Four Inane Questions with KC photographer Courtney Crutcher-Staton
When we asked stalwart KC photographer Courtney Crutcher-Staton for a brief, but all-encompassing bio, she led with this: “I’m a firm believer that I am not for everyone. I can be loud, goofy, and borderline ridiculous,” she says. “I say what I think and mean what I say. I am too much for many. That’s okay, they can go find less.”
Well, as the “unapologetically different” owner of Stag & Bird Curated Photo Experiences, Crutcher-Staton must be doing something right. She recently cleaned up in The Pitch’s Best of KC 2023, sweeping three separate categories: Best Engagement Photographer, Best Wedding Photographer, and Best Photography Business. 
The take-no-prisoners shutterbug is clearly making an impact in the metro—along with some priceless memories for families, newlyweds, and grads. “I make sure to run my business in the same way I live my life—no bullshit, no unnecessary fluff with a lot of heart, talent and love for what I do,” she adds. “Getting to know my clients and their unique stories is my favorite part of the job. When it comes to my work I’m a fan of the funky and fun—and I love trying new things in composition and technique.”
We caught up with the lensmaster extraordinaire between shoots to bombard her with our bananas-bonkers questionnaire. We’re still seeing spots from the litany of flashbulbs that went off every time she’d finish answering a question.
The Pitch: What’s a super-secret photography hack that we absolutely must know?
Courtney Crutcher-Staton: The super-secret hack is there is no secret. People take things way too seriously and don’t take photos for the sake of taking photos anymore. They do it just to post online for likes. Stop trying to create content and instead focus—pun intended!—on making art.
When we get back to taking photographs of things, people, and places we love then we will learn to cherish more. The hack? Take the damn photo. Pull out your crusty, rusty iPhone 6 for all I care.
Just. Take. The. Photo.
What’s been your biggest cooking and/or kitchen mishap?
I’m a terrible cook, mostly because I get sidetracked and cannot stay focused on the task. My former father-in-law used to say that we knew the food was done when my smoke alarm went off.
I once was tasked with simply “keeping an eye” on a steak warming up on the grill on my covered deck. I was doing the dishes inside and happened to glance out the window to see a brand-new, super-nice grill up in flames. At the same time, my backyard neighbors were sprinting across the lawn to try to save me (or maybe just the grill). Luckily, I didn’t burn the house down and barely any paint peeled. The grill though? She was done-zo.
Finish this sentence: The world’s funniest comedian is …
… Iliza Shelesinger. I don’t know many comedians but she’s funny as shit. Really nails that “elder millennial” thing. Sometimes I think she’s speaking my life back to me. I wish I could imitate her dragon sound. I’d walk around the grocery store making that noise if I could. 
Folding laundry or putting away the dishes—which is infinitely worse?
Look, man—I am not a domestic goddess. Both the dishes and laundry are bad, but since you narrowed it down to folding and not the putting-away-part. I can fold all damn day. I’ll fold my clothes, my fiancé’s, my teenager’s. Hell, I’ll even match my 9-year-old’s socks. But, put them away? Nope.
I don’t even have a dresser any more. I love good fashion pieces but they better hang well or be okay shoved in the drawer. The catch is I still do the Kon-Marie method of very particular folding. But to actually put them away so neatly? Nah, hard pass.
Bonus 5th Question: Describe the perfect pillow in extreme detail. And how much are you willing to spend on it?
I have yet to find the perfect pillow. A few years back I splurged and bought these fancy-schmancy memory foam pillows that are flat on one side and curved on the other. The only thing they got right was the size. Otherwise, they’re absolute trash.
Both my fiancé and I hate them—and I’m mad I spent money on them. They were like $100 each. I’m better off going to Target once a year and buying the $15 extra firm, king sized, overstuffed pillows and then tossing them when they get too balled up. If someone can make a pillow for a back and side sleeper that stays cool and fits my neck right that would be great. But also, I am no longer willing to spend money on pillows—so it better be a $30 price point.
