31. “Focus” is a hearth, not a spotlight (with Christina Jones)
Today I’m joined by the incredible Christina Jones—brand photographer, creative coach, and (fun fact) the first guest I’ve ever met in real life! Christina did my most recent brand shoot, and let me tell you… it was an unexpectedly emotional experience. There’s something deeply vulnerable about being the focus of the lens, and Christina held that space so beautifully.
In this episode, we unpack the word focus—in parenting, photography, business, and life—and how it can mean everything from presence to pressure to play. Plus, we get delightfully off-topic in the best way: Jenga, barre class, Instacart, and family dance parties all make an appearance.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover…
what a fireplace, a camera lens, and your to-do list might all have in common
how the word focus shifted from warmth and gathering to clarity and command
why Christina thinks Jenga might be the ultimate metaphor for intentional attention
how over-focusing can make your whole life shrink down to the size of your laptop screen
the quiet magic of choosing what you focus on—and what gets to blur in the background
-
These transcripts are AI-Generated. Please excuse any errors. :)
===
[00:00:00]
Nicole: Hi, and welcome to another episode of It's All Poetry. , today we are going to talk about the word focus, , which if you stop to think about is like incredibly layered. We use it in lots of different ways, and we're going to talk about the word with my guest today, Christina Jones. And Christina, as we were just talking about before I hit record, is.
The first guest I have ever had on that I've met in person. , she is a brand photographer in the Tampa Bay area and actually did my most recent brand photo shoot, uh, last summer, which was a super emotional experience for me and Christina was able to hold such wonderful space. , it's hard to be in front of the lens, the focus of the lens.
, but thank you Christina for helping me through that and for being here today. And is there anything else you would like people to know about you before. We get started.
Christina: Well, thank you Nicole for having me. I so. Appreciate you reaching out, [00:01:00] and I'm super excited to talk and you did amazing during your shoot, and I love that emotion that we feel when we're out of our comfort zone, so I appreciate you not hiding from that and, and leaning into that for, for a little bit because.
We need that, we need, we can't hold those emotions in. . But, , hi everyone, my name is Christina Jones, uh, Florida based brand photographer here in the Tampa Bay area. And I do travel. I am a wife and mom of two little munchkins. , Olivia is eight and Solomon is 13. I'm very proud to be a mom and a wife and I just love being creative.
I love connecting with other women who are ambitious and but also want to embrace the slow life and really taking. That time, , [00:02:00] to invest in their self care. So I'm really excited to work with more women in that space, but I do support, , women entrepreneurs in the creative online business, all the things space.
, so super excited. And I do also coach other photographers. Um, so I'm really excited to lean more into that this year. So that's just a little bit more about me.
Nicole: Amazing. That's right. I forgot you do that. That must be so fun and like add a whole nother like layer to what you do.
Christina: It does.
Nicole: Yeah, and you often you do these, it looks like days where you'll invite multiple people to one spot. Right. , I always get so much fomo, seeing it on
Christina: Aw.
Nicole: Instagram a little too far away, or I drive up for one of those, but it looks like so much fun, like you bring together like really amazing people.
Christina: Thank you. Yes. I would love for you to come up sometime. But yeah, it's a super fun experience. It's fast paced, but it's really fun to just see who shows up or who, um, [00:03:00] books and then how they kind of show up. So yeah, I love those.
Nicole: Thank you. , okay, so. Let's start, I know focus has a pretty like photography, photographic, photographic angle. I'm not sure how to say that. Focus has a photographic angle. Um, but when you hear the word focus, what is the first thing that comes to mind for you? I.
Christina: Oh wow. Yeah, so I think the first thing that comes to mind is. S keeping your eyes on what's in front of you. And I think, , when I think of focus, I also think of having vision, even though vision can be a broader, spectrum, , for lack of a better term, , because you're looking like beyond what you see.
But what I also love about the word focus is that. It really, it shows that you're like honed in on something specific. So for me it means a lot of things because I'm a photographer, but also in like, [00:04:00] because we juggle so many things, especially if we have a significant other, we have children, it, it can be a lot of our time can be dibbling and dabbling in multiple things.
