FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #3 Capturing More Than Moments: The Art of Boutique Photography
Ever wondered why the hundreds of photos on your phone never make it to your walls? Carline Bon-Ami has the answer—and a solution that transforms fleeting digital moments into treasured family heirlooms.
The founder of Bon-Ami Photography shares her remarkable journey from registered nurse to boutique photographer, revealing how her experience as a military spouse raising three children fundamentally shaped her artistic perspective. "I know what it's like to hold a family together through chaos," Carline explains, "and because of that, I value the still moments even more." This quiet strength infuses every portrait she creates, making her work distinctly personal and emotionally resonant.
Unlike conventional photography services, Carline offers a comprehensive experience that guides families from the initial planning conversation through to installation. She debunks common misconceptions about digital photography, noting how most cherished memories end up forgotten in cloud storage or lost to technological mishaps. "My work is custom and crafted with intention," she emphasizes, "designed to live on your walls as art, not just in a folder you forget about." Her personalized approach ensures every portrait becomes a daily reminder of what matters most—the connections, moments, and relationships that make life meaningful.
Ready to transform how you preserve your family's story? Connect with Carline at bon-amiphotography.com or find her on social media to discover how her boutique photography service can create lasting artwork your family will treasure for generations.
Bon-Ami Photography
Carline Bon-Ami
carline@bon-amiphotography.com
540-455-2355
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 2:I'm excited to introduce you to my guest today. Carline Bon-Ami is a local talented photographer and founder of Bon-Ami Photography. Carline, welcome to the Fredericksburg Neighbors podcast.
Speaker 3:Hi. Thank you so much, Dori, for having me.
Speaker 2:I'm excited to dive into this interview today. Before we get started, tell us a little bit about your business. I know that what you offer is unique to the typical photography company, so tell us all about your business the typical photography company, so tell us all about your business.
Speaker 3:Yes, so I'm a full service boutique photographer, which means I don't just take pictures. I create meaningful, heirloom, quality artwork that's meant to be cherished and passed down for generations. What makes me, or my work, different is that it's deeply personal. I walk with my clients through every step of the process, from the first planning conversation to the moment they hang their art on their walls. I sit down with them to design a session that's completely custom, something that reflects their style, the colors in their home and the little moments that mean the most. My goal is to create something you're truly proud to display, something that brings joy every time you walk past it. It's not just about a pretty picture. It's about capturing what matters most in a way that feels timeless and emotional and honestly. I do this because I know how heartbreaking it is to lose precious images. I've experienced that personally with my own kids, and it's a big part of why I pour so much intention into creating lasting pieces for other families.
Speaker 2:I love that so much. It really is a white glove service and you're so right. So you know, a lot of times photo albums get damaged and I have been guilty of uploading photos and sharing them on Facebook and then not saving them on my phone and, god forbid, something happens to Facebook. I'm not going to have my photos anymore. So I love that. You really spend a lot of time and pay close attention to walking your clients through the entire process. So I absolutely love what you do. But how did you get into this? Tell us about your journey and kind of what led you to offering this boutique service.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so actually I started my career as a registered nurse and I'm still licensed, actually, which comes in handy when working with toddlers and dramatic teens and unpredictable pets. But my husband and I were already married when I went into nursing and once we started our family, I realized that I wanted something that gave me more time and flexibility to be with with our kids. Um, that's when photography started to enter my life in a meaningful way, my life in a meaningful way, when our firstborn was little.
Speaker 2:we did the classic family photo trip to Sears.
Speaker 3:Remember Sears? I do, yeah, and we did that up until we had our second kid. But, like in between those times, I'd buy all the time. I'd buy disposable cameras and take photos constantly. Eventually I invested in a real camera and began teaching myself. And then I took courses, trained workshops and I started freelancing on small projects and there was no YouTube University at that time on small projects and there was no YouTube university at that time.
Speaker 3:The more I did, the more I fell in love with the art, and what began as a creative outlet became a passion and then a business. So now I get to help other families capture their stories in a way that lasts.
Speaker 2:I love that so much and it's interesting. You say you come from a background of of nursing, and so you're clearly you know the type of person that is, you know, very nurturing and cares for others. So it's not surprising that you're not just a photographer who's into the technology of it, you're really into the human side of it, and so I I can see why you know that that kind of makes makes your business special. It's you, you are the, you are what makes your business special. So I love that.
