Calgary Photographer: Crystal Mercredi
What makes this Calgary photographer different?
Calgary photographer Crystal Mercredi is motivated by community building and helping her clients develop a strong brand voice to enhance their impact.
Fuelled by helping great people achieve great things Crystal developed an obsession with marketing, which led her to becoming a brand image strategist. She thoughtfully designs images around who a person is, and what they hope to achieve. This Calgary photographer uses creative thinking to develop stunning and strategically crafter image branding for her clients.
Crystal has marketing consulting experience 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 holds a Master’s of Photographic Arts with the Professional Photographers of Canada, a certificate in Marketing and Strategic Communications, and employs an attitude of wisdom that keeps her learning everyday.
Alberta’s Headshot Photographer
Growing up in Calgary but spending the last 15 years in Fort McMurray, Crystal has also lived 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 when she would bring her Polaroid camera to grade school. She began refining her photography skills during high school and college in Calgary, but made the transition to professional as a second career after having children. Being surrounded by inspiring entrepreneurs Crystal recognized that great people were being underestimated. Their image was hindering their success. She made it her mission to help great people get great headshots. Throughout the photo sessions conversations with clients turned to business, and their tips. Each headshot session became a business lesson. Crystal became a connector, and idea spreader during these sessions.
Leadership
Crystal serves as Alberta’s National Director with the Professional Photographers of Canada, and served as Alberta chair for 2 years. She has been a leading member of LightMatters Committee for 3 years, including chairing the event. She believes in community over competition, and strengthening industries and economies, not racing to the bottom.
Crystal serves on the Chestermere Economic Development Advisory Committee. She helped to establish and serve on the Leadership Wood Buffalo Advisory Committee for over for 4 years. Serving alongside community leaders on boards and committees not only improves communities, but also improves each participant through growth together.
Location
Chestermere is conveniently located only 5 minutes from the Stoney Trail Ring Road, 20 minutes from 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.
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 great people weren’t showcasing themselves in ways worthy of their impact.
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 in 2023.
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. Since moving to the Greater Calgary Area Crystal has been appointed to the Economic Development Advisory Committee for Chestermere
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
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 experiences.
Crystal works as a connector for her clients. She sees the best in people, and shows it to the world.
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