All it took was a quick exchange to know that when you book a photo session with Christina Roberts, you’re not only going to get phenomenal shots but you’re also going to have a great time. A joyous person through and through, Christina focuses on capturing one of a kind moments with her clients in the Bay Area. Which, with her photos – I saw a whole new side of the Bay I’d never thought could exist. More on that later. Right now let’s get to it as we talk timelords, sushi, and photography with Christina Roberts.

Kendra: Was there a particular moment you can remember where photography went from an interest to something you felt could be a sustainable career?

Christina Roberts: Photography has always been an interest, a crazy, all in interest from the beginning. Since I was in elementary school, I remember having disposable flash cameras, the crazy underwater film cameras, and even my first digital. I was that crazy person spending all my money on scrapbooking anything and everything like pool days with friends, and nights out bowling. It wasn’t until my first child was born in 2016 that I invested in a DSLR.

As soon as I began shooting, I fell in love with the technical aspects of the settings, and how every little adjustment made such a world of difference. As I learned the ins and outs, I began showcasing my work on social media and advertising to local mom groups. I never could have guessed the amount of support and interest that I received. This sparked a moment of wonder, “Could I make money doing what I love?”

So I put myself out there, immersed myself in the photography culture, and my local community, and built from the ground up. The ability to capture joy, connection, love, and time is something that I am in awe of and truly honored to do. I have a quote that I live by, “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.”

Kendra: How you describe photography, the idea of capturing moments in time, made me think of you and others like you sort of like wizards in a sense. Timelords if you will. With that, if you could go back in time, which infamous moment would you have loved to snap?

Christina Roberts: I love it, a wizard or timelord! Ha Ha! That is awesome, and such a fun way to describe photography. My answer to this question has a lot of “ifs.” IF I wasn’t deathly afraid of going to space, and if I didn’t get insanely motion sick, I would have loved to capture the first view of earth from space. The mind-blowing thought that a single image captures half of every single living thing on earth is incredible. That would definitely be a wow factor photo, to say the least!

Kendra: You do a variety of photography but specialize in children and families. What is the one thing above all else you appreciate about a great family photo?

Christina Roberts: This one is easy as it is what I love most about my own family photos; candid, real moments. While the occasional pose is nice, my favorites are the ones that evoke a memory. To me, a photograph is a moment in time, not just a picture, so a great family photo is one that reminds you how that hug felt, the ridiculous thing your family member said, or the dance party that brought out moves you have never seen before. With that said, dance parties are a part of almost every one of my sessions. They are so much fun!

Kendra: On the flip side, what’s the one mistake or cliche you can’t stand that family photos wind up having?

Christina Roberts: I would have to say when family members forget to be themselves. At times, there is too much effort from family members trying to achieve that perfect smile or sit in the perfect way, which more often than not, leads to images that look staged and contrived. I always promise a good time, so put away those jingly keys, stop jumping up and down saying “ Smile” to your kiddos, and trust me. We will play games, say silly things, run around, sing songs, and dance, which will lead to some of the biggest grins you have ever seen. I always tell my awesome families, “Your future memories are the most important thing to me. I want your session to be a time for you to be your wonderful selves, kick back, and enjoy it. Have fun together, laugh a ton, and I’ll take care of the rest!”

Kendra: If you had the chance to shoot the Royal Family and their new addition, where would you take them in your neck of the woods to capture their regality?

Christina Roberts: I would have to say the giant California redwoods. There are unbelievable regional parks as little as 30 minutes away from my home which makes this an ideal spot. The redwood trees are beyond regal themselves, so I say there is no better spot to capture the Royal Family than in a regal, majestic location!

Kendra: I have to admit, I’ve never been a huge fan of the Bay Area. My best friend lived there for a number of years, and not into it but…your photos are just amazing. A side of the Bay I’ve never seen. Where do you often find yourself shooting nowadays up there?

Christina Roberts: The East Bay Regional Parks have easily become my favorite places and with over sixty to choose from spanning from San Pablo to Sunol, there is no shortage of epic views. As I become increasingly familiar, the more I get a glimpse into the beauty that my home area has to offer. The mountainous views, the colorful wildflowers, and the sweeping skylines have become some of my favorite backdrops for recent sessions. I have to say, I am fortunate to live in such a beautiful place.

Kendra: As a lover of sushi, what would you say is the most photogenic roll that can be found on a menu?

Christina Roberts: Sushi: hands down my favorite food. I actually worked at a sushi restaurant for a majority of my college years so I definitely have an opinion on this one. The most photogenic sushi roll, to me, would have to be the sunset roll. When done right, this roll is cut from a single piece of cucumber which is spiraled and wrapped around various pieces of fresh fish. The sushi chef I used to work with would cut a flower out of ginger and put it on top. It was colorful, crisp, and gorgeous all at the same time. (Now I am hungry for sushi… haha!)

Kendra: Can you let the people know what you have going on in the foreseeable future? Is summer a busy time for you?

Christina Roberts: It is, both for photography and for family activities! Summer is a time that my kiddos and I get to play around and visit fun spots all around the Bay Area I have a three-year-old and 8 months old who are my favorite travel buddies as well as my little models for all the crazy and fun photo ideas I have.

So while we are traveling and having fun, I will be capturing all those amazing memories (yes I bring my crazy big DSLR most places – haha)! I also have sessions planned until August, so in-between our family fun, I will be working with some amazing families to capture lifetime memories for them as well. I find such joy in photography and it is so amazing that I can incorporate it into all parts of my life.