For Granbury native Callie Hickman, photography began as precious time spent with her son, Liam, when he was still an infant.
"I don't love traditional infant photography," she admits. "The stress involved with it, especially on the mother, and getting the baby in the right position is a lot."
Callie prefers a natural, candid photo, saying, "It's the raw moments that mean motherhood to me."
So, she bought a camera and started taking pictures of Liam.
"People were like, 'Oh, these are actually really good!'" she laughs.
The encouragement helped Callie see her hobby as a legitimate opportunity, and she offered free shoots for friends and family to hone her skills before launching Callie Hickman Photography two years later.
"Granbury is small, and I had a really supportive network in that area," she explains. So, when she and her son relocated to Fort Worth to be close to her husband Christopher's family, it was the biggest test of her skills.
"It took me a second to grow a new customer base here, but things have taken off."
Callie credits her popularity to a broad style.
"My photography is kind of moody," she says. "But I'll create a concept based on what the client likes."
After seven years in the industry, Callie has never been happier, teasing an upcoming business expansion thanks to her success.
"I hope to open a venue in the next 3-5 years," she reveals. "Texas needs a new wedding space and I have some ideas. I would be on site for photography and test my skills with event coordination."
Callie is willing to wait for the right opportunity since it's always found her before. Until then, photography remains more than a profession—it's a way to tell stories and preserve life's fleeting moments, capturing the beauty of every day with care and creativity.