#NYCShopSmall — Interview with Cristina Crespo-Perrotta from Cristina Crespo Photography.
#NYCShopSmall is about giving those small businesses a voice, in a different and special way.
Cristina Crespo-Perrotta is the woman behind the lens striving to capture every memorable moment of family’s lives. Originally from Guayaquil — Ecuador, Cristina immigrated to the US at the young age of 10. Since then, Staten Island has been her home. She’s married to an amazing man who serves as an EMS lieutenant for the City of New York’s Fire Department and she is a mother to two beautiful children.
Cristina shared her heartfelt story of why she decided to start her own photography business capturing mainly maternity, newborn, and family photos. She left her corporate job in order to pursue her dream job and is crushing it! Always learning and improving her craft, Cristina has great talent that shows through her photos. Learn about the Lady Boss behind the lens…
#NYCShopSmall: Tell me a little about your business, how you got into it, and why you decided to start.
Cristina Crespo-Perrotta: I am a photographer, mainly specializing in Maternity, Newborn and Children. My passion for photography goes beyond just clicking the shutter. I got into photography while I was in college as a part time job, but from there it just grew into something much more.
My love from it stems from not having any portraits of myself as a baby.
Unfortunately, I cannot look back and see if my children look like me or not, I can never know what I looked like. I feel that everyone should be able to have these memories to look back upon and to be able to share with their children and future generations.
I constantly set goals for myself but so far the biggest has been starting my own business. It has been something I have wanted to accomplish for a very long time and only lately I have been able to do it and focus on it since leaving the corporate world, which only happened about a month ago.
#NYCSS: Wow, that’s heartbreaking, to not have any photos of you as a baby. It takes someone very special to want to provide that for others.
I just have to say, since I started this project speaking with different people, it has really opened my eyes to the stories behind the businesses and especially the owners. I appreciate the history and foundation on what each business was built on. My hope is that people see those special things as well.
Is there a style of photography that you haven’t had the chance to explore yet?
Cristina: Yes absolutely! I would love to try styled sessions with big gowns for girls and proper attire for boys as well.
#NYCSS: When you first started, did you already have all of the equipment that you needed or did that take some time to acquire?
Cristina: I have been acquiring my equipment over time.
#NYCSS: What is your absolute favorite piece of equipment to work with?
Cristina: My camera!
#NYCSS: Of course! Silly question I guess. What kind of camera do you work with?
Cristina: Nikon D750
#NYCSS: Have you always worked with that model or just found that one to work best with what you need it for?
Cristina: No, I started with a non-professional Nikon DSLR. Which was my first camera ever.
#NYCSS: I see a pattern with Nikons lol. Do you like to go out and explore to take pictures in your spare time?
Cristina: I love exploring whenever I get the chance. I love looking at places and think “this would be a great spot for a photoshoot”.
#NYCSS: Very cool! Do you have any programs that you like to use to edit photos?
Cristina: Same as most photographers, Lightroom and Photoshop.
#NYCSS: Is there a favorite photo you have from one of your client sessions?
Cristina: Every session is different but there are a few I love.
#NYCSS: Is there a major goal you’d like to accomplish for your business by the end of the year?
Cristina: Yes, I would love to take my studio out of my house and into my own space.
#NYCSS: In your line of work, knowing what you know now even though it has been a short time, do you have have any advice to give to someone starting a photography business?
Cristina: Keep practicing and keep learning. Find your style and niche.
Never stop learning and pushing yourself.
#NYCSS: Some motivating words right there! What was the first thing you bought after your first client?
Cristina: That’s hard to remember. I have been building my props and equipment over time and I’m still not done. I don’t think I’ll ever be done!
#NYCSS: That’s definitely true! Technology is always evolving with new or updated equipment. What would you say was the best and worst investment or purchase you made for your business and what have you learned from it?
Cristina: As of now, my worst would probably be a few backdrops that I never used. Now I buy as I go if I need it or have a specific session. The best, my camera, lenses and lights.
#NYCSS: What’s something you would like to do within the next year that you’ve never done before?
Cristina: Perhaps be able to host photography workshops.
#NYCSS: Hopefully in your new space!
#NYCSS: So to wrap things up, I like to ask a few fun and interesting questions, would you be up for it?
Cristina: Sure!
#NYCSS: If you could pick up a new skill instantly, what would it be?
Cristina: Non-photography related? Learning new languages.
#NYCSS: Which would be the first you would want to learn?
Cristina: French and then Portuguese.
#NYCSS: Very nice! What’s the most interesting thing you’ve heard or seen this week?
Cristina: Not so much interesting but sad, that Toys R Us is going out of business.
#NYCSS: Yes! Gary Vee predicted that!
What’s your favorite place in the world?
Cristina: Anywhere as long as my family is with me.
#NYCSS: So cute! What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?
Cristina: Tough question..It used to be Ropa Vieja from Bongos in Orlando — Florida. But, I visited recently and it did not live up to the hype I created for it from the first time lol.
#NYCSS: I hear that! It’s such a let down when it doesn’t happen again after the first time.
Cristina: It truly is!
#NYCSS: Would you rather be 10 minutes late or 20 minutes early?
Cristina: Early, but it’s not always possible
#NYCSS: Would you rather know the history of every object you touched or be able to talk to animals?
Cristina: History would be the best sort of time traveling, in a sense.
#NYCSS: I’ve asked a few people that same questions and all answers were the history of objects, but you know the inner child in us wants to talk to animals lol.
Cristina: My cat would probably just tell me to fill his bowl!
