Life & Work with Claire Myers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Myers.

Claire, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
My journey as an artist began as a child; I’ve had a love to create for as long as my life has existed. As a child, I created more tactile art, where I started in the fine arts and 3D arts, and eventually was gifted a small point-and-shoot camera for my birthday in late elementary. This camera became my friend, as my cats became my models, and the nature surrounding my home became my muse. I grew up in the country, with room to run around, and I simply loved it. I think that these moments started my foundation for the love of photography that I have today, as I admire God’s creation around me. His creation is simply breathtaking, and I simply want to BE in it. 

As high school continued and eventually early college came, I would take plenty of senior photo shoots, started experimenting with social media, was the editor in my high school yearbook staff for two years, and soon realized that this could become my career! I never stopped photographing and worked on finding my niche and style. 

In college, I did not study photography; instead, I studied graphic design. Graphic design gave me a new perspective on photography, composition, and overall, how the human interacts with art and how to create art for the eye. As college continued, I began shooting couples + weddings as COVID took over the world. This opportunity sparked my love of love and the sacredness of marriage. I eventually was married myself in 2022, and it gave me another new perspective of being the bride behind a wedding. Wow, was it all happening so fast + did I just love what I was doing? Today, you can find me photographing weddings with a very nontraditional style that is very warm, intimate, and cinematic with plenty of natural movement. I value the raw and emotive memories and the feeling of just being in the moment. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My photography journey has been fairly smooth, with general bumps along the way. I have worked extremely hard to where I am today, working multiple jobs since I was in early high school and long hours to save up to build a life and career that I could have only dreamed of 5-10 years ago. Nothing comes easily, and it never will. Even if I believe I am at the PERFECT spot right now (which I do not think that, haha), there will always be some sort of negative moment or unfortunate circumstance that can easily make all the “good” things seem nonexistent. Perspective is huge, and all the valleys and all the highs have only led me to where I am now. And, of course, God has everything ready for me in my future, and I only have to trust Him. We must embrace all situations, learn from them + push on, and keep finding ourselves in our art. 

Over the last few years, as my professional career has taken off, I have learned about success and what it means to me (as this is something that I re-learn and re-hash every year). Does God want me to book X amount of weddings? What about make X amount of money? Maybe it’s just to serve people this year? Maybe it’s to create a ministry through photography this year? This has been an ongoing struggle where lots of emotions surface. Of course, comparison can also take a grasps on me as well (as most artists do). Focusing on what I am so blessed to be able to do and to have has been a life changer. Slowing down and keeping life simple are two of my major focuses this year. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a non-traditonal photographer based in Northern Indiana. My work can be defined as cinematic, warm, emotive + raw, earthy, real, and whimsical. I am mainly known for weddings + couple photography, and I would agree that these are my two main passions. My work is fine art-based and is unique! 

I am most proud of how I capture my couples in a unique manner, which I believe also sets me apart from others. My couples are not cold, over-posed, or stiff. My photos take extra care in adding in natural movements, utilizing the environment and light, and focusing on THEIR story and not what I desire to come from the pictures. 

In order to capture my couples this way, I also take extra care and time to get to know them and their love story. Learning about who they are will only better our relationship and better their comfortability in front of the camera. Being comfortable is key, as capturing couples for who they are is the whole point! 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters to me most through my journey has been creating relationships with my couples and their family + friends. Nothing is more important to me than photographing a wedding, and learning more about the stories of those they invited and being able to interact with them throughout the day + later on social media! My photography, of course, matters, but not as much as being an authentic person + sharing God’s love with those I am serving. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.clairehopephoto.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/clairehopephoto/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/clairehopephoto/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-mumaw-myers/

Image Credits
Claire Hope Photo LLC