We recently caught up with Christine La to dive into her creative journey. What began as a search for a creative outlet transformed into an inspiring adventure that led her to Stocksy—an experience shaped by her positivity, patience, and clarity.
It’s clear from your work and social media that you spend much time adventuring and educating people about it. Can you tell us about your career as an Outdoor Lifestyle Content Creator?
Posting on social media started off as a personal creative outlet blog when I was new to exploring the outdoors and wanted to inspire others to do the same for the sake of mental health and wellness. I have an educational background in environmental policy so I cared about our natural environment from that perspective but I did not grow up knowing much about outdoor recreation as a hobby. Most of my weekends growing up were spent in front of a TV or at the mall. Now I am outside engaging in activities from hiking and fishing to mushroom foraging. Everything about getting outside was exciting to me after I reached adulthood so naturally I captured it with whatever camera I had on me. My journey in meeting instructive friends and enjoying the outdoors responsibly started when I joined a climbing gym in 2018. Wishing to showcase all the beautiful places I got to see, I posted on Instagram to inspire and educate others from my own perspective. I have always been interested in photography but didn’t really learn how to use my camera effectively until then.
My creative outlet became something unexpected. I met people through the app and worked with brands to get the outdoor gear I needed. At one point I took my dog’s chewed-up bed foam and turned it into a makeshift sleeping pad. Luckily my hobby became a way for me to acquire the gear I needed to get outside. I am incredibly grateful for all the brands that have supported me with gear and collaborations, as that is what has enabled me to keep getting outdoors.
I didn’t quite realize it at the time but I was learning so much about creative direction, photography, modeling, copywriting, and most importantly contract negotiation, all while just enjoying sharing my weekend travels. I quit my desk job to work as an instructor for kids in nature part-time, and made extra income working at a restaurant, and then the freelance stuff kept requiring more of my time. I am so glad to have Stocksy as an avenue to realize my creative pursuits without needing to battle the social media algorithms.
People only see a picture and the caption but what they don’t see is everything that goes on behind the scenes. An influencer is basically doing the work of several people. There’s location scouting, prop styling, modeling, photo editing, storytelling, social media management, and creative direction.
You mentioned recently reflecting on your career. How did Stocksy get on your path, and what impact did this have on you as an artist?
My dear friend and fellow Stocksy contributor Ryan Tuttle mentioned that Stocksy might be a good thing to do as we were having a conversation around my doubts about social media as a career choice. I decided to apply to Stocksy without much thought and for a while I honestly had no idea what I got myself into! After doing a user survey and attending an in-person meet-up with fellow contributors in the Bay Area I realized that I had to take this amazing opportunity seriously. I am now so incredibly grateful for being part of the co-op as it has become my favorite creative outlet where I can get rewarded for having fun with my camera and making memories with anyone willing to “model”. I say model lightly as it intimidates people but I like finding the more candid captures of people just doing things. Also, Stocksy is such an amazing place to be able to scroll in silence over the most beautiful photos, something that instagram once was for me but no longer is, thanks to their push for video instead.
Also due to the nature of influencer work, I often have to be in front of the camera while also seeking to achieve a specific composition to match a clear image I have in mind. I would usually have an image I wanted in my mind and would pass the camera to a friend and instruct them on exactly how I wanted the picture taken. Judging from how they’re holding the camera and what’s behind me I have sort of a 360-degree mental image of my surroundings and sometimes I can move to a precise position within the background. I think this has given me a lot of practice for predicting the resulting image while posing in front of the camera.
On your website, you list an impressive number of clients. What are some things you have learned when working with clients that you bring to your Stocksy productions, and vice versa?
My website was made back when I was geared more toward influencer work and was learning on the fly just by going out and doing it. Some brands reached out to me and I also reached out to some whose products I was using and liking. It’s hard to believe coming from an “influencer”, but I really needed to have a genuine relationship with the products I posted about. If I work with a client about a product, it’s because I have actually been outside engaging in authentic activities and genuinely enjoying the use of that item. Rarely has something been staged, so my photography is very candid and documentary, which isn’t something I realized until clients and friends pointed it out to me. These experiences have made me just keep things raw and real, and faithful to the moment. I strive to stay adaptable and to just capture what I see in the best way.
