We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexandria Pierre-Etienne. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexandria below.

Alright, Alexandria thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

Oh great question, there’s definitely a few that come to mind. There were teachers/mentors along the way in my early education who showed me kindness and understanding. I struggled with ADHD in elementary and that set a challenging path up until the end of highschool. Focusing, test-taking and sitting still were major battles for me in school. But I had a very creative mind and absorbed information in a different way from my peers. There were times I felt like I was slipping through the cracks in the education system and there were teachers in my life that saw me, saw my talents and sensed that I just needed a different approach to understanding. They didn’t have to go out of their way to help me.. but they did.

I’ll also never forget my piano teacher. He believed in me since day 1 and always encouraged me to explore my creative process more. He made an impact on me as a young musician and my story wouldn’t have been this musical if it wasn’t for him.

Lastly…I know everyone’s mom is special and the nicest. But my mom was truly my biggest advocate throughout the years. Navigating the world was murky but she was always by my side, made sure I was not left behind and always encouraged me to continue in the arts. When I think back on these moments, they were beyond nice. They were expressions of kindness, selflessness and love. I remain forever grateful for that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a full-time photographer & videographer. I work for one of the top leading creative firms in Boston producing for commercial real estate companies. I recently launched my personal branding service. It has been a great way to get to know people, the work they do and tell their stories in a unique way. Oh but there’s more.. I’m also a musician and athlete. Over the years, I managed to channel all those energies and creative interests that I had when I was younger and nurture them into outlets which then turned into paid projects! With my job, I help my clients build more presence on their platform and find unique ways to stand out. It’s a fun way of getting to know them and add that final polish to their marketing. Outside of my dayjob I get to compose my music, work on stunt films, make mini documentaries on my youtube channel, rock climb and practice backflips!

How did I manage to get here? My path was not very traditional. I went to music school. I learned video-editing on my own and started a youtube channel back in 2006 where I explored my passion projects and grew a following. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be making a living doing this. Growing up in Montreal, Québec I never left the house without my camera. It started off as urban exploring/street photography. I called it “the photo hunt” because you either come back home with something interesting or nothing at all! But in the end, you appreciated where the camera took you and who you met along the way. Eventually people would ask me to take their portraits and I encouraged them to tag along in my exploration. Sometimes we would even rooftop-hop in the city of Montreal! I knew this was something I really enjoyed and wanted to pursue professionally along with my musical interests.

Fast-forward, I got accepted to Berklee College of Music and moved to Boston to study jazz. I toured with bands playing tenor saxophone. Throughout those years my photography business further developed, as I worked with musicians and other professionals to address their marketing needs. During my sophomore year, I had the opportunity to work as an assistant video producer and that’s where I explored new depths in videography. I couldn’t get enough! I wanted to learn more and find new ways to blend my skills together.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being a creative is not easy. There’s tons of uncertainty, and many late nights where you’re left wondering “did I make the right decision? Am I crazy?!”

And oftentimes, yes you are crazy. You have to forge your own way to get to where you want to be. You have to be willing to take risks, and be vulnerable. However the most rewarding aspect for me is seeing the uplifting effect art can have on someone’s life. It is such a powerful tool to connect people, inspire each other and pass it forward. It has been an amazing experience for me because art has changed my life. I live and breathe creativity and love collaborating with others – that’s what keeps me going.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Hmm, self doubt. This has been a continuous journey for me; once I started changing my mindset I noticed things shifting in a positive direction. I always asked myself “Am I qualified enough?” “Am I good enough?” I didn’t go to video school, but here I was thinking of applying for a videography job I really wanted. I taught myself how to play the saxophone, yet there I was standing in front of a panel of judges auditioning for a music school with no proper training. I ended up getting the job and the audition. But these were the types of questions that kept popping up in my life and held me back on opportunities. I still hear those whispers in the back of my head from time to time “You can’t do that, you’re wasting your time, you’re not qualified…” and I just sit back and ask “What do you have to lose?”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aliphotog.com
• Instagram: @aliphotog_
• Youtube: @alexandriapierreetienne

Image Credits
Breyt Photo