Speaker 2:I love that and I love that. You know you started out, you know, with family photos and taking pictures of your kids, so it's it's extra special that you've involved your family in the whole process. So I love that. So, when you're not working on your business, what are you doing for fun? What are you doing when you're when you're not working on your business?
Speaker 3:So I love working on puzzles with my daughter. We do like a thousand piece puzzles sometimes, and then she bolts away and leaves me alone with them. I love watching movies some with my family, some alone but I absolutely love being on my couch and just mindlessly scrolling on Pinterest and getting home decor inspiration. I love that.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. I love it. What is, um, I'm putting you on the spot here. What's your? Do you have a go-to like comfort movie, a go-to comfort movie, like a movie that you kind of always you know kind of go to? I'm putting you on the spot too.
Speaker 3:I'm putting you on the spot. No worries, I don't have a comfort movie, but I do love comedy.
Speaker 2:I love action comedy. Anything that makes me like laugh, yeah, Makes you decompress and step away from the worries.
Speaker 3:I feel you there.
Speaker 2:So can you describe a hardship or a life challenge that you feel like you rose above and now you can say, because of that challenge, that you're now better for it or stronger?
Speaker 3:Yeah, man, one of the biggest challenges I faced was being a military spouse while raising three kids, often on my own was being a military spouse while raising three kids, often on my own. My husband was a Marine for 23 years and while he was off doing heroic things, I was at home doing a different kind of boot camp. It was hard. I was essentially a single parent, working long hours as a nurse, managing everything at home and trying to keep life steady for the kids, and it was exhausting and isolating at times, but those years built something in me. They gave me a kind of quiet, strength, a resilience and perspective I carry with me today. I know what it's like to hold a family together through chaos, and because of that I value the still moments even more.
Speaker 2:That experience really shaped who I am today, and not just as a mom or a business owner, but also as and not just as a mom or a business owner, but also as someone who truly understands the value of time, family and creating a space for connection. That's powerful, that's really powerful. And you know, being a military spouse is one thing, but being a military spouse and a mother on top of it and trying to, you know, move you move, move around a lot, and then holding down a career and wow, yeah, that's a lot. And and it's interesting how you know that all kind of comes back to your why with your business now and creating memories. So you have a a deep understanding of the value of that. So I love that so much. So tell me, what is something that you wish our listeners knew about your business?
Speaker 3:um, I wish more people realized that photography is an art and it can be more than just a digital gallery on your phone. My work is custom and it's crafted with intention and it's designed to live on your walls as art, not just in a folder you forget about or can't even see. Remember where it is. Every session is tailored to your style, your home, your heart. The planning and the sessions are relaxed. It's fun and, honestly, it's it's way more personal than people expect. Yeah, and the end might end, and my clients are often blown away when they see their portraits.
Speaker 2:In the end, my clients are often blown away when they see their portraits as it becomes a daily reminder of what matters the most to them, why they do what they do every day. That's awesome. I love that you have put any myths or misconceptions that you hear about about your industry, or maybe you know about your particular business.
Speaker 3:Yes, there are too many. There's quite a few, but some common myths, especially in the photography space. When it comes to high end portraits services like mine, one thought is digital files are all I need, or once I have the digital images, I can print whatever I want, whenever I want. And the truth is most most clients are overwhelmed and they don't even know what to do with 200 or more images. Then they never get around to even printing, or if they print, they print low quality versions at budget labs. But more often than not the digital files end up forgotten in a cloud storage or on hard drives.
Speaker 3:So, as boutique photographers like myself, I provide expertly edited images and professionally crafted wall art or albums. I do albums as well. That stands the test of time, both in quality and emotional impact. My service includes guidance from concept to installation, ensuring they have a finished art, not just files. That's collecting dust, I mean, it happens so often. You know we feel like we're going to do something with it, but then you know you don't even know where it is half the time.
Speaker 2:I've been. I've been guilty of that, of having, you know, 200 plus photos in a file somewhere on my computer that you completely forget about. So thank you for that. Thank you for that. And so if any of the listeners are interested in working with you or want to learn more about you and your company, what's the best way for them to find you?
Speaker 3:Yeah, they can go to bon-amiphotography. com, which is my website. Bon-Ami is B-O-N hyphen, A-M-I photography. com. Or they can find me on Facebook and Instagram.
Speaker 2:Awesome. Thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today and sharing your wisdom with us.
Speaker 3:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to fxbgneighborspodcastcom. That's fxbgneighborspodcastcom, or call 540-534-4618.