We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Best Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina Best, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
There are a lot of very talented photographers out there, but what has helped my brand is not only being inclusive but encouraging people to be themselves. There’s a lot of vulnerability when it comes to having your picture taken, and generally people can be shy about it. If I had a dollar for every time I heard “we’re so awkward in front of the camera”, I’d have a lot of dollars.

Meeting people where they’re at is really important. As a photographer, you deal with people and their emotions. Managing emotions can be hard, but my success has come through setting expectations, being positive, and not letting people bring negative self talk to photo sessions.

When it comes to inclusion, it’s really important to me to work with a diverse variety of clients. To show up for people and make them feel seen has been a huge draw in my success and helping my business grow.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business focuses on celebrating life, love, and all the “just because” moments big and small. Whether a client is getting married, starting a new business, or just wants to get dressed up and take photos, I’m there for it all. Societal beauty standards are impossible to live up to, and I want to celebrate and capture people exactly as they are.

I came out in 2015, which empowered me to be myself and get serious about my photography business. I was already taking photos regularly, but it was mostly personal work and I was not putting in the effort to grow a business or get clients. There was something powerful about being fully myself that gave me the confidence to grow my business and put myself out there. I stared sharing more about my life and partner, and it helped gain trust with my audience.

My own history with being queer has given my clients a safe space and helped build a lot of trust with my community. While coming out was really scary, ultimately, it changed everything for the better. I was able to show for myself, my clients, and help my clients show up for themselves too. There’s so much power in being accepted, and this has been a huge factor in my growth as a person and brand.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Sacramento – AKA the city of trees and farm to fork capital.

Let’s start with a trip to the Midtown Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning. We can grab a snack from one of the many food vendors, peruse the locally made artisan goods, and of course grab all the fresh produce and flowers for the week. Grab a coffee from the Mill, Temple, or Milka and enjoy it under the canopy of trees with views of vintage victorian homes. Head on over to the Ice Blocks and R/15 for shopping, food, and drinks. An espresso martini from the Snug is a must, followed by tacos from Mas Tacos. Catch the sunset from the beautiful golden Tower Bridge along the Sacramento River, and end the evening on the rooftop of Darling Aviary.

Venture off to the Sacramento River Delta for stunning wineries and river views. Take a drive to Lake Tahoe, and spend a few days there enjoying the cool blue waters. You’ll feel like a brand new person after a swim in the lake. Once you head back to Sacramento, grab dinner from Hook & Ladder followed by ice cream at Gunther’s. Check what movies are playing at the Tower Theatre!

Don’t sleep on Sacramento!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is dedicated to my lovely wife, Anna Miller. I truly would not be able to do what I do with out her support and wisdom. Anna was my college roommate while I was studying photography, and has witnessed every step in my growth. She is my sounding board for everything. I decided to take my business full time after we got married in 2018, and she’s been nothing but loving and encouraging. Whether I want to show her work I’m proud of, or need an extra set of eyes, she’s always there with out question and I am so thankful!

Website: https://www.christinabestphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinabestphotography/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.