And so I love having that time and that space to focus on. One thing specifically, like for me as a mom, especially having more than one child, I do try to. Be intentional with spending individual time so that they don't feel like my love or my attention is kind of scattered over. , but really taking that time to, , just be with them and get to know them and ask them questions and, , like my daughter loves to just.
S get in the bed and snuggle with me and we'll like watch movies and eat lollipops. And so I really enjoy that time that I get to spend with them individually. I don't get to do it a lot, but , when I do, it's really, really [00:05:00] special. So that just came to mind. , that time with my kids and focusing on them is really important to me.
Nicole: Yeah. Yeah. I think the word focus has such like a connotation for like what our life is focused on, you know, like where. Do you focus and can you balance that focus across different areas of your life? Which, you know, as an entrepreneur, , you know, like focus sometimes has to shift. It's like you're taking a camera and moving it from one thing to the other, and finding that balance of focus between work and family, , can be so hard.
Christina: It's definitely not easy, and especially as entrepreneurs as well, like making sure that we're also putting the time that we need to into our businesses, or if we're serving clients, like making sure that they feel, , you know, that we're spending that necessary time with them as well. . But yeah, it, it's not easy for sure.
Nicole: Yeah. Um, okay. I'm gonna ask you, it might [00:06:00] sound like a dumb question, but the word focus in photography, like, what does that mean? Is it just like blurriness and non blurriness, or is there more to it?
Christina: Um, I think there is more to it, but I think blurriness and not blurriness also like. , cropping in, so like cropping into a certain area. Like one of my favorite things is to shoot really wide and then when I'm editing, choose what I'm gonna crop in and focus on. , and I always like to surprise my clients with just different perspectives of, of an image. So for me a lot of it is like that sort of wide view and then kind of cropping into something specific in, in an image or a detail, something like that. But it can be both.
Nicole: Yeah, no, I remember being surprised by a lot of the images you sent me. I think my favorite was one where I'm like kinda looking to the side and have a card up and we were, we were probably chatting on the side and it was so, , cool to see. I think the [00:07:00] image focused more on an object with, I felt like my face was the background, but I loved it.
It felt different, is what I'm
Christina: Ah, awesome. Yes. I absolutely love the images we created together. It was really like just calming, but also you had like really warm, like vibrant colors, so it felt like a warm autumn day
Nicole: Mm-hmm. Yeah. In the middle of a Florida summer.
Christina: in the middle of Florida summer. Exactly.
Nicole: , what do you think is your earliest memory of the word focus?
Christina: Earliest memory? Hmm, that's a good question. I think being in school, like, you know, in grade school, like going from being in like a daycare or like being at home and just having the freedom to just do whatever you wanna do. And then making that transition to like, okay, you have to sit in a chair and you have to listen to the teacher and you have to raise your hand if you wanna talk, and you can't talk to your, you know, [00:08:00] classmate until you're allowed to.
So learning , the skill of focusing on, you know, the school, the lesson at hand or whatever the task or assignment is.
Nicole: , same. I think similar. Like my first memory, it feels like focus is a command, my earliest memory. Like focus on your work.
Christina: Mm-hmm.
Nicole: and there's something about it that it feels, yeah, like a command, like. Almost a bit negative. It's funny 'cause when we're talking about the word focus, when we think about our work or family, it feels like important.
Like I'll often put on a playlist when I'm working that's focus music, you know, it's like instrumental. , but focus as a child feels like don't play focus.
Christina: Right, right. And I do have to be careful about that too, even with my kids, because sometimes I can be like, you know, get, I mean, because they're in school, of course, I want them to focus on getting their assignments done or studying or, you know, doing things that are important but [00:09:00] also. Having space to play and, you know, fo , not focus, but do things that they're passionate about.
. And also like if I'm telling them to do something, I want them to focus on me. Like, Hey, I know you're playing, you know, a game on your phone or on the iPad or something, but I want you to go take out the trash or clean your room. So focus on what I'm saying right now and get done what I need to get done, need you to get done.
, so I think it does come into play in, in many different ways, but I to be a child again.
Nicole: I know. Yeah. Do you think focus and play can go together?
Christina: I do, I think, yes. I think that's , something to think about because , I guess when you think of play, it should be more free flowing, but I think it depends on what you're doing, right? So like this, now this is gonna age me or date me, but I think about the game Jenga. Have you ever played that?
