Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Roberts.
Hi Crystal, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hey, I’m Crystal Roberts, and this is how photography found me. I actually picked up a camera back in high school, but I didn’t fall in love with it then. My teacher made it feel cold and technical, and I walked away thinking it just wasn’t my thing. Fast forward a few years… I graduated in 2005, and by 2010 I found myself out of work for the first time since I could remember. While waiting for someone to hire me, I decided I might as well learn something new. So, with my camera manual in hand and a few library books, I started a little photography business that ran purely on donations. People were kind, generous, and honestly paid me more than I deserved. That’s how it all began… a wild idea, a borrowed dream, and a whole lot of grace. In 2012, I became a mom, and that changed everything. Suddenly, the meaning behind the camera was deeper. I tried to photograph my own son’s newborn photos, and they went… terribly. But that messy attempt lit something inside me. I wanted to learn how to truly capture the beauty I saw in front of me. Not long after, I did my first real paid newborn session. That’s when things started to click. Before that, I’d shot a few weddings and quickly realized it wasn’t for me. Then one day, a mom reached out, heartbroken because her baby was five weeks old and no one would take her. Everyone said the baby was too old. I took the session… I didn’t even really know what I was doing, but that baby slept the entire time. That session changed everything. I promised myself I’d never turn a baby away because of age. These sessions aren’t about a time frame or a checklist… they’re about love, memory, and the desire to hold on to what matters.
Over the years, I’ve learned from some incredible photographers: Rachel Vanoven, Erin Tole, Amber Lee, and the team at Twig & Olive. I even had the chance to attend an in-person workshop with Rachel, which was such an eye-opener. Still, even with all that education and experience, I don’t always feel like I’m “there.” Imposter syndrome is loud sometimes. But I’ve learned that’s okay and that it keeps me growing.
When our family flooded during Harvey, photography took on an even deeper meaning. Losing so much reminded me how fragile life is and how powerful it is to have photos that hold onto the people and moments we love.
In the beginning, I chased perfection: perfect lighting, perfect poses, perfect everything. But my definition of perfect has changed over the years. Now I see it in the connection: the way a mom exhales when her baby finally falls asleep in her arms, or the way a dad’s hand rests gently on his newborn’s back. That’s what I want to capture… not perfection, but truth. I’m trying to see deeper and let the little things become the most profound things.
I’m so grateful I get to do this. To tell stories. To pause time. To give people something to hold on to when life keeps moving faster than we want it to. By the way.. I also homeschool my kids through all this. we live by a whole lot of caffine and a whole lot of Jesus. Thanks so much for reaching out and asking my story.. it is truly humbling.
With love,
Crystal Roberts
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We went through a lot of hard seasons: Harvey, Imelda, losing my studio twice. Each time felt like starting over. But I was surrounded by friends who opened their studios to me when I needed it most, and that kind of generosity carried me through.
Then came one of the hardest chapters of all. My son was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome when he was just two and a half, and I had a newborn at the same time. My husband’s work wasn’t bringing in enough, so I worked as much as I possibly could. I was completely exhausted, running on empty, just trying to keep our little family afloat. Looking back now, I honestly don’t know how I made it through that season… except by the grace of my Heavenly Father.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a newborn and family photographer in Southeast Texas. My work is really about connection… the soft, honest moments that often go unseen but mean everything later. I photograph both in my home studio and outside on my parents’ land, where there’s room for families to slow down, breathe, and just be together. Over time, my approach has changed. I used to chase perfection, but now I chase truth. I love when a baby melts into their mother’s arms or when a family forgets I’m there and just falls into laughter. Those are the moments that remind me why I do this. What sets my work apart is the heart behind it. I’ve lived through floods, loss, and seasons that have tested me. Those experiences shaped the way I see life and the way I photograph it. Every session is sacred to me. I want families to walk away not only with beautiful images but also with a feeling… that sense of peace and gratitude that comes from realizing how precious time really is. I’m most proud of that. The stillness, the honesty, the connection. It’s what I hope people see and feel in every photograph I take. I’m still trying to grow towards this eager side while still holding a little part of the perfectionism in me.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t really believe in luck. Life brings both good and hard seasons to everyone. What matters is how we show up and keep going. I believe in effort, perseverance, and the lessons that come with every challenge. Everything we walk through shapes our character, and I think the only real failure is when we stop trying.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crystalrobertsphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystal_roberts_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrystalRobertsPhotography
Image Credits
just me. Crystal Roberts Photography
