Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Karst.
Hi Christina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It’s not exactly a pretty story, but it’s mine. When I was 12, my mom kicked me out, and I went to live with my dad. I was pretty lost and sad at the time, and he handed me my first camera — an old Minolta XG-1 film camera. That gift completely changed the course of my life. I started taking photos just to fill the quiet, and before long, I was hooked. My poor dad was constantly buying me rolls of film because I couldn’t stop shooting everything around me.
By high school, I’d shot my first wedding — my friend’s grandparents’ wedding, actually — and started doing senior portraits for classmates. During my senior year, I realized photography wasn’t just a hobby anymore. It had become this anchor for me — a way to process, connect, and create beauty out of the mess. That’s when I decided to go to college for photography and turn it into a career.
When I eventually landed in Jacksonville, my business sort of took off in this really organic way. I was sharing a little photo series I called The Daily Dose of Sam — my daughter was maybe four at the time — just everyday moments that felt real and a little bit magical. People started following along, not because the photos were perfect, but because they were honest. That project opened a lot of doors and helped me find my people — the ones who value connection, vulnerability, and real life over perfection.
That’s still at the heart of everything I do. I refuse to project an image of who we aren’t just for posterity’s sake. My work — whether it’s weddings, boudoir, or branding — is about capturing people as they are: unposed, honest, and completely themselves.
Eventually, that same love for connection grew into hosting retreats around the world with my husband. We wanted to create spaces where people could slow down, reconnect with who they are, and experience something deeper than just travel — kind of like what photography did for me when I was younger.
It’s been a wild ride, but every part of it led me to where I am now — doing work that feels deeply personal and creating experiences that remind people they’re already enough.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I dove in headfirst and gave everything I had to building my business. And for a while, it worked — I was thriving. I was being published, fully booked, sometimes so in demand that clients had to wait to work with me. From the outside, everything looked perfect.
But behind the scenes, everything at home was quietly falling apart. I wasn’t taking care of myself, and I’d lost sight of why I started in the first place. I was building this dream life and business, but I wasn’t actually living any of it.
Eventually, I hit a breaking point and asked for a divorce. (Spoiler alert: we’re still together and celebrating 19 years this November — woohoo!) But that season of my life completely changed me. It’s actually what led me to start hosting retreats. I realized how badly I needed one myself — a space to slow down, reevaluate, and reconnect — but at the time, I was too busy chasing success to notice how much I was losing myself in it.
Now, I try to create those spaces for other people — the ones I didn’t have when I needed them most. That chapter was hard, but it taught me everything about balance, boundaries, and building a life that actually feels good, not just looks good. That’s why everything I do now has a heartbeat behind it — not just a business plan.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Honestly, I do a little bit of everything — weddings, boudoir, branding, lifestyle — but at the core, what I really do is create spaces where people can show up as themselves. My work is less about posing and perfection and more about honesty, connection, and trust. I want people to feel something when they see my photos — to recognize a part of themselves in them.
I think I’m known for the way I shoot — honest, vulnerable, and deeply human. I’m not afraid of the quiet moments, the shaky ones, the ones where people drop their guard and just are. That’s where I think the real magic lives. I refuse to project an image of who we aren’t just for the sake of a perfect picture.
I’m also incredibly proud of the retreats I host with my husband. That grew out of my own story — a time when I was burned out and needed space to reconnect with who I was. Now, I get to offer that kind of space to others, and it’s one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done.
What sets me apart, I think, is that everything I create has heart behind it. Whether I’m behind a camera or leading a group through South Africa, it all comes from the same place — wanting people to feel seen, grounded, and alive in their own story. Whether it’s a photo or a place, I just want people to feel safe being themselves.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Ha, I wish I could say I’m a podcast girlie, but truthfully I don’t have a lot of time for them — maybe that’s the old millennial in me! However, when I do listen, it’s usually to something funny like The Endless Honeymoon or You Made It Weird. I love to laugh, especially about the ridiculousness of real life.
Honestly, laughter is kind of my reset button. Between running multiple businesses, parenting, partnering (do we call it that?! lol), and just… life, I think it’s important to find moments that don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s what keeps me grounded and reminds me to stay human through it all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christinakarst.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinakarst
