Castle Rock Colorado
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Crib Tales Photography Amy Stephens
4656 Cedar Glen Place Castle Rock www.cribtalesphotography.com 3035209188 By Appointment Only
11
AUGUST 2018 search castle rock magazine
Amy Stephens started working as a photographer as more of a hobby about ten years ago. Pretty quickly, she realized her passion and set up shop in 2010, and Crib Tales Photography was born! Crib Tales Photography is a specialty portrait studio based in Castle Rock Colorado. Amy specializes in baby, maternity, and family portraiture, capturing the unique relationship of each family she has the honor of photographing. Newborn portraiture is a delicate craft as most of her newborn babies come to the studio within the first 2 weeks of life. She has been specially trained in newborn baby posing and safety, ensuring that her client’s most precious gift (their baby!) is not only beautifully captured, but done so in a safe and welcoming environment. Working out of her home, it was a no-brainer to base her business here in Castle Rock. Castle Rock has been Amy’s family’s home for the last 13 years, and she and her husband love raising their 2 sons here. “We adore this town and it’s incredible support of small businesses. It’s a special community to be a part of !” Every photographer has their own style and way of doing business, and Amy has been so fortunate that her own portrait style has resonated with her clients over the years. While she does offer both studio and outdoor portrait sessions, Amy is known for her styled indoor studio sessions, particularly for tiny newborn and toddler sessions. “I love creating unique backdrops and sets for each of my families. I have a huge selection of props and accessories, which enables each baby to have a very personalized portrait session. I welcome a collaboration with my families to incorporate personal elements into their session as well - it may be something like baby holding grandma’s rosary, or baby posed on a family quilt, or using my mini vintage airplane to honor dad’s job as a pilot. The options are endless and always so much fun to explore with my families. All that being said, I have a personal mantra I adhere to of community over competition. I’m friends with so many local photographers, it’s hard to think of them as competition.” Amy
even runs a business group exclusively for Castle Rock women photographers. “I don’t think of them as my competition, we just work to build each other up and offer support. It’s a wonderful community.” Previously, Amy was in software marketing, but craved something more creative and personal. Shortly after leaving her first career to raise her children, her husband gifted her with “a really nice camera.” The only problem was, she had no idea what to do with it. It was daunting. “I loved the idea of taking pictures but didn’t know how to use the thing! But I quickly became hooked. I took thousands of pictures, most of them horrible. I watched online tutorials, took classes and workshops, partnered and mentored with other photographers, and learned as I went.” Her business bloomed during those hobby years and over time became what it is today. “I feel extremely lucky to make a living not only doing something I love so much, but also to be able to create beautiful memories for other families. I have the best job in the world! My clients come to me at a very intimate time in their lives - just days after the birth of their baby. It’s such a gift to be able to capture those early moments.” Amy’s clients return to after each baby, and often for milestone and family portraits as well. Sometimes, she sees clients 3-4 times a year. “I love so very much that my business offers me the chance to work full time at a career I love, but to also get to be very present in my boys’ lives. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.” Her best advice to clients? Be in the picture. This is especially true for new moms who may want to opt out of being in the picture with their new baby. It’s understandable - they’ve just had a baby and are definitely not feeling ready for a close up. But Amy asks that her clients trust the process, the posing, the lighting, and her. “It is my job to capture that moment in the most flattering way. You will never regret having a picture of you with your new baby. You will regret not having that picture.”