We were lucky to catch up with Alicia Countryman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alicia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
When I was first starting out in photography, I wanted to find a clever name. I thought “Photography by Alicia” was too boring, so I started using “Forever Moments by Alicia.” It was cheesy. I had a friend, who was also a photographer, who used her middle name for her business name. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of using my first and middle name in my business title: Alicia Jeanne Photography. But there is much more meaning to my middle name.

My Great Aunt’s name was Jean Ellen. Sadly, she passed away at the age of 11 along with my great-grandparents in a house fire in 1936. My grandpa was the only survivor. When I was born, my parents gave me the middle name Jeanne in honor of my great-aunt. I have some heirlooms of hers, and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve felt a responsibility to live life to the fullest, not only for myself but as a namesake. I’m honored to carry on her name and have it be a part of my passion for photography.

Alicia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’ve been a professional photographer for 14 years. While attending drama school in the early 2000s, I fell in love with photographing my adventures in Los Angeles with friends. In 2008, I decided to pursue photography professionally. I started doing product photography in 2016, and that expanded into food photography in 2021, where I found my niche. I love cooking, baking, and creating beautiful images with the food I make.

Clients love my work for the attention to detail and the stories my images tell. I believe communication is key to any business relationship, and I strive to consistently deliver high quality images for every client.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I had known about the lesser known avenues for a photographer. In the photography world, most people pursue the obvious niches, such as weddings and portraiture. I never found much excitement doing either of those, but I love food photography and the creative freedom I have. Recently, I’ve discovered there is a great need for product photographers, especially for online business, photographers for publishers, and photographers for restaurants and food bloggers. I wish I had learned about these career paths in school or from other professional photographers when I was starting to get serious about photography.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I love seeing how my work evolves and changes with every year as I learn new techniques and gain experience. Photography trends and technology are alway changing, so there’s usually something new and exciting to learn. And I love it when I can see my clients’ reactions to my images.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aliciajeannephotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/aliciajeannephotography/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/aliciajeannephotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciajcountryman/

Image Credits
Alicia Jeanne Photography