We were lucky to catch up with Alice Ray recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alice, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?
One year later, as soon I finished high school, I moved to the US to pursue my career, but in the beginning (as most of the immigrants) I worked full and part-time for other companies for a short period of time. I always knew that working for others wasn’t my calling. 3 months after moving, I took a leap of faith and quit those jobs and pursued my passion for photography full-time. It was a risky decision, but one that paid off in the end.
Building my business took time, patience, and effort. Establishing relationships with clients was crucial, and in 2021, after the challenges of COVID-19, I opened my own company and committed to working on my own terms.
I’m dedicated to becoming the best in what I do, and that means constantly pushing myself and investing my free time in growing my business. This commitment has allowed me to work with clients on a regular basis, earn publications in magazines, and achieve other milestones.
There is a common misconception in the art world is that inspiration is the driving force behind success. But in reality, it’s the dedication, hard work, and planning that matter most. I’ve focused on providing consistent quality and building lasting relationships with clients.
Over the years, I’ve learned that running a photography business is more than just capturing beautiful images—it’s a 24/7 commitment that requires strategic planning, consistency, and relationship-building. Scaling up hasn’t always been easy, but the challenges and risks I’ve taken have paved the way for greater opportunities. I’m excited for what’s next and all the incredible moments yet to be captured!
Alice, 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’m Alice Ray, a professional photographer specializing in couples, family, surprise proposals, and lifestyle photography. My journey in photography began at a young age with a love for capturing the beauty of the world around me, especially in natural settings.
I’m a huge fan of working with natural light, which is why many of my photoshoots take place on the beach, in parks, or while exploring the city. This approach allows me to create authentic images that showcase the unique essence of my clients’ lives. I enjoy the opportunity to meet amazing people and not only capture special moments in their lives but also listen to their stories and connect on a personal level.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is the relationships I build with my clients. Over the years, many have become part of my extended family as I capture their life milestones, from engagements and weddings to the birthdays of their children and other special events. It’s an honor to be a part of their journey and document their growth.
As passionate as I am about photography, I’m also proud of being a young businesswoman. My dedication to building my brand and expanding my business has been a key part of my journey. I’m ambitious and have many plans for the future, including exploring other business opportunities and diversifying my sources of income.
Overall, my love for photography, combined with my entrepreneurial spirit, drives me to keep pushing boundaries and striving for excellence in everything I do.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One story that really shows my resilience is when I decided to start my own photography business at a very young age, just four months after moving to a new country where I didn’t know the language well. Starting a business from scratch is hard enough, but doing it in an unfamiliar place added extra challenges.
I worked hard to improve my language skills, understand the market, and connect with clients. It took patience and dedication, and I definitely made mistakes along the way. But I learned from them and kept pushing forward.
This experience taught me the value of determination, taking risks, and believing in myself. These lessons have been key to my growth as a young woman and a professional photographer.
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
One of my favorite marketing stories revolves around the time I decided to expand my business and work with a marketing agency, as well as take on a business partner. We invested in Instagram ads to promote my photography services, even though I had never used them before. Up until that point, I had relied on organic growth through social media and word of mouth.
Despite my initial skepticism, I gave the strategy a try. We generated a lot of leads, but to my surprise, they didn’t translate into closed sales. This experience taught me that just because you’re using paid ads doesn’t guarantee success. Instead, my belief in building relationships through consistent, high-quality content proved to be the more effective route.
Ultimately, the experiment confirmed my conviction that being genuine and persistent is key to growing a loyal client base and achieving long-term success. It also highlighted the importance of utilizing the right platforms, like Reels, to maximize impact and reach. I hope this information will be useful for those who are starting their career in photography. As a conclusion I’d like to say, always believe in yourself, keep pushing forward and you’ll make it through anything!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alicerayphoto.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicerayphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alicerayphoto?mibextid=uzlsIk&rdid=cvRhRpmgr5WNHeL1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AliceRayPhoto
Image Credits
my photos Farid Alvarez @falvarezphoto