What Stocksy has taught me is to really play with angles and copyspace, and to record everything. With instagram you’re focused on just a few shots and usually in vertical perspective but with Stocksy you can really experiment with the composition. For a long time and maybe still now occasionally, I have a tendency to take a lot of shots with the same view so I keep having to remind myself to play around more with close up, wide, anonymous, etc…
It’s always great to see when artists find themselves both behind and in front of the camera. Can you tell us how your experience as a model influences your work behind the camera?
Being in front of the camera and being behind the camera are two completely different mindsets for me. People don’t believe me when I say I was deathly scared of being in front of the camera growing up but my childhood pictures are proof. I rarely smiled and sometimes had an annoyed expression on my face whenever my dad would make me stand in front of the camera. I am not sure when a button switched in my brain but now I don’t mind modeling because it’s another creative outlet as you’re using your body and face to portray a feeling, even a subtle one.
Because I have the experience of understanding how a camera can be intimidating I can empathize with those who might be nervous around one. I think it takes a bit of sensitivity for feeling the person and knowing what will make them comfortable since people react in different ways. One person might like being told exactly what to do clearly and directly while another might rebel against an authoritative tone, so it’s like a mental game and feeding off their energy.
As a model you have to be able to take direction and make your face look like you’re comfortable even if you aren’t feeling it. As a photographer, working from behind the camera, I typically like to act as a fly on the wall, capturing what I observe, but also becoming actively involved. If I see something I want then I would direct my model for the exact angle, pose, and mood I want to convey. My experience posing in front of the camera helps me understand the model’s feelings, capabilities, and limitations, and allows me to relate to them better and instruct them more effectively.
I will say though that when my eye is behind the lens I sort of black out as friends have taken videos of me behind the scenes showing that I unconsciously say random things and get into the weirdest positions that I don’t even remember doing. I also tend to be very direct or silly and I think it catches people off guard so they laugh and are unintentionally put at ease. Otherwise I have one go-to joke that has worked every time. Even if they don’t think it’s funny, they typically offer a pity laugh and it makes them feel like they can be silly if I am silly.
A follow-up question: What advice would you give to somebody working with models to make sure that everybody is having a good time?
The energy comes from you behind the camera,. From my experience teaching yoga and leading kids in nature I have learned how to just bring the vibes even if I’m not feeling up on a certain day. If I’m doubting myself sometimes, I try to explain what I’m envisioning and what I’m trying to achieve so the other person can feel it too. However, I’ve been in a situation where a subject is hating every second of it, feeling shy and awkward, but then the pictures come out okay because you can move quickly when this happens.
Do you have any goals or plans that you are excited about?
Goals and plans are not my strong suit but staying curious and continually learning about anything and everything is something I enjoy. I’ve started to learn sewing so I can fix my own clothes. Also I’m caring for two young dogs we took off the streets that were abandoned earlier this year and a husky mix that was abandoned in the neighborhood recently. Unfortunately I also had to put down my first dog I had for over 12 years and these recent experiences have made me rethink my content creator goals. As much as I don’t want to be stuck on social media, I do enjoy creating content and it pains me to see people abandon their pups due to a variety of reasons. While it’s not a solid plan I’m considering creating a Youtube channel dedicated to showing what life with a dog is really like to help people understand the immense time and energy that goes into caring for them and think twice before getting a dog only to later leave it in the streets. I don’t have much experience with video but would love to gain more knowledge.
What is your motivation/driving force to create your work?
I think I simply enjoy the act of documenting and it’s hard not to whip out my camera phone or digital/film camera in any situation.
If you could execute any idea — with no budget restraints or logistical limits — what would it be?
That’s a wonderful question to which I haven’t put any thought but the first thing that comes to mind “with no budget restraints” is riding in a helicopter and getting dropped into some faraway place that is hard to get to such as a very tall mountain peak with incredible views that not many have explored without training and pushing their physical limits. I would bring a few friends to maybe have a picnic, play card games, camp out, and watch the sunset and sunrise. I would capture photos and shout “so pretty!” as that’s my go-to exclamation for any sunset or sunrise.
Do you have any hidden talents besides creating your wonderful work?
Some say I am a “dog whisperer” and I’ve also been told that I’m “intuitive” because of my sixth sense that can read tarot cards. I’ve also been called a “dirtbag” which I take as a compliment for my ability to be resourceful with limited means living on the road and navigating life in such a way that allows me to explore nature often.
