Feature Friday: Sweet Pea Studios
Meredith Gradle • August 11, 2017
A woman in a striped shirt is sitting on a set of stairs.


Meet Sweet Pea Studios

Hi My name is Krystal Culpepper owner of Sweet Pea Studios and I currently reside in Aldie, VA (30 miles from Washington, DC). I am married to my wonderful husband, Daniel for almost 15 years. We have three kiddos, two boys and a girl who keep us on our toes and super busy. We also have 2 pups, Chihuahua/Jack Russell mixes, Honey and Bailey. I am a beach girl born and raised and the fact the closest beach is 3 hours away makes me homesick a lot. I love being outdoors, spending time with my family, reading a good book and spending time having great conversations with good friends.



What do you specialize in?

I specialize in Newborns and Families. Photography has been a part of my life since I was little as my Mom and Grandmother both worked for a national portrait studio for over 30+ years. When I started following this photography calling I did a few weddings as a second shooter. When I found that I was photographing kids more than the adults, I knew what I wanted to do. It wasn’t long before I fell in love with newborns and almost 9 years later here I am!



A newborn baby is wrapped in a white blanket and wearing a white hat.


How did you first get started in photography?

When my oldest son was born SLR cameras became affordable. I grew up with film and still love it but I love the flexibility digital photography gave me. I could see what I was doing in the back of my camera and realized that I could delete what I didn’t like and could also see what I missed or didn’t like just by checking the back of my camera.



How has using Iris impacted your business?

I waited years for Iris Works even though I didn’t know it was Iris Works is was waiting for. A lot of other tools weren’t user friendly and didn’t give me the flexibility and support that Iris Works does. Everything is through the click of a button for the most part. I can respond to inquiries and send contracts, emails, invoices and even session prep guides in minutes flat and from my phone!



A family is sitting on the grass in the woods.


What are your future goals for you business? What are you looking forward to?

Right now, I like where my business is. I love that I see the same families year after year as well as meet new ones. Eventually I would love to grow my business, teach a second photographer and hire an admin to work for the Sweet Pea Studios brand.



Fun facts:

-I can not cook. Not even follow a recipe. Which is sad. Luckily my husband is an amazing cook so we don’t have to survive off take-out.
-I love baseball. Washington Nationals are my home team but the Atlanta Braves have my heart.
-I am a Disney fanatic! So much so we go 2-3 times a year at least. Sometimes I just go with my girlfriends.


Be sure to check out more of Krystal’s work!


www.sweetpeastudiosva.com 
www.facebook.com/sweetpeastudios
www.intsagram.com/sweetpeastudios


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