Krista A. Jones Photography & Design

Brand Spotlight

March 28, 2015

We have been SO blessed to have been able to feature a range of women this month who truly represent joy. Joy in the midst of writing books, raising children, running magazines, the list of creative ventures goes on! Krista is also a woman of many hats. She’s not only a phenomenal graphic designer, but she is also an incredibly talented film photographer. In addition, she’s the Co-founder and Editor of Bayside Bride, a nautical wedding blog that showcases weddings on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We are so excited to introduce you all to Krista today and hear more about her life as a designer, photographer, and editor living on Kent Island!

View More: http://lauragordon.pass.us/kristaanddavey

Tell us a little about yourself! Who is Krista Jones?

I live in the best of two worlds. When I’m not photographing beautiful weddings in and around Annapolis, Maryland with my husband Davey, I get to work with some pretty incredible creatives to create new brands and websites. I’m also incredibly blessed to run Bayside Bride with my best friend Natalie Franke, and together we host workshops for photographers (The Bayside Workshop).

Davey and I were married 2010 and we live on Kent Island with our two sweet pups – D’leh and Goose. When we’re not photographing weddings, we love working on our house, cooking, reading and spending time near the water.

Which did you get into first: graphic design or photography?

I went to school for graphic design. I’ve always loved photography but it wasn’t until after I graduated that I saw it as a possible career. At the time I was a full time web designer for American Bible Society and I worked there while doing freelance design and slowly shooting more weddings.

Running a business as both a designer and wedding photographer sounds like it can be quite the challenge. Do you have any favorite tools or secrets you use to help you manage your time?

It definitely can be! I LIVE by set schedules and TeuxDeux. I’ve been using it for nearly six years and it helps me keep track of tasks for both photography and design. I’ve also figured out the best times of the day for me to do particular tasks. So for example I’m more creative in the morning so that’s generally the best time for me to design but more repetitive tasks, like coding or editing photos are better saved for the afternoons.

I only schedule meetings and shoots after 2pm on Tuesdays – Thursdays and I typically start working by 8am. I also schedule certain tasks ahead of time. Mondays are heavy with editing during wedding season while Friday mornings are spent prepping blog posts for the next week.

What was your wildest dream as a child? Do you see any pieces of that dream in what you do today?

Well, when I was really little I wanted to be the ice cream man. :)

In school I bounced between wanting to be an attorney or a journalist. Although I loved art class, I stopped taking art in high school and I focused all of my efforts on excelling in rigorous academic classes. At the end of high school, I realized what I loved most about journalism was laying out the school paper. I actually used to steal other editor’s sections and do their layouts because I loved it so much! That led me to study design in school and then on to photography, but I never had any dream of becoming a photographer or a designer. The best things in life are sometimes unplanned, right?

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

My mother :) She always encouraged my creativity and never said no to any of my dreams – even the ice cream man one. When I was growing up she was an interior designer and I learned so much about design from her. When she was drafting I used to love stealing her design magnets and creating my own designs and I loved looking for my favorite fabric patterns in her books.

And when I left my full time job with amazing benefits to work full time as a photographer and designer, she was nothing but supportive. She also always likes everything I share on social media :)

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing the day you shot your first wedding ever, what would you say?

I would tell myself not to compare myself to my favorite photographers. The first wedding I shot was absolutely beautiful and the photos turned out so well, but I had somewhat unrealistic expectations of my work should look like. I thought that the photos I was producing should look like the ones on Style Me Pretty – when in reality, those photographers had much, much more experience than I did.

What is your favorite part in the branding and web design process?

I really love seeing what creatives do with their brand after I’m finished. A logo, a color palette, branding materials and a website are only a starting point for what a brand can really accomplish. I love seeing the ways creatives incorporate their brand in their packaging materials, their social media and more! Nikki Santerre and Caroline Logon have done an incredible job and creating a strong brand outside of what I’ve done for them.

Can you give us a few tips for how to identify our unique brand?

Don’t feel like you need to add something to your brand just because you love it in other people’s brands. Always keep your target client in mind and think about what first drew you to photography. Think about your history, your passion and the end goal for your business.

How do you want to be remembered? What do you want your legacy to be?

As a Christian I know that there is so much more to this business than the “business” aspect. I wholeheartedly believe in serving my clients and loving them well. I know that their trust in Davey and I allows us to work together in a career we love, and we’ve made it our mission to serve those we work with in every way possible.

View More: http://abbygracephotography.pass.us/creative-at-heart