Meet Courtney Ernst | CKE Photography High School Senior Photographer located in the Monument, CO area

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

Hi Courtney, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
100% my most important factor behind my success is my relationship with the Lord. He gives me all the creativity, joy, energy & strength when I am lacking & I give Him all the praise & glory for it!!! He literally turned my passions for photography into a full blown business in a blink & I absolutely LOVE my job. Working with High School Seniors is so gratifying & fun…I feel blessed everyday to get to do what I do!!!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my own business, CKE Photography, back in 2009. I originally photographed every type of genre out there: families, maternity, newborns, Seniors, weddings, engagements, headshots, you name it, I photographed it. I really had a love for all types of photography back then. It wasn’t until 2021 that I decided to follow my heart & my true passion of working one on one with High School Seniors. No regrets; it is hands down the best business decision I have made to date.

What sets me apart from other Senior Photographers is my enthusiasm & excitement for each individual Senior . I truly care for each of my Seniors & love getting to know them on a personal level. I strive to showcase their inner & outer beauty. I want them to feel comfortable in front of the camera & with me, therefore I offer in-home consultations about 3 weeks prior to their Photoshoot so that we can go over: wardrobe, locations, lighting, make-up, hair and answer any questions they may have at the time. I find this eliminates a lot of nerves & uncertainty. I want their entire experience to be as unique, one of a kind & special. as they are! Mostly I want them to love their photos & look back at this milestone moment with pure confidence & delight as it sets the tone for their Senior year of High School.

I would say all of my thanks & praise goes to the Lord God for blessing my business over the years. Watching it grow & thrive has been nothing short of amazing and answered prayers!!! He has given me the most amazing Seniors to work with & I am excited to meet each new Class of Seniors He sends my way. Of course each year comes with it’s own challenges…weather, calendar shifts, balancing personal life with business, etc. One of the ways I overcome these challenges is memorizing scripture. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This verse has gotten me through some of life’s craziest of days!!!

Lessons I have learned along the way include: be kind to everyone, be patient, try my best to be organized, choose to be inspired by others but not compare yourself to others. God created us all uniquely different. Keep on shining bright!!! Everybody has a story to share…I love using the gifts & talents God gave me to share your story.

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.
This is a tricky one, because I have soooooo many favorite spots in the city! My first stop would probably be Garden of the Gods, because it’s iconic & beautiful. Then I would suggest a trip to Manitou Springs for a little hike up the incline. The views from up there are unbeatable!!! You can’t miss the Penny Arcade on the way down…it’s so unique, colorful, eclectic & a guaranteed fun time!!! Colorado Springs is known to have some of the best coffee shops & breweries around…so depending on the age of my guest/visitor, I would definitely suggest my top faves: Ivywild for it’s nostalgic childhood memories of Elementary School & of course their food & drink choices. Shrunken Head Tiki Bar for it’s ambiance & location. TheWell is a fabulous new addition with a great variety of unique flavors & community seating. I could go on & on. I have way too many favorites! But I would definitely end at the Rock House in Palmer Lake because it’s been around forever & their ice-cream is hard to beat!!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would also like to give credit to my amazing & supportive husband and children who have encouraged me along my journey & often have been my guinea pigs for location scouting & modeling. I am also very grateful to all of my past Seniors who I have had the privilege of working with & photographing. They are so sweet, fun & enjoyable to be around. When they follow my work, like my posts & tell their Junior friends about me it is such a humbling and flattering compliment to my work!!!

Website: www.ckephotography.net

Instagram: ckephotography2009

Facebook: CKE Photography

Image Credits
Courtney Ernst–Photographer CKE Photography