Kristie Lea McCallum

Originally from North Carolina, Kristie called High Point home for her first 22 years. After completing her art degree from NC State, she married her husband, Darryl, and was thrown into a little place many folks call Hokie Country. If you ask her how she ended up in Blacksburg, she’ll tell you: “I married a Hokie!” Though she’s mysteriously lost most of her southern accent, you can hear a little of that twang when she’s chatting on the phone with her Mamaw.
Kristie’s love for photography began as a child. She distinctly remembers dressing and posing her dachshund and parrot for photos when she was 11. She’s come a long way since then and now spends most of her time taking pictures of human couples. Though it took some time and lots of encouragement from her husband, she started her business, Kristie Lea Photography, in 2011 so she could bring to life the images she saw in her mind. On most Saturdays, you can find Kristie with couples, newlyweds and families around the many picturesque venues and landscapes of the New River Valley. When she’s not photographing clients, Kristie is taking pictures of her most favorite people in the world, her 5-year-old son and 20-month-old daughter.
Despite thinking she’d explored and seen most of the area, Kristie has been excited to discover new places through assignments with NRV Magazine. From visiting a local trout farm to drives down dusty roads to meet and photograph incredible artists, these little adventures and excursions have awakened a new appreciation to the diverse community found in the New River Valley.