How do you ensure that your work remains enjoyable and that you don’t burn out when creating new content?
It can definitely feel like a grind at times that many don’t recognize at all unless they are creators themselves, but I remind myself how lucky I am that I turned a hobby into a paycheck, and how trapped I felt in golden handcuffs before. While the nature of freelance is less secure I’m glad I took a risk. There are pros and cons for sure but I did choose this route for myself so I have to suck it up and get things done and believe that the grind will be worth it.
What is the one bit of advice you wish you had known from the start? (maybe rephrase this as “What would you tell yourself when you were first starting out with photography?)
I have major impostor syndrome that I’m still trying to get over. I’ve taken one photography class in my life with lots of learning on youtube and from friends and truly every time I pick up my camera I feel like there’s so much to learn and so many ways I could improve. I don’t feel as much pressure on myself nowadays as I know expertise will come with time and practice. I wish I had a bit more confidence and ability to be okay with trial and error early on. Messing up is okay. Not knowing every button and setting on your camera is okay. Getting creative with what you have and not having the fanciest equipment is okay. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve posted an unedited iphone video on social media and had someone ask what equipment I was using… Patience and practice will all be worth it! Just have fun with how and what you create. Don’t feel pressure to follow trends or do what you see others doing. Do whatever you feel like. Even if the photo gets no social media engagement, it doesn’t matter because it might just end up on the homepage of Stocksy or get licensed by someone who appreciates it too 🙂 Create for yourself and don’t listen to the haters. Don’t take any one person’s advice too seriously because you can’t please everyone.
Creative blocks can happen to everybody; what works for you to get out of them?
For me this changes with the seasons of the year and even the days of the week. Ever since becoming freelance, I have tended to focus really well on Sundays while being scatterbrained on Mondays. Knowing this about myself, I try to schedule tasks in accordance with these mental oscillations. Call it spiritual or whatever but it seems to help me. I learned at an intuition workshop that there are supposedly certain days of the week that are better for certain things. Some people believe in following the moon cycle as well. Spring/Summer tend to be really productive and social. Fall/Winter are a bit more of my introverted time when I make fewer plans and focus on computer work. If I feel extra busy in the sunny months, I know I will try to get my break in the winter months. As with natural cycles, things blossom under the sun and become dormant in the darker months.
I also find that physical movement and time in the outdoors are both important to reset and recharge. I deeply believe in forest/nature therapy. Moving my body helps me get out of my head and nature inspires me in so many ways, keeping me motivated and reassuring me that things will evolve and creativity will flow again.
I also like to put myself in new places and around new people when I can, which gives me different perspectives, points of view, and mindsets, and enables me to see through my lens in a different light. In the same intuition workshop I learned about taking “a date with the universe” and setting aside time to just allow myself to do something out of the ordinary, even for just one hour in the day. Let yourself be guided to whatever else it is you feel like doing. Maybe take a drive to a place you’ve never been, sit and observe. I love people-watching and that’s why I love event photography so much.
Is there something that you can not go without while creating new work? And why is this so important?
The ability and patience to go with the flow are essential. Many things can go wrong and you cannot let yourself be frustrated and give up on a shoot. I can prepare, research, and plan for hours but a lot of my imagery is in the outdoors where weather can go from sunny to hailing in an instant. People can get lost in places with no cellphone reception. The sunset might not be as colorful when compared to the day before. Your model may have had a breakup the night before. The heat might melt the ice faster than you wanted. The wind may get in the way of the model’s hair. In the end it just comes down to making the most of what you have while having fun.
Do you have any advice for contributors just starting out at Stocksy?
Just upload it! Image Manager was scary and daunting at first and for a while I was wondering what in the world I was supposed to upload. I’m pleasantly surprised with what sells because I do feel a bit like the expression “Throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks.” Each sale inspires me to keep uploading. There have been occasions when I captured an image for my own reference or fond memory thinking that it wouldn’t get any social media engagement, only to be ecstatic when it got curated or licensed, indicating that another human does appreciate it. In addition, I wish I had taken the time to read the forums early on for the crucial information presented. So, devote a morning over some coffee or tea to browse this valuable database.
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