Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alexandra Wallace. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alexandra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?
America’s standard of education for students is so focused on facilitating college careers that end with a bachelor degree minimum. Unadjusted, each average high school student will find themselves on an unwavering path to meet state college credentials, with no consideration of what their own personal strengths are. When I was a sophomore in high school, I began adjusting my high school classes to meet what I was passionate about – film production. I waived the requirements for a California college and instead met the requirements for a private college – I was able to meet the GED standards while concurrently filling my schedule with multiple arts-related classes. Anyone I talked to at that time (and even present day!) was unaware that this was even a possibility. So many teenagers get set on a path where the end goal isn’t even something they’re excited about pursuing, because a four year college is the “correct” option. I wish we had more encouragement for alternative career paths, such as trade schools, vocational training, and the creative arts, without the complication of a 15 year old figuring out those options for themselves.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I spent all of high school working towards an education in film production; I really wanted to be a film director. After dropping out of college a couple times I started building a business in professional photography, and work mainly as a wedding photographer. At first, working weddings was just a way to get the ‘bread and butter’ paycheck for doing photography, but over time I learned that if I leaned into capturing weddings with the same excitement that I did with other creative projects, an entirely new approach unfolded. I started to get excited about the think that was giving me a real paycheck, and was able to deliver images with a lot of artistic intent to clients.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I think there’s a lot of poorly intentioned optics taking place on social media currently; in an era where authenticity is played as such a strong marketing tool, I see so little of it. I don’t keep my business and personal accounts separate, and if my ‘audience’ isn’t going to stick around to follow my posts about the origins of Mayor McCheese, then they probably wouldn’t have a fun time hiring me anyway.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Word of mouth!! Always wins.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexandra-wallace.com
- Instagram: @thelittlealli