We recently connected with Alexis Hamey and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alexis thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

You know, it’s interesting because I’ve always prided myself on being a hard worker, someone who puts in the effort. But risk-taking? That wasn’t necessarily in my DNA. Starting my wedding photography business, though, that was undoubtedly the biggest leap I’ve ever taken.

Before I dove into the world of capturing couples’ special days, I was a classroom teacher for nearly five years. Funny enough, my love affair with photography actually started way back in high school. I spent all four years immersed in it – developing film in the darkroom, mastering Photoshop and Lightroom, even building a camera out of a Coca-Cola can! Photography was truly my passion.

However, life threw a curveball during my junior year of high school. My parents were going through a divorce, and all I craved was stability. I had dreams of going to art school in Santa Barbara, but the desire for a safer route won out, and I chose to pursue a degree in education instead. Straight out of high school, that security felt paramount after witnessing the emotional rollercoaster my parents were on. I poured all my energy into becoming the best teacher I could be, earning my bachelor’s and master’s degrees and then teaching elementary school for those almost five fulfilling years.

Then the pandemic hit, and suddenly, the world felt anything but stable. It was around that time, in August of 2020, on the very first day of school, that I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. Trying to navigate Zoom teaching while pregnant felt incredibly challenging. I’m such a face-to-face person, and that virtual environment just wasn’t where I thrived. I made it through that school year, and when my maternity leave began in March of 2021, I also requested a leave of absence for the following year. I knew I needed time to figure out what was next.

Those first few months of motherhood were all-consuming, as they should be. But once I felt ready to explore my career again, I dabbled in teaching at the local university for a semester and even applied for a virtual assistant position with a baby clothing company. Nothing felt quite right. But the one constant, the thing that truly resonated, was my love for photography.

So, I decided to take the plunge, the biggest risk of my life, and finally answer that calling. I resigned from my teaching position in February of 2022 and announced the opening of my business the very same day. It was the most terrifying and yet most liberating day of my professional life. Everything I had worked towards in college and throughout my teaching career suddenly felt… irrelevant in a way. But deep down, I knew I was capable of learning anything, even while navigating life with a newborn.

There were countless sleepless nights spent juggling newborn care with learning the ins and outs of running a successful business. But honestly, I wouldn’t change a single thing. My husband has been my absolute rock, providing the stability that allowed me to chase this dream. Fast forward three years since leaving teaching, and I’ve been able to spend so much precious time with my family, never missing those little, fleeting moments. We’ve even welcomed another baby since then, and I’ve been able to not only replace my teaching income but also create a life that truly works for us.

Building my business while raising my babies has been the most rewarding experience. It’s shown my children that you can achieve anything you set your mind to, that you can embrace challenges, and that you don’t have to adhere to a traditional nine-to-five if it doesn’t align with your life. Becoming a mother opened my eyes to that, and I’ve never looked back.

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.

For those who haven’t had the chance to learn about me yet, my journey into the wedding industry was really built on connection and a lot of learning. Interestingly, the thought of photographing weddings only happened after my own wedding was said and done. My own wedding photographers were incredibly supportive and generously introduced me to other talented wedding professionals right here in my town of Bakersfield, California once I started to realize I wanted to make the jump to this new career path. I began second shooting for them and a few other talented pros, and it didn’t take long for me to realize that I absolutely loved being part of the energy and joy of a wedding day.

The first few years of my business were all about soaking up as much knowledge as possible. I learned from the amazing professionals in my local community, and I also invested in online business courses to get a handle on the practical side of things. Coming from a teaching background, I didn’t have any formal business education, so my love of learning really kicked in! I was constantly asking questions, absorbing content, and just trying to be a sponge in those early years.

The main services I offer are couples and wedding photography. For me, the heart of it all is making every couple I work with feel completely comfortable and authentic in front of the camera. I truly pride myself on getting to know my couples on a personal level. I want to understand their story so deeply that when they look back at their photos, they feel a genuine connection to those moments and see themselves reflected truthfully. I go the extra mile to ensure my couples know how special they are and that this time in their lives is precious and absolutely worth celebrating.

