March 19, 2024

Capture the moment

Working with people drives Robins’ passion, career in photography

Can you imagine starting your own business from scratch at the age of 20? That’s what Chris Robins did.

“When you’re young, you don’t think you can fail,” Robins said. “If it wasn’t for my family and my friends and getting me started, that’s how I actually got started. I went to the bank, borrowed some money, and my folks went up to Des Moines. We got some camera equipment. I opened the doors and away we went.”

Robins has been doing photography for 35 years. She currently owns Chris’ Photography on the north side of the square in Osceola.

Robins has been also selected as Clarke Area Arts Council’s featured artist with her photography being showcased at Lakeside Casino. Her photos are hung near the entrance to the events center.

Starting out

Robins recalled getting started in the business years ago. She graduated from Southwestern Community College at the age of 20 with courses in various media. She had her degree in May, and by early October, her own studio.

Out of all the different types of media Robins learned about in school, photography spoke to her the most because she liked to work with people. Word of mouth has been a key to her success in the business.

“I like working with different groups of people, even though I might be doing the same thing over and over,” she said. “I’m still meeting new people all the time.”

It’s not just people Robins has worked one-on-one with, there have been many pets along the way, too.

“Pets are just about as tough as kids, by far. They’re challenging,” she said. “I just like the challenge with people to get them to smile and to get them to look natural that way.”

Her tips include having a sense of humor and knowing how to make people feel comfortable around her. Creating a fun experience also makes clients want to return and work with Robins again.

Film to digital

Since opening Chris’ Photography in 1981, Robins has seen the art of photography evolve from film to digital. Film photography was a lot easier for her.

“All you did was you went and took the picture,” she said. “I’d drop my film in a little envelope, went out every night a 5 o’clock by the mailbox, dropped it in there. It went to the lab. They processed it. I was done for the day.”

Now, digital photography has opened up a realm of endless possibilities.

Robins now spends more time on the computer enhancing, cropping and toning pictures, as well as getting them to the lab.

“Film was pretty easy. Whatever you shot in the camera, that’s what you got,” she said.

Photography is an art for Robins, and she considered herself lucky to be doing it for a living.

“Life’s too short to go through without liking your job,” she said, “and if you don’t like your job, to me, you’re not a very happy person. I have enjoyed my job. I love my job. I actually don’t think of it as a job. I just don’t. I want to go to work every day.”