So [00:10:00] when you're like trying to pull the block out and like make sure it's not, you know, the tower doesn't fall and you're like, okay, I've gotta get this. So it's like, it's a game, but you're also, you have to be really intentional about what you're doing. So I think that's a good example of like doing both.
Nicole: Yeah, I love that example. Wow, that was perfect. Amazing. Yeah. And it's funny 'cause like you do think of play as often, preparation, right? So it's like practice, like play playing. Jenga is practicing focus.
Christina: Yeah,
Nicole: of like lion Cubs practice fighting, you know? Not that our work is fighting sometimes, I guess.
Christina: I was gonna say, so depends on what it.
Nicole: Oh, okay. All right. Well, what I, part of what I love to do on this podcast is look at the definitions both today and the 1828 definitions from Noah Webster's dictionary, and then the etymology, the deeper etymology, and see how that changes the way we view [00:11:00] the word. So let's go ahead and do that now.
. Okay, so according to Merriam Webster, today, modern focus means a center of activity or attention, or a state of clear perception or understanding. And of course, in photography refers to the sharpness of the image. So does that like match how you think of the word focus?
Christina: Yeah. Yeah, I think so.
Nicole: Yeah, a center of attention or activity. I mean, that's basically what we were saying, right? Like where we focus, where we focus our attention. , and a state of clear perception or understanding, we haven't talked about that so much. Like if something is in focus, like adding that in to it means like it's clear, right?
Like we understand it Well, it's in focus and I know that feels very specific to photography, but I think we use it colloquially as well.
Christina: Yeah.
Nicole: , okay, so that feels like a straightforward definition. Okay. 1828. Noah [00:12:00] Webster's 1828 dictionary defined it as a central point and also as a place where rays of light meet after being reflected or refracted. . So what stands out to me here, and I'm curious your thoughts as well, but the idea of like a convergence, , because the way I normally think about focus is like a separating, right?
Like a bringing one thing into focus and kind of ignoring everything else around it. But this a place where a rays of light meat after being reflected or refracted feels like it's also a place where. All these things kind of meet and come together.
Christina: Yeah. Yeah. I love that. , when you were saying that I was thinking of aperture, which is essentially what you're saying is like that. I love those images where like. An object is like really, really sharp and everything else in the background is super blurred out and you almost can't make out what is in the background.
So it's almost like [00:13:00] you're like silencing the noise around it, if that makes sense. , but I love what you said about like light. Coming, you know, different aspects of light. So like for me, I use, , lighting in so many different ways, and I'm even learning how to use different forms of light. I, when I first started doing photography.
, I was only focusing on natural light, and I love, absolutely love to see like sunlight coming through a space and like, you know, hitting the clients or the subject's skin or just seeing the beauty of sunlight through my lens. But then I also had to learn like, not every space is gonna have that, and so I had to start learning how to use artificial light.
So. Even though I still incorporate a lot of natural light in my work, a lot of it now is bringing in, you know, like a speed light or flash or like, I think for your [00:14:00] shoot, I brought a,, soft box light and so, but it, it still felt like warm, natural lighting. So I think just seeing it come together and just creating imagery through those different forms of lighting.
It's just, it's a beautiful thing, especially when you get comfortable with it. 'cause it's not easy to learn. , and also I love to see the sharpness that using different forms of light creates,, and just adding more depth, more dimension, more like. Interest to the images.
Nicole: Yeah, I remember whatever you had, soft box. It was really big.
Christina: Yes.
Nicole: Uh.
Christina: It can be a little intimidating sometimes, but , I just, now that I know how to use it, it just, I love using it even more sometimes than natural sunlight, especially like indoors. Um, depending on where it is. Yeah.
Nicole: Yeah. Well, I love that you're talking about light. Because [00:15:00] it, for lots of reasons, but mostly because here's what surprised me most in my research on the word focus. So the word focus originally meant hearth, like a fireplace. That's the etymology. It's like the center of a home. So it's literally the place where like light and warmth come from and where people gathered.
Christina: Interesting.
Nicole: Yeah. , and the shift like from fireplace to concentration is interesting because in ancient Rome, right, 'cause it comes from Latin. , the hearth wasn't only where you cooked, right? It's where, , there the warmth was coming from. It's where, , connection happened within the home where people gathered.
