Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristy Good.
Hi Kristy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always worked in creative fields in one way or another. I have a degree in digital art and graphic design, and over the years I’ve also worked in photography, fine art, and visual communication. Photography eventually became the thing that brought a lot of those interests together for me.
I started my photography business a few years ago and initially photographed a little bit of everything while I figured out what I actually enjoyed and what kind of work I wanted to be known for. Over time, I found myself gravitating toward weddings, elopements, and couples, especially in the Shenandoah Valley and Shenandoah National Park. I grew up in this area and love the mountains and outdoors, so being able to build a business around photographing people in places I’ve known most of my life has been pretty meaningful.
The business has grown much faster than I expected. What started as me simply wanting to make good photographs has gradually turned into something much more meaningful. At this point, I’m continuing to refine the business around the work I enjoy most and the kind of clients who value photography as more than just a record of an event, but as an art form.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been learning that being good at the creative part of the job and running a successful business are two very different things. Photography is only one piece of it. There’s also marketing, pricing, contracts, client communication, scheduling, editing, bookkeeping, and figuring out how to make the business sustainable without burning myself out.
Pricing has probably been one of the hardest things for me to learn. In the beginning, I was so focused on getting experience and building a portfolio that I underestimated how much time and work actually went into each job. As the business grew, I had to get more comfortable raising my rates, setting boundaries, and being more selective about the work that I take on.
There has also been a lot of trial and error in figuring out what kind of photographer I actually want to be. I’ve learned that just because I can offer a certain type of photography doesn’t necessarily mean it belongs in the business I’m trying to build. A lot of the process has been learning to trust my own strengths, narrow my focus, and build something that works for me creatively as well as financially.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a wedding and elopement photographer based in the Shenandoah Valley, with a lot of my work taking place in Shenandoah National Park and the surrounding areas. My style is probably best described as cinematic or editorial, but I still want the photographs to feel natural and human rather than overly posed or polished.
A lot of what I’m drawn to is environment. I notice details like light, composition, landscape, and all of the smaller in-between moments that give a day its real feeling. I want the images to be beautiful, but I also want them to feel like the people and relationships in them.
I think what sets my work apart is that I come from a broader art and design background, so I tend to approach photography more as artistic interpretation than simple documentation. I’m always thinking about how an image is put together and how the environment can become part of the story.
What I’m probably most proud of is that I’ve built a recognizable style while still letting each wedding or elopement feel different. I don’t want every couple to be dropped into the same poses or the same formula. My goal is for the photographs to feel personal to them, but still very much like my work.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I haven’t had one formal mentor so much as a lot of people I’ve learned from along the way. A lot of networking for me has happened pretty naturally through working with other photographers, vendors, venues, and other creative business owners. I like to think I’m a people-person and that I’m open to making connections everywhere I go, and I think that’s been a huge help.
I think the biggest thing is to be genuinely interested in people and not approach every connection with the mindset of “what can this person do for me?” Some of the best relationships I’ve built have come from simply being reliable, easy to work with, supportive of other people’s work, and staying in touch.
I’ve also learned a lot just by following photographers and other creatives whose work I respect, paying attention to how they run their businesses, and asking questions when it feels appropriate. If I were looking for a mentor specifically, I’d look for someone whose career or business actually resembles what I want to build, rather than just someone who is successful in general.
And honestly, I think putting yourself in rooms with people doing the kind of work you want to be doing helps a lot. Even if nothing immediate comes from it, those relationships tend to build over time. Don’t be afraid to play the long game!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kristygoodphoto.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kristygoodphoto
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/kristygoodphotography
- Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/kristy-good-photography-stanley