Something I am most proud of is my own resilience – that I never gave up on pursuing the path that I always felt was meant for me, even when the exact route wasn’t clear. Photography has been my favorite creative outlet for so long, and getting to meet so many wonderful people through this career has been an incredible gift. I’ve not only gained the most amazing clients but also lifelong friends because of this journey. I feel incredibly proud of how far I’ve come in the last fifteen years since I first picked up a camera.

I also feel so blessed to be in a position where I can share some of the knowledge I’ve gained with other photographers who might be a few steps behind me. I truly believe in the power of community and love being able to grow in my own craft while also lifting others up, just like my friends and mentors did for me. It feels so good to give back to our local creative community and share something I am so incredibly passionate about. Ultimately, I want potential clients to know that when they choose me, they’re not just getting a photographer; they’re getting someone who genuinely cares about their story, who will make them feel at ease, and who is deeply invested in capturing the authentic joy of their day.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I don’t think there’s any magic bullet or huge secret to growing my clientele. For me, it really came down to putting myself out there and not being afraid of hearing ‘no.’ I realized early on that the best way to connect with people and opportunities was simply to show up – whether it was at industry events or even just reaching out with an email or a phone call to see how my photography skills could be of service.

One of the most effective strategies I implemented early on, which really accelerated my brand growth and brought in new clients, was offering to put together styled shoots at different venues around town. Honestly, looking back, I think that extra effort was the best thing I could have done for my business. I would create a mood board, reach out to a venue, and then invite other vendors who were also looking to grow their businesses to participate. I took on the bulk of the planning, communication, and even covered the costs when needed, just to make the process as seamless as possible for everyone else involved.

Building those genuine relationships was absolutely key to my success. I’ve successfully organized two styled shoots in the past two years, and they’ve brought me incredible new clients who I absolutely love working with. What’s been even more rewarding is the positive impact these shoots have had on my local wedding community. By providing other wedding professionals with fresh content to use for their own marketing, we’ve all grown from the process and forged lasting relationships that have led to a wonderful cycle of referrals.

Most recently, I had the privilege of collaborating with a new venue at our local zoo called The Willows at CALM. They’re using the funds from their weddings to support their educational programs, which is such a meaningful mission. After putting together just one styled shoot there, they’ve booked out their weddings for the next two seasons and have sent me countless referrals that have turned into amazing wedding photography clients.

There’s definitely a significant amount of work involved in planning and funding your own styled shoot. However, the return has been so much greater than just financial gain. I’ve gained incredible new friends within the industry and connected with amazing clients, all because of taking that extra initiative upfront. It truly underscores the power of proactive collaboration and investing in building relationships within your community.

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

Honestly, it’s difficult to pinpoint just one most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative because it truly feels like a multitude of things. I’ve always had this inherent need to create, whether it’s with my hands, my words, or how I see the world. I simply love the entire process of taking something small and building it into something beautiful.

But beyond the act of creation in photography, what is profoundly rewarding for me are the relationships I build with the people I work with. Human connection is a beautiful thing and I’m so drawn to it. I am 100% invested in my clients because I value relationships at the core of everything I do. When I work with a couple on their wedding, I genuinely want to know who they are, not just as a couple in love, but as individuals. That deeper understanding allows me to peel back the layers during their engagement session and again on their wedding day, capturing their genuine connection.

What was so fulfilling in my former career as a teacher was spending time with my students throughout the school year, getting to know them as individuals, not just students in my classroom. I carry that same appreciation for individuality into my photography. I believe that every person I meet is uniquely themselves, and that in itself is something to be celebrated. It’s a beautiful thing to connect with people for who they truly are, especially during such an exciting time in their lives as getting married, when there’s so much joy to celebrate.

Witnessing how two people in love interact and celebrate each other during this pivotal time is truly an honor. Building a genuine relationship with my clients throughout our journey leading up to their wedding day is something I deeply value. I love showing up on the wedding day feeling like we’ve all been friends for a long time, knowing that the trust has been built throughout the process so they feel completely at ease with me.

Investing the time to cultivate these relationships is crucial because I believe the most important job a wedding photographer has is to truly learn who their couples are and allow that authenticity to shine through in their photographs. For me, that’s where the true creativity and artistry come through. By taking the time to get to know my couples on a personal level, I am the artist I aspire to be, as well as the friend and supporter they need to have an amazing and memorable experience on their wedding day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alexishamey.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexishameyphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexishameyphotography

Image Credits

Alexis Hamey