, and to me that like. I don't know. Let me, let me pose the question to you. Like how does that feel similar to the way we use it today and how does it feel different?
Christina: Well, I can say definitely living in Florida, you will not see a lot of fireplaces.
Nicole: Yeah. We have a fake one in our house. It has like a, [00:16:00] like a battery and I think it's just light. It lights up. It lights up, so you can think, it looks like a fireplace, but there's no heat coming from it.
Christina: I love that. I, I'm like, especially even though we only get a couple of weeks of, of winter, like I wish we had that, I know you have like your living room space where it is supposed to be more of that, you know, area for connection. But I'm like, I wish we had a center in my home, at least a, a center place where we can.
Feel that connection more, you know, I think, , that's definitely missing.
Nicole: Yeah, but , I think as we talk about this word, the thing that keeps coming back to me is the contrast of like division and convergence
because the word starts showing up in scientific writing in the 16 hundreds in astronomy. So it was used to describe, which we kind of talked about in the 1828 definition too, but where the rays of light meet. So , it feels like [00:17:00] geometrical.
Christina: Hmm.
Nicole: , okay. So it seems like what started as something like physical, communal, a literal fire, it became something like mental and individual, like a point of attention. So do you think, I guess that that begs the question. If focus today is a bit more individual or isolating than it used to be.
Christina: Oh yeah, for sure. I mean, unfortunately, but I think especially with so many things being online and you not really needing, not, I won't say needing that one-to-one interaction or interaction with a, a group, but , it's definitely made it easier to be more isolated and. I know for me this year my focus is to be out like out more and connect with people in person and even attend in person events and things like that.
'cause I think a lot of that is lost, especially because we're so busy doing so many different things. It's easy to [00:18:00] stay at home and not even leave the house for a week. , and I know for me. It makes it more challenging because a lot of the work I do is in person, you know, , working with people, feeding off of their energy and things like that.
So I think it's so important to make time and be more intentional about getting out there and not necessarily like, oh, I have to go to a networking event, but like, instead of ordering your groceries online, go in the grocery store and just, you know, like those little things that. We take for granted sometimes, you know, and not having that interaction with, with people, you know, like in person.
, and just kind of staying in our comfort zone. , of course we can have interactions like what we're, what we're doing now, but just like, I don't know, it's just something different about , feeling someone's energy, like when they're right in front of you. It's, it's really special. So hopefully more people [00:19:00] are.
Focusing on that
Nicole: Yeah. Yeah. And you can focus on anything.
Christina: Yeah.
Nicole: My brain is the focus feels like a work thing. Like it feels like something I should be doing only in my work. Um, that's the first thing that comes to mind when I think the word focus is like. Work, but, but you can choose what you focus on.
It doesn't have to be work. I hate going to the grocery store.
Christina: I was gonna say, even though I said that I'm definitely not a fan of grocery shopping in person. That's why I was like, maybe I'll just do a little, just to pick up a couple of things and then, and then leave
Nicole: yeah, yeah. I love Instacart. Yeah. Yeah.
Christina: You're like not doing that one.
Nicole: But that said, I have been more focused on community this year as well. I, I mean, it makes sense. We're all probably craving it a bit at this point, you know? , and I've been, I've just, for me, I found it in going, I started doing bar classes, which I've never been someone that's been able to stick with [00:20:00] exercise in my life.
But like this one bar community is amazing. So, you know what? I think I'm able to focus on it because. I know that the teacher would text me if I didn't show up.
Christina: come on, we need you. I love that. So you really like bar? I've been wanting to try it. I'm, I'm really into Pilates right now, but I'm like, I feel like I wanna mix it up here and there.
Nicole: I like that. It feel, 'cause I love dancing and so I like that bar. Kind of feels like dancing a little bit. It's like Pilates and ballet.
Christina: I love it. Did you do, did you dance growing up?
Nicole: No. Oh my gosh. This is, yeah, this is tangent. But I was actually, , terrified of dancing until I was like 28 years old. Yeah. Wouldn't, couldn't even wiggle my toe. I was so afraid. I mean, this kind of goes back to me being afraid to be on camera, right? Like afraid to be the focus of, at other people's attention.
