We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alejandro Kretzschmar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alejandro below.

Alright, Alejandro thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

In my experience social media and modern technology has helped promote my brand Btown Lows Photography, but it has also been part of the reason sales don’t stay consistent all year around. The average person will see a picture, like it and then move on to the next picture knowing it will always be on the account. Before social media if someone had a picture taken of either themself, families or in my case a special car they would run to have a photographer print or develop the image because they cherished that moment. Now with social media and smart phones people have gotten rid of the middle man, pictures are taken on phones and uploaded, so the need for a dedicated photographer isn’t there anymore. So as a modern day photographer I have to grow with the times and stay educated on everything changing with social medias and new technology to keep my brand relevant and providing a service.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started Btown Lows Photography when i was about 15 because growing up my dad (el_germanmexican on Instagram) worked as an autobody technician and was always heavily involved with custom car building. Everything from restorations to custom body kits, anything body work related he would do as both a full time job and a side hustle. At home he would have me and my older brother, even our mom help him work on a lot of the cars, so the older i got the more interest i had in the little details of these cars. Fast forward to high school I started taking pictures and recording some of my favorite Lowriders and my dad asked me if i ever thought about buying a camera. I gave it some thought decided I would try it and see how it goes. Turns out a friend of my dads (oraphotos on Instagram) was a Photographer and had an old camera he let me borrow until i saved enough to buy my own. Right away I told my dad he needs to help me make a name so i can open an instagram account and see if i can start my own business, we brain stormed for awhile and then he came up “Btown_Lows” since we grew up in a city called Burien to me it was a perfect fit so we went with it.

The brand started off as just a fun way to pass time until i graduated high school, but my family asked me one year if i would ever make calendars to sell. I gave it a try and the first year it was very successful with people out of state ordering and even my school teachers pre ordering during class. Feeling great i decided the following year i would try again, and then covid 19 happened. During covid I practiced my photography and learned a lot of new things so that when life got closer to normal i could have some good content to share.

One of the recent problems I’ve came across as a photographer has been prices, and outsourcing products. prices are constantly being raised for materials which then raises the prices for the customers. knowing this i decided i would learn how to keep as much of my products made in house as possible. towards the end of 2023 i bought my own printer with the goal of keeping prices more affordable for customers and producing a faster turn around time. As of right now i am honoring next day shipping for all orders of 4×6 – 8×10 – 8.5×11 and 13×19 that are placed Sunday-Thursdays. Since starting this i feel that customers are happier with cycle times and I am happier with quality control.

Something that i am definitely most proud of is working with groups like Low Society to build a magazine with lowriders. Low Society is a group of 5 photographers in Washington and Oregon looking to bring all of our styles and love of cars into one magazine to share with everyone.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

One of my biggest goals for Btown Lows Photography is to turn it into a printing company. Ive taken an interest in learning how things are printed, I’ve talked with many people on different processes and ways to put out high quality work. In the past I have put pictures on coffee mugs and a lot of people loved them, but the biggest complaint had been prices being to high due to me having to outsource the work. With being a print shop and doing the work myself i believe i can keep prices more affordable and have happier customers, just as i have been having with doing my own posters. Also due to knowing a lot of people that host car shows being a photographer and also a print shop allows me to help the car community a lot.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source for new clients for me has been both word of mouth and social media. Social media allows people to see the work that I am doing, but word of mouth helps make it all a little more personal. constantly being introduced to people and having conversations in person builds a connection with the people around me. I have noticed that the majority of posters that I sell are people I have had long conversations with. Although they may have been following my work for a long time, when there isn’t a personal connection its harder to make the sales. As a small business I believe there isnt any one source that is better than another for building clients, it is a mixture of many different things. Social media can get your work out there with tools such as ads being available. But also word of mouth, family and friends give a personal connection that clients might want. This may not be true for everyone, but in my experience it has been the truth for me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: btown_lows
• Facebook: btown_lows
• Other: Gmail: [email protected]