Meet Colleen Cummings

Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Cummings.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I began my photography journey around a decade ago. Then it was a hobby, a way to capture my travels, explorations, cultures. Back then, it was a fairly mindless endeavor where I would pull my camera out in ancient cathedrals while hiking rolling hills, or in bustling marketplaces. There wasn’t much thought other than me wanting to have the opportunity to look back at my adventures and reminisce in my mind. It was a way for me to encounter an enchanting land from my very own work desk.

Fast forward to 2018 when I am a mom with a quickly growing little girl. I derived a new value from photographs. It was a way to freeze my growing baby to hold on to moments that were fleeting too quickly. Looking at the images of her brought back smells, feelings, moments – the very best of my life. Since it was not in the family budget to be hiring a photographer weekly, I decided to try my hand at it again. I began shooting my kiddo and my pup daily. I loved it. I wanted to turn it into something more than a hobby and to provide others with the gift of a preserved memory. So from there, I dove in hard and fast. I started shooting events and families for free. I’d spend hours upon hours taking classes online, shooting, and editing.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think my biggest challenges have been time and myself. I am a person who often bites off way more than they can chew- both literally and figuratively (which is why my shirts are always stained). I want to network, shoot every day, learn, and commit to everyone I possibly can, and I want to have done it yesterday. While those lofty and over ambitious goals might sound impressive- they are quite unrealistic and unachievable. I am first and foremost a full-time stay at home mom with a partner who works long overnight hours. This tendency to never say no and take too much on often results in me feeling terribly anxious and like I am failing at everything. While I admittedly still don’t have a handle on this, the best thing I can do is remind myself that this is a marathon and not a sprint.

There’s also self-criticism. Oh boy – am I my own worst enemy. I have a tendency to scrutinize everything I do and second guess myself repeatedly. I am on a wild emotional rollercoaster over here. Sometimes I am so damn proud of myself and my work and others I am terribly disappointed and doubting my every ability. I find solace in the fact that I see a lot of memes about this. They remind me I’m not alone 🙂

Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about you and your career so far?
I am a photographer of all bodies, places, people, and spaces. I find the most magic in the often overlooked details. Your baby’s tiny hand tangled in your hair, your toddler’s mischievous grin as he bolts away, a sparkle in your partner’s eye as they hold you close and whisper in your ear. These are the moments that connect us all and tell all of our stories. It’s what makes us relatable yet so unique. We all love, we all hurt, we all want to be loved. Life is messy, it’s fun, it’s wild. It is one damn beautiful mess. I encourage people to pose in various ways, but what I don’t tell them is that it is not the pose I am trying to capture. It is the uncomfortable laughter that posing evokes that then evolves into real laughter. Everyone wants that framed photo of the whole family looking at the camera smiling. But I’m telling you when you are 90 years old sitting with your sweet great grandbaby looking through old photos- you want the real. You want the beautiful mess. That not so perfect but oh so real image is what will bring those memories flooding back. Thats the stuff that ignites a fire in your heart.

I can’t compare myself to others, but I can tell you about me. I tend to form close bonds with the people I photograph. It isn’t just a photoshoot. It is a hangout with someone who will happily be there for you. Many of my clients have turned into friends who I keep in contact with quite regularly. I will absolutely cry when I edit your photos. I am a sucker for love, for people, for human connection, relationships. There is not a job I am better suited for.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My greatest supporters are my family. Without the boundless encouragement of my husband and willful independence of my daughter- none of this would be possible. The two of them and my sweet pup fill my life with love and joy beyond measure. My kiddo inspires me to give my all. I want to show her that a woman can be strong yet vulnerable, powerful yet empathetic, fierce yet soft, free yet composed all at the same time. I want her to know that she has the power to do and create anything her heart desires. I also want to credit the inspiring women I’ve met on my journey through entrepreneurship. I have been lifted, encouraged, inspired, shaken and awoken by a community of powerhouse women who just don’t freaking quit. I couldn’t have imagined growing so close so quickly to a group of people who are constantly uplifting and supporting one another. As I’ve grown and become a mother, I’ve really learned to use this community to uplift and collaborate. Once upon a time, I would have been threatened or intimidated, but now I find myself succumbing to vulnerability and leaning into the support. It’s a beautiful thing when you can encourage someone to see their own power and potential and equally beautiful to be on the receiving end of that.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.colleencummings.com
• Phone: 8473726556
• Email: colleenjcummings@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleencummingsphotography/

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