, like I was just so afraid of like the spotlight being on me. I didn't wanna move, but then one day I was like, you know what? [00:21:00] This is like a primal thing. I need to do it, and I just kind of made myself get over it. It was, yeah,
Christina: I bet you're really good at it.
Nicole: thank you. I don't know if that's true at all, but I do enjoy it and I don't hesitate anymore.
I dance like a fool. Yeah. But, but yeah, that community, I mean, dancing is another place where that community, like I, I'm not a huge nightclub person, never have been. But I love being a, in a big group of people dancing.
Christina: Oh yeah, for sure. I'm not a nightclub person anymore. I definitely have my fair share in college. But, , IL like we have dance parties at, at my house all the time. My husband, he is like, he, he won't as much unless we're like really like. Get up and dance with us, but he, he'll just sit there and just shake his head and laugh.
But we love playing music. We always have music playing. , and just do like little dance parties at the house. , and yeah, I, I [00:22:00] love that, just that freedom to, you know, just be in a space and connecting with people, not even necessarily saying anything, just like through movement, having that communication and that connection.
So. I am like, let me, I think we should plan a little dance party after school today.
Nicole: You absolutely should. I love that your kids love dancing
Christina: Oh yes. Especially my daughter. She, it's so funny because I'll see her like she'll, because her room is like right across the hall from, from ours, and so I'll hear like her little karaoke machine, she'll connect her iPad to her karaoke machine and she'll just like dance around her room and . It brings back so many memories, because I used to do that all the time growing up.
So just seeing her do that, I'm like, oh my gosh. It's so, it is just so funny to see those little like. I don't know what you call it, but it's almost like you're reliving your childhood [00:23:00] through your, through your children. And, , so yes, they love it. Or like if we're riding in the car, especially on the way to school, they're like, can you put some music on?
So, and I play a little bit of everything. Like they have a, and I grew up, my dad is a musician, so I grew up hearing music all the time. And he would play so many different genres of music. So I'm kind of carrying that on with them. But yes, we are always playing music, always moving, always dancing.
And it's good for the soul. Like, I know that sounds cliche, but it's definitely, a healing thing. That's why I try to get my husband to do it. 'cause I know he's like. It's always working and you know, thinking about the next thing and I'm like, just move, like get that movement in. It doesn't have to be necessarily be exercise, it's just, it helps to kind of heal those, you know, especially during those like stressful moments or when you are so [00:24:00] focused on something that it's like almost like hyper-focused that you can just kind of let go a little bit and just have that, .
Freedom in that space, even just for a few minutes, you know?
Nicole: Yeah, I do think that finally being willing to dance changed my life. I think it changed me as a person in a very positive way. Very
Christina: I love that.
Nicole: Yeah. And it's so, it's it. It seems like we're going on a tangent and we need to focus, but actually I think I could tie this all together, , because when you're focused, especially computer work, which I know like a lot of your work is in person with the shoots.
Right. But I'm sure, actually this is a good question. Like how much time do you spend at a computer editing versus in person shooting?
Christina: Oh yeah, more. There's definitely more time at the computer than being in person. I think the being in person, it takes more out of me though, because . I'm definitely out of my comfort zone. I am most certainly introverted, so I have to, you know, play up my personality more, [00:25:00] um, during a shoot.
But yeah, as far as like physical time, like actual time, yes, for sure. , and not even just for editing, like admin work, you know, onboarding clients, marketing, like all of those things, , take up a lot of time.
Nicole: Hmm. Yeah. Um, all stuff you teach when you mentor photographers.
Christina: Yes.
Nicole: Yeah. Uh, but yeah, I don't know if you ever feel like this. 'cause a lot of my work is at the computer, most of it, right? It's writing. I I do a lot of like zoom meetings. , I only have one client that I. No in person. So like a lot of my work is online and sometimes I feel like I get this like tunnel vision that is the size of my computer screen and my life only feels like as big as my monitor.
Does that ever, does that ever happen to you?
Christina: Yes.
Nicole: Okay.
Christina: Or I'd say multiple monitors, but yes,
Nicole: Yeah. And that feels like. [00:26:00] Over focus. Like too much focus, like my brain is too much on this thing right in front of me and it's like forgetting like, oh, maybe you should go get some sunshine.
Christina: right, or go to the bathroom or drink some water.
