Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Forrest.
Hi Claire, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got an undergraduate degree in painting, but I never took a photography class. I would say I have been in love with seeing seeing people for as long as I can remember, so finding photography was such a delightful career path.
Loving people through cameras has been the greatest blessing of my life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I doubt entrepreneurship is ever easy– I think for all of the wedding industry, 2020 was a massive disruption. The following years were disrupted in other ways, bringing in an influx of new talent to the industry. In 2022 I got pregnant with our son. I didn’t share any of that chapter online, as it was a particularly difficult one for me, and navigating a small creative business that I truly loved while learning to become a mother was the hardest part of the career so far.
But using a camera has never been a struggle, and being lucky to find the best clients has always felt incredible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer and filmmaker. I specialize in weddings although we do a lot of families and businesses as well.
I’m most proud that I was able to find a career to support myself and my family doing something I love,
I’m also so proud of the talent I’ve helped cultivate and educate over the years in this industry- working with other creatives is its own challenge and probably what I love most about the job.
I’m sure there are plenty of differentiators but I think what sets me apart the most in my locality is that I truly love the work for the work of it. Its a highly competitive field and the technology, trends, and cameras have changed so fast in the past few years— but I honestly find it all delightful to continue being a part of. Creating in the digital space is so incredible in 2026, if you can take the time and energy to devote to a project, it can truly become something no one has ever seen.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Starting photographers… I would say as frustrating as it is to do work for low payment, put in the hours and practice.. Charge what you can, create a supply and demand, but learning to work with people while understanding light is the whole job, and no practice in that is ever wasted.
Also, travel only enriches the practice of seeing and peers can be the best referral network at your fingertips.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.claireforrestfilms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claireforrestfilms
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claireforrestfilms
