Today we’d like to introduce you to Constance Ross.
Hi Constance, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was always creative, but I really got the “bug” in middle school, at a rock and gem show. From there I knew that jewelry design was the direction I wanted to concentrate on. Unfortunately, in the midwest, and limited budget…. I struggled to find a college that offered such a major. So, I went to Madison College, where I earned a degree in Graphic design with a minor in Photography. I felt this would be a solid “fall back” degree. At that point in my life, my mother became very ill and I needed to return home to help care for her. It just so happened that the University of WI @ Whitewater began offering a Metalsmithing major and the professor was Linda Threadgill. She was a dream for me to study under and really pushed me to apply to Rhode Island School of Design. I worked on my portfolio to apply to RISD, during some time in which I took for myself, or what I called “my off year”.
I was accepted in RISD with a full scholarship into the Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing program. I loved it but found it to be a struggle, financially as well as just being accepted by the professors there. I was the only student, working part time to keep afloat, as well as working in the work study program, and working part time as an assistant jewelry designer in one of the Providence fashion jewelry manufacturers. My dream college didn’t seem to understand that not every student could go through college and not work. My parents weren’t well off, I had to work for every penny and when I decided to leave RISD and venture west, it took every bit of my strength, questioning my self worth, to do so. I loved gems and jewelry but I fully well knew that leaving RISD early, and the east coast for Seattle would not help my career path.
Once I was in Seattle, I pivoted, took odd jobs, worked the restaurant and hotel industry and basically got my legs steady. Here I began working for Bailey Banks and Biddle, worked with clients in the downtown Seattle jewelry industry and gained a ton of gem and fine jewelry experience from the vendors who worked with BBB.
I also purchased a restaurant on a small Pacific Northwest island and, again, pivoted my career, having to learn to be a chef, but also employed all my my design background to create the interior of the restaurant as well as all the graphics. I had to turn away much of my freelance custom jewelry clients and focus on the restaurant. I still had a love of photography, and captured images of food, the island, the lifestyle and nature. I, basically, found my ability to express my art in the dishes created at the restaurant. During the time of the restaurant ownership, I also catered, once a year, to gem dealers at the Tucson gem show. Carting my staff down, once a year, for a one week adventure. It was basically, my excuse to make some money while seeing all the gems, jewelry, and dealers. I also got to work on my gemstone collection.
Once the restaurant sold, I was able to get back to what I loved. I pivoted again, back to jewelry design and began working on hand illustrated jewelry on metals, where I focused on rings involving gemstones and colored pencil illustrations on metals. It was just beginning to take off with some attention when COVID hit. All my galleries canceled and my freelance work disappeared. At this point, I had a friend, working in the Seattle area who was an architectural photographer and was working as a real estate photographer to pay the bills. It was one of the only industries that seemed, Covid friendly and she lit the spark to get me thinking about getting back into photography.
I had to “re-learn” a few aspects that I had forgotten as well as go from SLR cameras to Digital and try and get a grip on all the new Mirrorless cameras. It was like learning an entirely new world and I was worried I wouldn’t get it. After a few months, I was on my way. I loved it. I loved the composition, the access to all these million dollar homes, where I was alone grabbing pics for agents and owners. I self taught Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, which was never around when film photography was how I learned. I found self editing amazing. It dint take long for me to gain clients, as I was in a rural area of Washington state by this time, that was just beginning to grow, as well as being located near Suncadia resort and luxury homes. Before long a large American home building company requested my services, and I was well on my way to building a new business that I really enjoyed. Reflecting on all those college and high school classes on photography, just looking back to how far photography, and I, have both come.
I absolutely love working with all the diverse homeowners, vacation rental owners and agents, as well as the architectural firms, custom home builders, and interior designers. Each home or building offers me new and exciting challenges and adventures. I never know what I am getting myself into with each shoot. It could be vacant parcels on the top of a mountain to a small, rustic cabin in the middle of a mining town. It’s just such a unique career, its ever changing with technology, so one must constantly pivot, learning new techniques from gaining a Part 107 pilot license (which let me say was a right brainer’s challenge for sure) to learning how to scan sq. footage and craft video walking tours, all while maintaining your customer services and employing your artistic edge and eye for composition.
At the time I entered architectural photography, I found it to really be male oriented, and there were a few female photographers, but overall it was a bit daunting to consider safety, how agents would perceive me, as well as just networking with other architectural photographers. I did find everyone to be a wealth of shared knowledge and what a great working society of friendly and welcoming women photographers online.
I believe, at my age and where I am in my career, that my “diverse and interesting” background has helped me craft my architectural photography to where it is today. Extending excellent client services, beautiful composition, and just a friendly demeanor that allows my photography business to grow and succeed in my client’s expectations.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have never thought of my “path” as smooth. Some of the struggles were the pivots, One goes to college with a plan, thinking that that “dream college’ is the path to being successful. I learned a hard lesson, in which I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life, departing RISD. I worked my tail off, part time jobs, working in college studio to keep up with the projects and finding actual Jewelry work in the fashion jewelry industry while at school, in Providence. I was the only one in my class with a real jewelry job, of which my dream college never recognized me for, nor helped me obtain. It was a struggle to accept that college isn’t always the answer. It was soul crushing and awakening at the same time. Without that choice, that crossroads, to depart and head west, well I would probably never had owned a restaurant of my own. Never started to get my hand-illustrated jewelry into galleries, nor would I ever thought I would be absolutely loving what I do, as an architectural photographer. When I think of all the pivoting I have done, it’s what makes one stronger, effective, and yet calm when thrown into stressful situations. One learns to trust themselves more than others and that only you have your best interests and know exactly who you are.
If I had to tell my young self anything, Id say just remember your’e smarter, craftier, and more intelligent than anyone thinks, and after all who cares what anyone thinks of you. All that matters is that you know who you are and that you’re stronger than you think.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I own and operate Constance Ross Photography, now based in Cedar City, Utah but I am from central Washington State where I first started.
I specialize in Vacation rental photography as well as Real estate/architectural Photography. My creative eye sets me apart from most photographers. I have an extensive background in design, the arts, and composition. I have a distinct love of color and light. When I photograph homes I search for the best angles, the details, and how I can, effectively, craft images that help market and property.
I also have a love of food, having a culinary and hospitality background, my second love is capturing food in photography. This is an aspect of my business which I am currently building, and trying to find my voice in.
Overall, it’s my customer service which I attribute to my years in the restaurant/ hospitality industries. I try to go above and beyond when communicating with clients, attempting to exceed their expectations and over deliver as much as possible.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was a complete tomboy. My father worked in the auto industry and aways had new cars. My friends parents had classic cars and I was always around cars. I learned to hand detail cars at a very young age. I aways had my hands in the dirt, never wore a skirt, unless forced to and was absolutely awful at home -ec. Cooking and sewing was not my forte’. You could find me in shop class, especially metals class.
I was a latch key kid, parents always working so I spent a good amount of time on my own. Independence as a kid teaches you allot. It takes courage, curiosity, and that getting hurt isn’t the end of the world.
I think going up like this made me stronger, brushing off rejection a ton of the time, and allowing me to be comfortable with pivoting, well as much as one can be. I am a bit of a risk taker, but with caution, as I am still, double backing on my choices all the time.
Pricing:
- Photography services start around $200 for basic real estate.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ConstanceRossPhotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ConstanceRossphotography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/constancerossphotography
- Other: Booking: www.ConstanceRossPhotography.hd.pics