Nicole: Take care of your basic bodily needs.
Nicole. Yeah.
Christina: Yes. I have to say, like especially when you're in that, like whether it's brainstorming or creating for a client or you know, meeting a deadline, it's so easy to forget what time it is and that you haven't gotten up to move around. , so yes, I can definitely relate to that.
Nicole: Yeah. , is focusing something that comes easy to you or is it hard? Do you have to try? I.
Christina: It is definitely something I have to be intentional about. , I love coming up with new ideas and new ways to do things, and sometimes that's good and sometimes it's like no focus on getting the task done, especially editing because. It is,, I won't say I don't [00:27:00] enjoy it, but it can be mundane a lot of times.
So I need some stimulation. So a lot of times I'll like have a show playing or music playing or, . You know, whatever, like, listening to a podcast or, you know, something like that just to keep me focused on getting done what I need to get done. , I'm also learning to not like, keep my phone next to me because it's very easy to like, get on social media or text someone or I don't know, do something else.
That is not important, right in that moment in getting certain things done. So. Yes, it's, it's definitely not easy, especially in those areas where I don't necessarily love it. I know it's important, I know it's necessary, but it's not like what I most enjoy. What I most enjoy is like I. Meeting with a client doing the photo shoot, like if I could hand off the editing, [00:28:00] I would a hundred percent do it.
I'm a little bit of a control freak in that I like to still like have my hands in the editing, but one day, one day,
Nicole: Yeah, that sounds great. Yeah. Or at least like share the weight of it so you're not like super stuck at the computer. I love that for you.. Uh, I'm curious what, I don't know if you could guess, like what your father's opinion on focusing is. You said he's a musician and that seems, it seems like focusing is important for music.
Christina: Yes. And he's a Virgo, so.
Nicole: gosh. So he can
Christina: That tells you everything you need to know. So yes, he, the perfectionism, all of those things definitely come into play. So I think for him it definitely does. And I, , it's funny because I was laughing with my mom about this 'cause she was like, 'cause he has a home studio and so,, he would, you know, if he was working on a project with someone, he would play music over and over and over again.
And I remember when we [00:29:00] were growing up. We would hear songs playing over and over. 'cause he is trying to, you know, get certain things perfect. And um, so we were laughing about that. He is like, she's like, he's been working on this project for the last like six months. I'm just, I'll just be so glad when he's finally done.
Nicole: she's like tired of
Christina: can like focus so much where it's like. We can't, we literally can't think about anything else or do anything else. So I think finding that balance, especially for folks who it's easier for them to do it. Yeah, it's, it's, I think that's important is trying to find that balance, like done is better than perfect in most cases.
Nicole: Yeah. And I think , what we're circling here is the human brain is, is is always like trying to find balance. I think of everything including focus. , have you ever had a moment in life where you, like you're focus shifted dramatically, like you're focused on something and then you're like, ah, [00:30:00] I shouldn't be focused on that.
I should be focused on something else. And you shifted where you were focusing.
Christina: . I think definitely like starting my business was a focus shift because I.
Nicole: Hmm.
Christina: I, and I tell this story all the time. I didn't grow up wanting to be a photographer. I didn't even go to school for it. And so when I discovered it, , and fell in love with it, it was like, oh, I just, I just wanna do this all the time.
I, I can't stop. Right. And so, but I was working, , a full-time job at the time. And never even thought of , turning it into a business. But when I decided that this is what I wanna do with the rest of my career, it was not just a mindset shift in like, I'm doing this as a job and now I want to start a business.
But like, it's a completely [00:31:00] different space from like. So it was like an executive assistant for an accounting firm, which sounds so funny 'cause I would've never chosen that. Yes. So different. And then moving into a more creative space. But it's also not like the creative side of what I do is much smaller than like the business side and actually keeping the business going.
, and I was working from home, so it wasn't a big adjustment in that, okay, I am used to going into an office now I kind of have to make my own schedule. But just making that adjustment to like, oh my gosh, I just have this business now. I wanna do it full time. I want to, you know, quit this job and, and, , move forward into what I'm doing now.
So I think that's like the biggest. Pivotal moment where it was a big shift in focus because for a while, for probably about six to eight months, I was doing both. And I'm like, there's no way, like there's [00:32:00] just no way that this is sustainable. , especially with my, you know, my personal life. It just, it just didn't work.
