I had arrived at Highland Park in Rochester and waited in my car. As I was waiting to meet up with Cassi, I glanced at all the amazing flowering blossoms around me. All the lilac trees were overwhelming beautiful and made you feel like you were in heaven.
I was kind of nervous to do a follow-up photoshoot with my wedding photographer, but I was excited to see her again. I got out of the car to take a selfie, and as I did she also got out of her car. Cassi VanBuskirk was ready for action. She carried her cameras and lenses around her with a brown leather harness, which made me think “this woman knows what she’s doing.”
As we hugged, she flashed a huge smile and radiated a chill vibe. Cassi has this uncanny ability to make you feel relaxed and feel like you’ve been best friends forever.
Cassi looked amazing. As a full-time business woman, mother and wife, Cassi’s job never stops. But she loves it. To backtrack a little, Cassi graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Photography in 2012. She then started her photography business Creative Touch Design & Photography part-time.
“I photographed my friends all the time and also brought my camera everywhere with me and people would tell me all the time I should be taking photos full-time,” Cassi said. “After being stuck in two horrible dead-end jobs, I worked part-time to build my business and finally in 2016 I took the leap to run my business full-time.”
The leap of faith is paying off, as Cassi ends up booking wedding shoots for the whole season in advance and recently snagged a cover on the local Brides & Grooms magazine. “Creating portraits are my favorites,” Cassi said. “Whether it be during a wedding, engagement or family event.”
The year she started her business full-time she also married the love of her life, Greg. “We actually met in high school and we worked together in a restaurant but we didn’t start actually dating until my second year at RIT,” Cassi said. Out of their love a baby boy was born last year, lovingly called Liam.
As a wife and a mother, she said balancing work and home life is her toughest struggle. “I try and set days during the week and weekend to just be with my husband and baby without doing any sort of work,” Cassi said. “In the off season I really soak up the snuggles though.”
“I’ve always battled severe anxiety, and after having my son I found it to be worse,” Cassi said. “Stress doesn’t do anything to better a situation or a feeling towards something. So I always try and think of something that makes me happier in that moment.”
Spending time with family is very important to Cassi and makes her happy—so she is setting up her new comfy nest in Livonia. “Currently I’m passionate about renovating my home,” Cassi said. “We bought it this past October and have been working on it here and there to make it our own.”
This inspiring woman is full of passion and determination to grow and make things work. She left me with this important piece of advice. “Always keep shooting. No matter how tired or unmotivated you are,” Cassi said. “For me it’s when I find to be the most creative.”
I think that says it all. The girl with the creative touch is going places.
1. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?
Coffee!!!
2. What's your favorite thing to wear?
Being totally honest.... my favorite pair of sweatpants :)
3. If you could pick one word to describe yourself it would be...
Driven.
4. What's one beauty product you cannot live without?
I’m not really one to give beauty advice but I will say I love a good mascara
and I never leave the house without putting some on!
5. Everyday is better with...
Family (or coffee ;))