Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Johnson
Hi Alicia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Photography fell into my lap as a new mom. At the age of 23, I “retired” from teaching when my first child was born, and while I loved motherhood, I felt mentally understimulated. My sister in law was a photographer and wanted me to help her photograph weddings. I didn’t think I had the “creative spark” to be a photographer, but she told me she’d give me her back up camera if I would help her with four weddings. I loved and wanted that camera, so I reluctantly agreed to help her. It felt great to have a new hobby to study, explore, and figure out! I still remember the nervous feelings I felt at that first wedding! I had read a few articles about camera settings, but it was hard to apply in stressful moments. It was quite the adrenal rush and I loved every minute of it!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Photography is hard because you never feel like you’ve “made it” or “arrived.” I’m always learning, changing and tweaking my style and pictures. I’m always second-guessing my edits and redoing work I’ve done. It’s hard to be confident when there are so many talented people in the industry, but I’ve had to learn to trust my instincts and create photos that feel right to me instead of trying to be someone else.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
When I was a kid, I could never commit to one sport – I liked volleyball, softball, tennis, and soccer. As a photographer, I have the same problem – I like photographing families, seniors, weddings, engagements, and commercial work. I’ve felt pressure in the past to specialize in a niche, but I like the variety! It keeps things interesting instead of repetitive, for me personally.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I definitely was lucky with photography! My sister-in-law persisted in getting me into it, despite my reluctance. I had friends who encouraged me and let me practice with their families. My biggest source of luck was probably that I had prior work experience in the field of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) prior to starting photography. When I started my business, I had very few clients, so I put a lot of hours into SEO for my website. After a year, I began ranking quite highly on search engines for my industry. I’ve done very little marketing, blogging, or social media because my website ranks highly, and I have plenty of clients who find me through google search. That previous knowledge paid off big time in launching my business, and I’ve often wondered if I would be a photographer today if I had invested those first six months in optimizing my website. I honestly felt guided to photography. It feels like something I was meant to do, and the right people and opportunities came along at the right times to help me on my journey.
Pricing:
- $475 for a 1 hour Session
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://thatsaprettypicture.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicia.johnson.photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThatsAPrettyPicturePhotography
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