We were lucky to catch up with Alina Joseph recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alina , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned photography from a very young age. When I was about 3, my parents bought me a little pink Fisher-Price camera as a Christmas gift. I immediately fell in love with documenting special moments, and carried it with me for as long as I can remember- it still sits on my nightstand to this day! As I got a little older, I began learning photography on my phone and using my dad’s old point-and-shoot. Freshman year of high school is when I truly began to grow in my craft and learned I have an eye for photography. My photography teachers at school were so helpful and taught me so much, helping me build my own style and portfolio. The summer following my sophomore year, I purchased a Canon camera of my own with my Sweet 16 money- nothing crazy, and with a kit lens, but enough to get me started. I reach out to people about doing their senior photos and spent a summer getting familiar with my own camera and learning about everything from artistic composition to color grading. I learned primarily through practice and inspiration from other photographers, and I believe that is the only way to truly learn photography. To speed up the learning process, I definitely wish I bought a camera earlier and took that risk sooner than I did. Learning comes best with active practice- and that’s what I was missing. I think the most essential skills included how to market myself and be personable, how to operate all manual settings on a camera, and how to edit using my own unique style that stands out. Obstacles for me were mainly the price of photography equipment and the lack of a market for photographers in the small town I’m from.

Alina , 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?

My name is Alina Joseph, and I am an upcoming high school senior located in Northwest New Jersey! I have loved photography for as long as I can remember, but began to take it seriously my freshman year of high school. I primarily focus on senior portraits, creative portraits, and have recently ventured into couples photos, but I have also taken photos for events at my school! I would also love to learn the art of videography sometime soon. My main goal is to slow down and freeze time for my clients- in the rush of an ever-spinning world, my solution to the hassle of everyday life is to force clients to slow down for an hour or two while shooting and enjoy time soaking up the sunshine. I aim to help them feel truly present in the moment and deliver photos that show their personality, tell their story, and capture their emotions- I like to say that I tell stories you can see, because a picture is worth a thousand words. I believe what sets me apart from others is my approach to photography- I see it as a way of not just capturing reality, but turning the little moments into art that lasts a lifetime. I am most proud of how I am able to make people feel comfortable in front of a camera and leave a session feeling beautiful and confident! I would want people to know that my brand and work are centered around storytelling- I want to tell their unique stories as I see it artistically!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I find that for photographers just starting out, the best way to get clients is to simply knock on doors- or at least, send text messages! Offer to do photos for free for graduating seniors, have your friends and family model for you, advertise yourself at school and in public spaces, and challenge yourself to take as many bookings as possible. People will come to you in due time, but first, you have to reach the people. I live in a very small town where the market for photographers isn’t the largest. My first clients were all people I reached out to. Do shoots for free, offer your services, and practice as much as you can. When I felt I had gotten comfortable enough behind the camera to start charging people, I spent time setting up a website and instagram. My biggest source of new clients has been people reaching out to me through instagram or friends of people I originally reached out to.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve had to unlearn the idea that perfection is what makes a picture worth taking. It isn’t about waiting for the moment to line up perfectly- it’s about capturing genuine emotion and telling stories. It’s okay if the photo isn’t perfect the second you take it- editing can always fix little mistakes, but emotions and moments can never be duplicated. Take as many shots as you can, even if they aren’t perfect! I really learned this lesson when I had to shoot in high noon for the first time. It’s easy to shoot perfect shots with minimal editing during a gorgeous golden hour, but much more difficult in harsh lighting. I had to focus on capturing genuine smiles and emotion and telling a story- tweaking the shadows and editing the photos to be “perfect” came later in time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alinajosephphotography.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinajphotography

Image Credits

Alina Joseph