Meet Cristha Edwards: Media Consultant & Videographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cristha Edwards and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cristha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my own business when the pandemic happened in March of 2020. At the time, I was a graduate student at Candler School of Theology and working part-time on campus. Before that, I held various administration positions, but I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. My father spent years working a 9-5 job, and then after his boss passed away, he was forced to go out on his own, and it was a fruitful experience. I saw how much effort, time, and commitment this undertaking would need, and I was excited to pursue my passions. I decided to start my own business because I saw an opportunity in the market and I am genuinely committed to helping small businesses achieve their media goals. The social media market has become the driving force for new companies to sell products and services, and many companies are missing out simply because they do not know where to begin. I wanted to start a business that offers quality media services and tailors the service to the client’s specific needs. I knew that the only way to provide my services and ensure quality customer service was to start my own. It has been over a year now, and I love the process. I am excited to see the company evolve as we continue to meet the needs of our clients.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The most exciting part of my job right now is seeing the satisfaction of my clients after they receive finals from a production shoot! Many times, people initially reach out to us knowing what they are looking for or knowing that they need a change but don’t know where to start. Having the ability to listen intently in those moments and produce work that speaks to their individual brands is exciting. The world of videography is consistently evolving, so I am learning the new trends was always choosing to keep my artistic integrity of the styles I like. Getting to my current position today was honestly the move of God in my life. I never thought that the media consulting business would grow this quickly or that I would be able to have a studio with my sister Renisha Edwards, owner of Renisha Edwards Photography, one year later! We started by taking any jobs that we could get and paying to rent out studio spaces to shoot assignments for our clients. The renting process was complicated because we were at the liberty of the studio owners in every way, which sometimes was very daunting. One time, we had a client flying in from out of town, and when we got to the studio we rented, the lights were off, which threw off production for hours. It was challenging to have to pack up and carrying all of our equipment everywhere, and depending on the location, it was not always safe, but the jobs always went well. At the time, we were focused on growing our businesses and ensuring that our clients were happy. We knew we wanted to expand at some point but didn’t want to go ahead of the Lord and his plans for us. My sister always talked about this Office Evolution space that she liked in Roswell, GA, but she never visited. One year later, we found out we needed a space for legal purposes, and when we walked in, we knew that this was home. Overcoming our various challenges came from remembering the goal in all things, which was never to compromise our faith for progress in business and make decisions that were best for our companies. I want someone reading this to know that it is okay to pursue something new or different. Do not look at all of the ways you do not qualify but instead focus on your strengths. CE Consulting is a brand committed to helping clients advance their businesses through professional media services, and we are committed to making sure each client is well represented. As our story continues to shape, I know that as long as I keep the Lord first in my life, God will continue to show me where I should go next. Above all, I am grateful for the work that I do and grateful for every client that chooses to work with us.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my friends to do all of my favorite things, trying new places to eat and being out in nature. One of my favorite restaurants to eat is Ray’s on the River. Their surf and turf is fantastic! On the first day, we would go to Ray’s for Lunch and sit outside by the lake, assuming that it is summertime. My goal would be to have one planned activity a day and then allow the day to flow naturally from the first thing. So the first day, Ray’s would be the restaurant of choice. On the second day, I would choose to go to the Painted Pin on one of their live band nights in the evening. The food is amazing, and I do enjoy bowling, so it’s fun all around. There are many other shops in Howell Mill, so I would choose what we did next based on what they would like to do. I have been in love with Piedmont Park since I moved to Atlanta in 2014. Growing up in Los Angeles, the beach was a place I would visit at least once a week, so I started to visit parks to fill the void. After the park, the 10th & Piedmont area is always a great place to go during the day and if you love to brunch. One of the brunch spots we would have to go to is Negril Village! Most of all, I would want to find new places and things because there are always fresh and exciting places to try.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My father, the owner of Noftek Data Security, Letson Jackson, deserves the shoutout for my business success! When I was ready to start a business in technology, he was there every step of the way, helping me figure out how to make the best decisions with the budget that I had. His past in IT was instrumental in advising the type of camera purchases, lights, software, computers, and production planning for new clients as I was learning the field. I do not have a degree in this field; it was a hobby for the past few years, and then when the pandemic started, I saw it as an opportunity to create a new career path. His ability to help me think through the beginning stages and offer advice today helps me learn and advance in the field. My family has always supported me, and I know that my ability to achieve all that has happened in the last year would not have been possible without their support.

My first long-term client also deserves a shoutout to Berean Christian Church in Stone Mountain, GA, where Dr. Kerwin B. Lee is the Senior Pastor. I had been a church member since I moved to the South to attend Spelman College in 2014. As the pandemic ensued, churches have to figure out how to create an engaging virtual worship environment that met the congregation’s spiritual needs. For the first year, my two colleagues and I, which happen to be my brother and sister, were working with the church to enhance their video ministry. We were responsible for creating intros to service, outros to service, special video announcements, weekly bible studies for the children’s ministry, and come up with new ways to teach others in the community about ways to engage others with technology. Our experience there was an essential component to the start of our business.

Website: cristhaedwardsconsulting.com

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Linkedin: Cristha Edwards

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Youtube: Cristha Edwards Consulting

Image Credits
Photographer: Renisha Edwards of Renisha Edwards Photography