling truly seen, sometimes for the first time. I’ve photographed women in nature my entire life, so it makes so much sense for me to make this an official offering. One of the first shoots I did was with a friend who had just gotten a divorce. She wanted to set aside some time just for her. We went out to the desert and made magical images at sunrise, it was such a healing and cathartic experience for her. Now she has images that will last a lifetime of her strength, resilience and transformation.

There are so many ways to work with me so please hop over to my site, check it out, and get in touch with your shoot idea. I’d love to hear from you.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
It’s hard to take the thing you love most and turn it into a business. At the end of the day, work is work. My younger self didn’t dream about QuickBooks, permits, marketing, or all the other things it takes to run a business. I just wanted to be an artist. And that’s my biggest lesson: I have to let myself also be the artist. I always need to make time to make work that exists only for me, that serves no purpose other than my soul’s expression. Right now, I’m working on a self-portrait series about motherhood, inspired by the deep crimson color of pomegranates. That work is what keeps the spark alive. And in turn, it brings more energy to everything I do for my clients. It’s not always easy to give myself permission to make work that’s just for me, but it’s the most important piece of the puzzle.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ginachristinephotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginachristinephotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ginachristinephoto
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gina-christine-photography-pasadena