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Written/Interviewed by: Jason Taylor
When it comes to capturing life’s moments in a flash, there’s one person who does that very well. Beauty is something that is surrounding us everywhere we go but some of us don’t take the time to stop and actually look at it. Well this young woman by the name of Charrita Rainey not only takes the time to recognize the beauty all around her — but also creates her own beauty. Through photography and design, Charrita is giving the word beauty more definitions. If you are looking for some photos for you and/or your family then Charrita Rainey is who you need to talk to. She has people looking like they belong in magazines, has babies looking like perfect dolls and makes scenery look like it’s literally right in front you. Check out www.crphotoanddesign.com for prices, packages and set up the shoot of your life.
The Soul Magazine: Who is Charrita Rainey?
Charrita Rainey: Charrita Rainey is me [laughs] I am a young woman doing what she loves and trying to make a living out of it.
TSM: Where are you originally from?
CR: Los Angeles
TSM: Ok that’s what’s up. How did you get started doing photography?
CR: Well actually my major in school was Television Arts and I was already working with cameras. So since I started liking cameras a lot more, I decided to spend my money on a T2i. I said “if I’m going to spend money on it, I might as well make a living off of it.” So every time I’m out with friends I always have the camera with me. My friends know I’m always the one that’s taking all the pictures but I never really “cared” cared to be a photographer. So I grew to love it and I happened to make some money in the process.
An inside look at the master at work
TSM: That’s a good way to put that. Some people are cocky and should be humble about themselves. So what are the inspirations behind your passion for photography?
CR: I love to capture different moments but what I honestly want to do with photography is get into the fashion world. I want to be the one that takes the pictures of celebrities to be placed in fashion magazines and then designing the covers or the billboards that those pictures go on. I love that photography allows my creative juices to flow like they do. My imagination is my best friend and we get along great [laughs]
TSM: [laughs] that’s a great thing to have. So where do you see yourself in 5 years?
CR: I like to do so much but I really can’t say. I never plan ahead. I’ve never in my life set a goal to where it’s like “this is what I want to do in one year, this is what I want to do in five years”. I say what I would like to do but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen so I kind of live for the moment and then whatever happens — happens.
TSM: So what are some of the things that you want to do before photography?
CR: Fist I wanted to start off editing movie trailers then eventually make my way into producing. Then photography came along months later.
TSM: What does your family think about your career choices?
CR: They love it! They know that every time there’s an event, they can count on me to have my camera. It’s always “Hey Charrita where’s the camera? Where’s the camera?” I don’t think they ever thought I’d get into photography like I did so it’s safe to say I surprised them as well as surprised myself. My mom is just happy with where I am right now and she knows that I’m building something great with this. I mean I graduated from college so she knows I’m building up and up and up. They’re just happy with what’s going on in my life right now.
TSM: So what you’re saying is that your entire family supports you and everything that your doing?
CR: Mm hmm
TSM: That’s a great feeling to have. So if you could have anybody as a mentor, who would it be and why?
The Master at work
CR: I wouldn’t be able to think of someone off the top of my head. There are different people that I’m just now meeting. I look up to a lot of people who are doing well with themselves now ,being young, as supposed to being 50 — not to say that it’s bad but I want to make it young.
TSM: Have you done a shoot and in you’re mind you told yourself “I don’t want to be shooting this person”?
CR: Yes all the time [laughing]. Well not all the time but yes. I’ve had some of the most boring shoots in the world.
TSM: I know that’s got to be tough
CR: Oh my God. Sometimes I tell myself “just let me get through these pictures and then that would be it.” Some people tell me “oh you make the money so you might as well just you know deal with it. You making the dollars so just forget it.” I don’t take it like that because whatever I shoot is a representation of me. I’ve had shoots where I couldn’t get the person to do what I wanted them to do. I’ve had to improvise to find someway to do it but yea I’ve had shoots where I’m like “are you serious [laughs]?”
TSM: Have you turned down people that wanted to shoot with you?
CR: No
TSM: You’ve never turned down anybody?
CR: Nope
Model: Amir Shain/Photography by: Charrita Rainey
TSM: So you’ve accepted everybody?
CR: Mm hmm
TSM: What if some bum off the street said “I want you to shoot a picture of my coin case right now?”
CR: I’d do it [laughs]
TSM: You’d do it [laughs]?
CR: I’d do it. I mean it’s not hurting me. It’s just one snap
Model: Tamera Kissen/Photography by: Charrita Rainey
TSM: That’s what some people lack in their careers — true passion. So what are the pros and cons of photography?
CR: One con is if not being good at communicating with people. If your not a people person people aren’t comfortable with you, your shots aren’t going to come out the way you envision it. You have to find some sort of way to be creative with it. You can’t just say “oh here’s my camera do what you want to do and let’s take some snaps” cause it’s not going to work like that. Some more cons are; there’s a lot of competition so you have to find your own unique style. You never should try to compare yourself to anybody [laughs] cause then that’s when you start looking down on yourself. “Well my stuff doesn’t look like their stuff.” Just as long as you enjoy what you’re doing, people will start looking at it and they’ll admire it. The pros, of course, is a lot of money and you get to meet a lot of people. It’s like meditation in a way. You get to enjoy some peace when you are scouting different places to hold shoots. Even though you taking pictures you know your surroundings are beautiful because most of the shots that I do are outdoors, scenery type of shots. If I want that Hollywood shot, I’ll have to scout out and try and find that Hollywood type of spot. It’s just really enjoyable. Another pro is while your shooting people might say “hey what you shooting? You a photographer? You have a card?”
TSM: How much do you charge for any of your services?
