Behind the Lens: Christine Barefoot of Barefoot Royalty Photography

For Christine Barefoot of Barefoot Royalty Photography, photography has always been about more than taking beautiful images. It has been about preserving the people, emotions, and moments that become part of a person’s story.

Her love for photography began in 1997 with something simple: borrowing her brother’s film camera to take a timed selfie with her two best friends. Though they had been close for years, it was the first photo they had together. That moment stayed with her. From then on, Christine was rarely without a camera, documenting the people and memories that mattered most. That appreciation for photography started even earlier, through quiet afternoons spent with her grandmother flipping through old photo albums. As her grandmother shared the stories behind each image, Christine began to understand the lasting value of a photo.

“photographs are more than pictures—they’re the tangible connection to our memories, our loved ones, and the moments that shape our lives.”

That belief is still at the center of Barefoot Royalty Photography today.

As Christine grew older, she became the friend who always had a camera in hand, capturing milestones, celebrations, and everyday moments simply because she loved preserving them. She later took photography classes in college, where she fell even more in love with the art, intention, and storytelling behind the lens.

In 2016, Christine officially started Barefoot Royalty Photography as a side business while working full-time as a Recreational Therapist in Upstate New York. A self-described hopeless romantic, she quickly found herself drawn to photographing couples and the relationships they shared. What began as a creative outlet soon became a deeper calling!

In 2019, Christine and her husband moved from up North to the gorgeous Georgia coast. Around that same time, she made the decision to pursue photography full-time. Since then, she has spent the past decade working almost exclusively with couples, documenting love stories with a style rooted in authenticity, emotion, and timeless imagery.

A Photography Experience Built on Comfort and Connection

Photo: photographer unknown

Christine’s approach is thoughtful, relaxed, and deeply personal. She understands that couples are not just hiring someone to take photographs; they are trusting someone to be present for some of the most meaningful moments of their lives.

“My approach is centered around creating a relaxed, fun, and meaningful experience.”

Through a blend of playful prompts and posing, Christine helps couples feel comfortable in front of the camera while still allowing space for natural connection. Her goal is to create images that feel honest to the couple and the moment, whether that means a quiet glance, a joyful laugh, or a carefully composed portrait that will live in a family album for generations.

As a wedding photographer, Christine focuses on creating an experience that feels effortless and enjoyable while keeping the day centered on what matters most to each couple. Her style combines whimsical romance, emotive storytelling, and timeless traditional imagery, allowing her to document both the major moments and the subtle in-between ones that often become the most treasured.

A Timeless, True-to-Color Style

Barefoot Royalty Photography is known for imagery that feels romantic, emotional, and true to the day as it unfolded. Christine edits with a true-to-color approach, honoring the natural beauty of each setting, design, and moment.

When a moment calls for added depth or nostalgia, she may incorporate black-and-white imagery or filmy tones. She also offers film photography, a medium she loves for its timeless quality and ability to preserve a story in a way that feels classic and lasting.

For Christine, the setting plays an important role in the story being told. She is especially drawn to outdoor locations and natural landscapes, whether that is a quiet beach, a lush garden, a mountain overlook, or beneath the moss-draped oaks of the beautiful South. She believes the location should feel personal to the couple, not simply beautiful for the sake of being beautiful.

Her eye is also drawn to light: golden hour sunsets, soft morning light, dramatic storm clouds, and the fleeting moments that happen naturally throughout a wedding day.

“Every love story is different, and I love finding the unique details that make yours feel authentically you.”

A Personal Understanding of Trust

One of the values that shapes Christine’s business most is her belief that every couple should feel respected, heard, and cared for throughout the photography process.

This is not just a professional standard for her. It is personal. After having a negative experience with her own wedding photographer, Christine understands firsthand how important communication, trust, and genuine connection are before, during, and after the wedding day.

Because of that experience, she is intentional about creating an environment where her couples feel supported from the moment they inquire until the day they receive their final gallery.

“every couple deserves to feel respected, heard, and cared for throughout their photography experience.”

That care shows up in the way she communicates, the way she prepares, and the way she documents each couple’s day with both artistry and attentiveness. Her work is not about forcing a moment to look perfect. It is about noticing what is already meaningful and preserving it with honesty.

A Heart for Intimate Celebrations

Christine also has a special appreciation for intimate weddings and meaningful celebrations. When she and her husband got married, they planned their own destination beach wedding in just six months. That experience gave her a real understanding of how quickly wedding planning can move, and how important it is to stay focused on the heart of the celebration.

For couples planning an intimate wedding, elopement, or destination-inspired celebration, Christine brings both professional experience and personal perspective. She understands that a wedding does not have to be large to be meaningful. What matters most is the connection being celebrated and the memories being created along the way.

More Than Beautiful Photographs

When Christine is not behind the camera, she can usually be found spending time with her husband of 11 years and their lively crew of fur babies, getting lost in a good book, creating art, exploring the outdoors, or planning their next adventure. Those personal loves naturally influence the way she sees the world and the way she photographs her couples: with attention to beauty, emotion, connection, and place.

At the heart of Barefoot Royalty Photography is a simple but meaningful purpose. Christine is not just documenting how a wedding day looked. She is preserving how it felt.

For couples who value intentional storytelling, natural connection, and a photography experience rooted in trust, Barefoot Royalty Photography offers more than a gallery of images. Christine offers a way to hold onto the moments that matter most.