We recently connected with Alley Elkins and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about how you got your first non-friend, non-family client. Paint the picture for us so we can feel the same excitement you felt on that day.

My first non-referral, open sourced client was actually a project/event coordinator for Alta Davis Apartments in Morrisville, NC. The representative reached out to me via email (which is only posted on my Photography’s Facebook page), we exchanged information and general inquiries regarding the event they were planning. Everything lined up smoothly and a few weeks later, I attended the event and was able to enjoy the creative process in a different light. A truly amazing and encouraging job for me to take on in my part-time career.

Alley , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into photography back in 2010 (so like, last year). I remember for that year’s Christmas, I was gifted a pink, Kodak Easyshare M753 7 MP Digital Camera.
I immediately started taking photos of everything and anything. Bugs, our family pets, my siblings, sunsets where there was nothing but a big white dot in my photos…good times.
Flashforward to 2012, I was working as an after-school care provider and was saving money to buy my first “big girl” camera. The day finally came when all my research and pro/con lists were satisfied, and I bought a Nikon D3100 camera. The rest is history, as they say.

My service range has expanded since 2019, as each and every opportunity I took within those 9-10 years, led to referrals or regular clients. (Annual family Christmas sessions, gender reveals, church events/functions, etc…)

The services I offer with my photography include:
Highschool Gradutate session (or Senior Pictures)
Wedding Ceremony/Reception
Engagment/Elopment Sessions
Special Event Sessions (such as grand openings, church events)
Newborn, gender reveal, and maternity sessions.
Kid/Children Session (when parents or moms just want some captured memories of their little ones)
Any and all type of family photo session or event. (Family reunions, baby showers, quinceaneras, birthday parties, holiday family photos)

I have yet to encounter any negative conflict or issue with any of my clients, other than figuring out scheduling and weather. I am sure when that time comes, I would solve the issue as professionally and respectfully as I can, if it is something within my control. I rely on clear communication, I am fairly flexible and understanding, so if an issue were out of my control, I try to be there for my clients as best I can, calming nerves, breaking the ice, getting people to enjoy the session.

I am most proud of the trust I have earned with my clients, old and new. I try to be as open as I can within my sessions, lighting, poses, outfit choices, all of the details you have to think about when it comes down to pressing that button. Of course you have editing tools that are there to help with any mishap or photo-bomber. But the very end result, once I have given my clients their photos, the encouragement and joy they express, or comments of gratitude for capturing something a certain way, that is were I feel most proud, and not in an arrogant, goes-to-my-head proud. But a genuine response of emotions that I feel after they have seen the finished product, that “I did that”, “I took that photo”. I captured something I saw and wanted to share with my clients, and they loved it, among the other photos, and now I have a referral for another client, that they thought I would be a good fit for, based on their experience with me. That is what I consider myself proud of, and I take all of their feedback as a way to grow and improve, to keep that same energy flowing in every session.

One of the main things I want people to know, is that I am not afraid to grow, or try new ideas, new location settings, anything that helps me be creative and within the appropriate photographer/client setting. The options are vast.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The most recent pivoting experience I had in my life/photography business, was my recent move from Raleigh to Wilmington. My current career path, is that I am an office manager for Pamlico Solar. Prior to that I was an orthodontic assistant for 3 years in the triangle area. I had a comfortable client base across the triangle, and a steady schedule of sessions going for myself. Juggling a career and part-time side hustle, as well as being the stand-alone photographer/editor. Now that I have moved cities, slowed down my schedule, I still have opportunities that pop up here and there, but the main bump in the road is the feeling of having to re-establish or “market” myself in a new area, where I know not a soul, and the competition is higher. That is a daily talk I go over in my head when I’m driving home from work, is “how can I get my foot in the Wilmington door as a photographer?”

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Resources I wish I knew about earlier…hmmm. I would have to say it would be the knowledge now thanks to social media, that there are groups of photographers that currate outings with each other, and 1-2 models. They go about their scheduled session, photographing and collaborating together. They’ll critique, advise, teach you how to perform better as a photographer, and to get comfortable with your camera. That is a resource I wish I knew about earlier, and would have taken advantage of while I was in my beginning stages. Not saying that I couldn’t now, but it would have impacted my knowlege greatly and positiviley.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: al.elkinsphotography
• Facebook: A.E. Photography

Image Credits
Featured photo taken of myself, by Gabrielle (Gabi) Perkins-Lichlyter