CR: For photography it ranges from $150 – $600 depending on what my client is asking me to do. I also do design work [flyers, CD covers, DVD covers etc] and that ranges from $45 – $100. I want to start low to build my clientele.
Model: Donald Brooks/Photography by: Charrita Rainey
TSM: What are some things you hate about shoots?
CR: Weather! Without all the equipment, it can be hard to shoot outdoors. For example, if you don’t have all your lighting and it’s raining outside — a shoot is almost impossible because you would have depended on the sun for lighting. The scouting is also a pain because if you want to shoot at a certain location due to your vision and what you want your shots to look and you either can’t find the location or it’s restricted. I can’t stand when you need a permit to shoot in certain places cause right when you get in a groove and a rhythm — security comes and kicks you out.
TSM: I don’t think this has ever happened to you but I’ll ask you anyway. Have you gotten negative feedback from shoots or designs that you have done?
CR: Not that I know of [laughs]. I try to avoid that by letting people look through pictures and I pay attention to their reaction while they are viewing them so I know they’re not just saying “Aw it looks nice.”
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Charrita Rainey
A Closer Look at Charrita Rainey
TSM: What kind of shoots are your favorites?
CR: Believe it or not, I love to do children’s shoots. I love children — but I don’t want them [laughs]. It is a little difficult because you can’t tell most children how to pose the way you want them so I have to break out of that seriousness and be playful.
TSM: Do you have a favorite shoot or person you have shot?
CR: Yes. Out of all the children I’ve shot, one favorite I have is Laya Alejandro. Her pictures are absolutely beautiful. I love shooting her pictures. Out of the adults I would have to say Oriana [She’s comfortable and she has talent], Ajia and Eryn. The funny thing about all of the adults is that I personally reached out to them wanting to do a shoot with them. I saw something about them and wanted to capture it and the end results are fantastic.
Model: Laya Alejandro/Photography by: Charrita Rainey
TSM: What does the word “soul” mean to you?
CR: Soul is how you represent yourself. It’s your inner self and how you choose to display that.
TSM: That’s a good definition. Let’s get to know you better. What are you listening to these days?
CR: I am in love with Rhythm and Blues. I usually don’t listen to rap and my c0-workers [at BET Networks] are always getting mad at me because I play soft and sad music [laughs]. I do switch it up sometimes and I’ll play soft rock but that doesn’t make it any better for them [laughs].
TSM: What do you do when you aren’t doing any photography or designing?
CR: Since 85% of my time goes to work, the other 15% is spent with my boyfriend and getting my hair done. I usually don’t have enough me time so I make my work — my me time. Bad I know but I do try and get out though. Every now and then I’ll go to the movies or out to dinner.
TSM:What is Charrita’s idea of a night on the town?
CR: I would love for it to be romantic but fun. Like going to the Pier, playing arcades or going bowling. It also depends on if it’s with friends or with my boyfriend.
TSM: So your current status is currently dating, how’s that going for you?
CR: It’s going ok [laughs]. One of the main issues is that I don’t have as much time for him as I used to because of all the work I do. Sometimes when I’m working all day, I’ll go home to him tired. Some days it’s good but most days it’s not. He has his days where he’ll ask to see some pictures and that’s a great thing because it shows that he supports me. Put it this way, if I don’t have any children and I’m not married, nothing should hold me back. I got my degree to work so I might as well do it. What’s funny is he tells me that my camera is my boyfriend and I put my camera first [laughs].
TSM: We can’t fault you for that. This is a rhetorical question but as beautiful as you are, do you get a lot of guys that hit on you?
CR: Mm hmm [laughs]
TSM: How bad does it get?
CR: It gets pretty bad but I try and ignore it the best way I can. Some people try and be slick and I can tell the difference between someone trying to talk to me and someone who wants to do business. I remember one night, I was at an event and I was leaving because my job was done. This guy comes up to me and says “Hey what’s up gorgeous, how you doing? Let me walk you to your car.” I said “Well valet is right here [laughs].” Then he said “I just want to walk with you, you know there’s crazy people out here at night” He was really one of them. Oh then he asked me “So what you doing over here?,” I said “I was doing some photography” and he said “that’s what’s up. Can I take you out to eat sometime?” I said no because I have a boyfriend. I just kept shutting him down to the point where he finally admitted and said “that’s cool. You know my wife and I are getting married and maybe you can take some pictures of our wedding.” I was like “Are you serious [laughs]?”
TSM: [laughs] wow that’s crazy. One thing I remember is when we worked the 2010 BET Awards together, you had me on the lookout for a certain someone and when I mistakenly told somebody else where he was, you raised all hell. Do you have a crush on anybody?
CR: Oh yes! This guy by the name of Trey Songz. You may have heard of him [laughs]. You know I had a feeling you were going to ask me this [laughs].Trey Songz is the only person I’m a groupie over.
TSM: I already know how you feel because I’m a groupie over one person and that’s Taraji P. Henson
CR: Yes I know.
TSM: Wow you are really smiling from ear to ear over there.
CR: [laughs] I know. I am really sitting here smiling big like he’s sitting on the other end of the table. I will admit it. Most people don’t admit it when they are a groupie but I will. I love me some Trey Songz. My boyfriend gets mad because he’ll go in my room and I have Trey Songz pictures up and he’s like “Dang I see you got a picture of him up, but you don’t have a picture of me up”
TSM: What else can the world expect from Charrita Rainey?
CR: Expect me to continue to grow and continue to learn. I look forward to what the future has for me.
TSM: That’s great. I really appreciate you sitting down with us.
CR: Thank you for everything. You know I think I may have enjoyed this more than you did [laughs] and I can when it gets to that point where I’m doing interviews, I will always look at this one as my favorite.
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