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Expanding her horizons

It’s funny how things turn out. For Christy Radford, photography was her creative outlet but certainly not a career option. But just over a decade ago, an exhibition featuring her images saw her approached to capture her first ever wedding and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Someone at the exhibition was getting married and asked me to do her wedding,” Christy said.

So she joined forces with fellow photographer Kristy Janeway to capture that history making first wedding, and even then, Christy still had no idea how capturing one of the most special days in anyone’s life and other landmark occasions, were set to become her bread and butter, turning her hobby into a successful and rewarding career.

Since that first wedding, Christy has now photographed too many to count but don’t think that means she is not completely interested in each couple’s special day.

“I still get emotional at weddings, they are always so beautiful,” Christy said.

“Funnily enough, most of my brides become really good friends and we stay in touch. I love that we have that connection.”

And that connection is why Christy is so committed to those pre-wedding meetings she has with couples so she can not only get a handle on what they want from her on the big day but also just what sort of couple they are, their likes and dislikes, so she can capture their wedding in a very personal and unique way. “I want them involved in all the ideas and I want to understand what they are like so that the photos I take represent who they are as a couple,” she said.

It was 12 years ago she bought her first SLR and as the requests for her to capture people’s most special memories started to increase, Christy also found herself in a position where she needed a new career.

“And how lucky am I that I could make a career out of my passion?” Christy said.

Weddings became the biggest slice of Christy’s burgeoning photography business, which also includes newborns, maternity and family portraits.

But she is continuing to even further broaden her horizons as she looks to step up to new challenges and diversify her business and corporate work is an area where she has dipped her toe in the water and would love to develop that side to become a bigger slice of her business pie.

The opportunity this May for Christy to do a location shoot for award winning business Coffin Bay Marron really whet her appetite for turning her hand to more corporate work.

“I loved my session with Astyn (Reid) and the team and I didn’t care that it was two flights away, it was such an amazing opportunity and a crazy experience,” Christy said. “And I got to meet Maggie Beer and that was awesome and she was lovely.”

Christy loved turning her hand to being true to her personal style while still fulfilling the client brief, ensuring the product was showcased but there was still a story to tell in every image.

“I try to do everything with a bit of love and a bit of creativity to be my point of difference,” she said. “I try and see what other people don’t see.”

Christy actually found the corporate setting more relaxed and while there were time pressures, it never felt rushed and I felt like I could stop and think for a second as I was looking to get the best shots possible. Even in the corporate setting, I like to be able to capture the personality and emotion of the people involved while still making the product, in this case the marron, is showcased. You just try and bring everything to life.”

When circumstances allow, Christy is also hoping to be hitting the road for corporate work – just like she did for the Coffin Bay shoot.

“I love travelling and working at different locations,” she said. “To go somewhere different and take

”... how lucky am I that I could make a career out of my passion?...”

my camera is amazing and the exciting bit for me.”

And a recent fitness shoot, also in the corporate genre, saw her hit the road again and head to Adelaide where she loved the challenge of doing something completely different to help someone promote their new venture.

Community events have also become a passion for Christy and when it is for a good cause, she is even happier to be involved, donating her time and expertise.

She has captured the past six Swinging with the Stars events for the Stand Like Stone Foundation and loves getting behind events that give back to the community.

On a personal note, arguably the most special shoot Christy has done in recent times, is her 17 year old son Cody and his partner Mickey for the school formal.

“I really wanted to be the one that took the photos,” she said. “I’ve got some beautiful and talented photographer friends that I know would have done it but I wanted to be there for every moment with him.”

And she went all out, borrowing a friend’s classic car and, when the rain arrived, used her experience from previous shoots to still capture the couple, including trying to recreate one of her most cherished photos from a wedding a couple of years ago where the rain refused to let up.

On the back of her personal shoot, Christy also wants to remind everyone to take photos, more than you will ever need, as it is the best way to preserve memories.

“I have seen my parents once in 18 months and it reminds you how precious every memory is,” Christy said. “Whether it is getting photos taken professionally or just taking as many as possible yourself, they are just so important.”

CAPTURING THE MOMENT: (Below) The Coffin Bay Marron shoot; (right from top) Christy Radford in action; her son Cody and his partner Mickey ahead of their school formal; Christy’s first fitness shoot & the 2021 Swinging with the Stars.