Calgary Photographer: Crystal Mercredi

What makes this Calgary photographer different?

Crystal is infatuated with photography, branding, and community building. Fuelled by helping highly driven humans enhance their impact she developed an obsession with marketing, which led her to becoming a brand strategist. To do this she earned a continuing education certificate in Marketing and Strategic Communications, and is beginning her journey to a post bachelor marketing certificate. Crystal has consulting experience as a marketing specialist with government, educational and non-profit organizations. She uses a mix of proven marketing methods and creative thinking to develop stunning and strategic visual branding. Crystal is currently the chair of Alberta’s Professional Photographers of Canada. She also holds a Master’s of Photographic Arts with the Professional Photographers of Canada.

Crystal is invested in the growth and success of each of her clients. To get the most impactful images she will work with you to share, or even identify, your goals. This information will guide the subtleties of expression, body language, colour science, light shaping and more to intentionally sculpt your headshots and business portraits. These images created together are more than pictures, they are effective communication tools carefully crafted to give you confidence and an advantage towards reaching your next goals. We need to know who you are, so we can accurately portray your true personality.

Alberta’s Headshot Photographer

Crystal grew up in Calgary but spent the last 15 years in Fort McMurray. She has also spent time living in Edmonton, Killam, Grande Prairie, and Fort Chipewyan. She loves every piece of Alberta and is proud to be part of the positive energy within this incredible province. Crystal’s journey as a Calgary Photographer started in 7th grade, at Balmoral Junior High, when she would bring her Polaroid camera to school. She learned photography basics and to develop black and white film during High School in Calgary. The catalyst that took photography from a hobby to career path was becoming a mother.

Chestermere is conveniently located only 5 minutes from the Stoney Trail Ring Road. This also makes the studio located conveniently near the YYC Airport for anyone across the country to visit with relative ease. Come to Chestermere to see Crystal in studio! The studio has free parking, is in a stress free-location and has a beautiful view of the mountains behind the city for your drive back home. Chestermere is only a 20km drive to downtown Calgary. The centralized, convenient location makes it roughly a 30 minute drive or less from all areas of Calgary.

From a Photographer to a Brand Strategist

Shortly after the birth of her third child Crystal was asked by the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association to do their board headshots. It was as if she had won the lottery. She spent 30 minutes with each board member as they came to her home studio at their convenience, and each session was like a mastermind session. The experience immediately changed her life and goals. It changed her focus in photography and ignited a deeper passion – the opportunity to use strategic images to tell stories about great people and their impact on the world.

By the end of that project Crystal rewrote her mission and vision, created a new business plan, changed the business name. She enrolled in university and started her journey to becoming a brand strategist, who uses photography as her primary tool to help her clients tell their stories. Crystal realized that even many of the people who were being recognized on national levels for their contributions. Other’s weren’t being recognized for their accomplishments. Great people weren’t showcasing themselves in ways worthy of their impact.

Moving back down to southern Alberta Crystal is excited to have the journey come full circle, becoming a Calgary photographer.

Calgary Photographer: Awards and Accolades

• Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo United Way Because of You Partnership Award (2021).
• Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Under 20 Employees (2021).
• Marketing and Strategic Communications Certificate from Mount Royal University (2021).
• 2020 Visual Arts Award (Buffy) from Arts Council Wood Buffalo as a photographer
• Leadership Wood Buffalo Certificate (2020)
• Named to Fort McMurray’s Top 50 Under 50 in 2020 by Your McMurray Magazine.
• 2019 nomination for the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce Female Leadership Award.
• Currently enrolled in MRU Post Bachelor Business Certificate in Marketing.
• Ambassador for National Association of Professional Child Photographers 2017-2019
• Award winning imagery with National Association of Professional Child Photographers 2016-2020
• YMM Airport Authority, as the inaugural artist for their Digital Art Exhibition.

Community Focussed

Contributing to a vibrant and healthy community is one of Crystals core values. For many years Life and Portraits has proudly supported many non-profit organizations and youth programs throughout Alberta. With the recent relocation she looks forward to growing her support to make impact in the greater Calgary area.

As an entrepreneur Crystal is always looking for great industry partnerships to benefit the greater community. Small businesses can have big impact on community when we work together. She works with other small business including other Calgary photographers to continually enhance each other’s skillsets in order to benefit the greater community and serve them more effectively and profoundly.

Be kind, be curious, be creative, and be courageous – Crystal’s motto

Lifelong learning in marketing and photography

Better than being a photography expert, she is a lifelong learner always improving her capabilities to provide better results and better experienced. Crystal is a brand specialist who is constantly developing her skill within the marketing world. She has worked with some of Canada’s top companies and leaders, providing her the opportunity to learn from their insights. In addition, Crystal is always improving her branding skills through courses and reading. She is a lifelong learner, and is currently enrolled in Mount Royal Universities Post Bachelor Certificate in marketing and has a library of business books to recommend and lend. This additional education will keep Crystal learning and informed on current brand practices, as well as introduce her to a growing network of marketing colleagues

Crystal works as a connector for her clients, and is eager to share ideas they promote which will enhance our world. The passion entrepreneurs, business leaders and community leaders emote during their sessions with Crystal ignites her soul with the desire to do an all she can to champion them. This desire has led to an abundance of learning opportunities around brand strategy.

This Calgary photographer shares how to use your newly crafted images as tools towards the goal of making greater impact.

Calgary Photographer Contact Info

416 West Chestermere Dr, Chestermere AB

crystal@lifeandportraits.com

7803817929