@Valerie Hail 💞 Today, I have the honor of celebrating someone who has believed in me from the very beginning... Valerie Hail! 🎉✨ Valerie, thank you for your unwavering encouragement, your friendship, and your generosity. You didn't just support me with kind words—you featured Photography by Cristal on your podcast and shared my work on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Your belief in my vision has meant more than I can ever express. It's funny to think we were both in New Mexico for so many years, and somehow never crossed paths while I was living in Las Cruces. I'm so grateful that Skool brought us together instead. 💛 As a small thank-you for all you've done, I'd love to gift you a complimentary Hollywood-Level Remote Headshot Session. 📸 It would be my honor to photograph you and create portraits that reflect the incredible person you are. Thank you for being an amazing friend, an incredible supporter, and such an important part of this community. Everyone, please help me congratulate our All-Time Leaderboard Champion, Valerie Hail! 👏💛✨

Everyone, help me give a huge welcome to Rositsa "Ro" Aleksandrova! 🥳💃 I am so excited to see Ro here today! This is definitely something worth celebrating! 🎉 Ro has an incredible energy that inspires creativity, joy, and connection. She reminds us that life is meant to be lived boldly, surrounded by amazing people who encourage one another to dream bigger and have fun along the way. I'm looking forward to seeing all the great things you'll continue to create and the positive impact you'll have on this community. Welcome, Ro! I'm so happy you're here, and I can't wait to see where this journey takes you. Let's keep building amazing lives together! 💚🚀✨ Everyone, give Ro a warm welcome in the comments! 🎊💜

1 Hour left!!! Voting closes Thursday at 11:59 PM EDT, and then we'll gather to celebrate the amazing creators and communities who participated in this Community Signature Battle. Saturday, June 27 Link to the calendar event (check you time zone translation) 💚 EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED IS A WINNER 💚 Join us for: 🏆 Winners Announced 🌟 Special Awards 🎉 Community Recognition 📣 Special Announcements 🚀 Future Events 🎁 Surprise Reveals 🏆 What's Next Haven't cast your vote yet? There's still time! Be sure to get your vote in before voting closes on Thursday. 🙌 💚 Shoutout to all our creators and organizers! ❗❗ @David R , @Fatima Teixeira , @Zor Zen Den , @Rositsa Aleksandrova , @Chanie Twersky , @James Humecky , @Cristal Vancarson , @Val Vosburg , @Ossie Osmond , @Pamela Lynch , @Karin Crawford ❗❗ We can't wait to celebrate with all of you! 💚🏆 ______________________

If I had to describe my dad's influence on me in one word, it would be: everything. When I was 12 years old, he gave me a choice. I could have an Alva skateboard or a professional portfolio. Both cost $500. I chose the portfolio. That one decision changed my life forever. I never paid for photos again. By age 12, I was already getting paid to model for a mannequin company in New York. Yes, they actually made a mannequin of me! Looking back, that was the beginning of an incredible journey. My dad's own story was extraordinary. He was born in India and later moved back to the UK with his family. He often talked about how magical life in India had been, surrounded by family, nannies, and cooks. But life changed dramatically after that, and he experienced tremendous loss and hardship, including losing his father at only 57 years old. He was then raised by his mum and gran in the UK. He came to Hollywood in 1965 and spent years in the music industry. Our home had more than 2,000 albums on the shelves. Music was everywhere, and creativity filled every corner of our lives. It inspired me deeply. The man who raised me taught me to dream big, take chances, and believe that creativity could open doors. My biological father also left an incredible legacy. He passed away in Maui, Hawaii, in 2012. He was an exceptional photographer and graphic artist who was truly ahead of his time. He created the cover for Omni Magazine in 1984 and inspired me with his artistry and imagination. Looking back, I realize I inherited a love of creativity, storytelling, and visual art from both fathers in different ways. That $500 portfolio wasn't just an investment in pictures. It was an investment in my future. Happy Father's Day to the men who helped shape the person and artist I became. 💙 He took me to see my favorite band when I was 12 - Donny & Marie

I am so excited to announce my first VIP client, @Mary Nunaley owner of the Connect Through Play Community! 💛 Mary is not only an incredible community owner but also a future collaborator. I'll be joining her community for a LIVE Portrait Session with her members, and I couldn't be more thrilled. This is exactly what I envisioned for Photography by Cristal—bringing Hollywood-level portrait experiences directly into communities and helping people feel confident, seen, and celebrated through beautiful images. And the excitement doesn't stop there! I am also looking forward to photographing Mary's daughter and her family soon. Capturing these special moments and connections is truly why I love what I do. 📸✨ Mary, thank you for believing in my vision and helping make these dreams a reality. Your support means the world to me. 💛 Here's to new friendships, collaborations, and many beautiful portraits ahead! ✨