And even just trying to like. Discovering the brand photography side, because when I first started I'm like, well, maybe I wanna do family photography, or maybe I wanna do weddings, or maybe I wanna do headshots and corporate, you know, corporate things. And so just even discovering that I wanted to focus specifically on brand photography was a shift as well.
But I think the biggest one was just deciding that I'm not going to work this job and now only focus on my business.
Nicole: Yeah. Wow. Yeah. That having both of those things happening at the same time must have been such a split focus. Okay, I'm gonna ask you some. Just like off the cuff questions.
Christina: Okay,
Nicole: okay. Um, if the word focus were a color, what color would it be and
Christina: Whoa. I don't know why, but purple.
Nicole: Ooh, [00:33:00] okay.
Christina: I don't know why I have no literally no explanation for this. That just, that just popped into my mind when you said it.
Nicole: Ooh, I, okay. I love that it popped into your mind like so quickly. That makes it me feel like, yes, that is the color we're focus. Like we have just got a channeled answer. , oh, let me see if I can like make sense of it though. I mean, I, purple is like not just one color, it's like the convergence of red and blue, right?
I'm, yeah. I'm getting my color theory right, right. Yes. Okay. Yes. It's a convergence so that it kind of brings us back to hearth. Um. Yeah, it does feel very like inviting. It's a very inviting color. . Yeah. I love it. That's perfect. Um, okay. If the word focus had a voice, what do you think that voice sounds like?
Christina: uh. Calm but assured.
Nicole: Yeah. Yeah. Definitely not like chaotic.
Christina: Yeah. Not loud.
Nicole: Yeah. [00:34:00] Yeah, like the focus playlists I like are usually instrumental or calming or, yeah. Like meant to be background so that you can focus on the thing in front of you.
Christina: Yeah. Yeah. That makes
Nicole: Yeah. I love that you said that. I feel like it'd be easy to say like focus is a scream because it wants you to pay attention to it, but.
Christina: for me, and maybe it's just a personality thing for me, like noise in that way would make me kind of shut down and not focus on what I, what I needed to be more focused on the noise, if that makes sense.
Nicole: Yeah. It's like the shouting is the distraction trying to get you out of the focus. Yeah. You have to listen for the calm voice and focus on that.
Christina: Right. Yeah, that's true.
Nicole: Um, okay. Final question. ? Do you feel differently about the word focus now than you did when we first started talking?
Christina: Yes, for sure. I, I've never gone in depth about it like this before, so this was [00:35:00] very inspiring. It was fun just to, I. Just to learn and hear all the different perspectives on what focus means to, to each of us, and even where we find, um, commonalities. So this was a really great conversation.
Nicole: Yeah. Well I absolutely love that you came on, Christina. It was so fun to chat again too. 'cause we haven't seen each other in months.
Christina: I know. I so appreciate you again for, for having me and just inviting me into this conversation, into your space. I'm really excited to hear more of your episodes too. This was really cool.
Nicole: Thank you. Well, the next one I'm recording is dance. So that is very coincidental since we did talk about dance a little bit.
Christina: Ooh. Okay.
Nicole: Oh. Um, but for those listening, if they wanna learn more about you, Christina, they wanna find your work, where should they go?
Christina: , you can find me on Instagram at Christina Jones [00:36:00] Studio. My website is Christina Jones studio.com and yeah, I would love to connect.
Nicole: Great. I will add all those links to the show notes as well. , and yeah, thank you again, Christina. This was amazing.
Christina: Thanks again. I.
Ways to Connect with Christina:
Christina’s brand photography and mentoring: christinajonesphoto.com
Come say hi to her on Instagram: @christinajonesstudio
focus (n)
1640s, "point of convergence,"
from Latin focus "hearth, fireplace" (also, figuratively, "home, family"), which is of unknown origin.
Used in post-classical times for "fire" itself;
taken by Kepler (1604) in a mathematical sense for "point of convergence," perhaps on analogy of the burning point of a lens (the purely optical sense of the word may have existed before Kepler, but it is not recorded).
Introduced into English 1650s by Hobbes. Sense transfer to "center of activity or energy" is first recorded 1796.
