We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alison Chesney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alison thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I began my professional career as an attorney, but by the age of 30, I transitioned to becoming a photographer. I had always loved photography and was known as the “one with the camera,” but never dreamed it could be my full-time career. At that time, I was a single mom with two very young children, recently divorced. To build my portfolio, I photographed the children of family and friends. Without social media, I advertised in a local family magazine. Through word-of-mouth referrals and those initial photo sessions, my photography business was born.
Back then, I took a few photography classes, read photography books, and practiced relentlessly. Shooting on film meant I had to master exposure. I am essentially a self-taught photographer. I used to hold my breath until I got my photos back from the lab, hoping they were in focus, that eyes were open, and that they looked good. That was in 2001, and 23 years later, my photography business is still thriving and evolving. I still absolutely love it.
From every mistake, I learned and adapted aspects of my business, from how and when I collected payment, to creating and wording contracts, to streamlining and learning new editing programs. Over time, I navigated social media and learned how to create successful client experiences. A major milestone was the arrival of the digital camera. That changed everything—I could see my photos right away, saved money on film and developing costs, and had the ability to experiment and learn with immediate feedback.
For new photographers learning today, the availability of online classes and tutorials is amazing, as is the ability to view and be inspired by other artists and photographers online. I only wish I had that access when I was starting out! One piece of advice I have for other creatives is to stay true to your vision and your heart. With so much content out there, the feeling of not being good enough can be debilitating. But you are the only one with your vision. Stay true to yourself, believe in yourself, and avoid comparing your work to others. I have always photographed in a style that I would want to view for my own family, my own children, my own business. That is my voice and what makes my work unique.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a photographer in South Florida who specializes in high school seniors, teens, and personal/business branding. I began as a family photographer, and I still photograph families, some of whom I’ve been photographing for over 20 years! I love photographing seniors and teens and bringing out the best and most beautiful aspects of them. These years are so formative, and to show their authentic personalities through their photographs is a treasure for them and their families. I also love photographing entrepreneurs and business owners to create new or updated branding photographs that tell the story of the individual and their business. Each branding session is customized so for individuals so that people can recognize their brand, understand their vision, and help them grow and reach new audiences. With each session, whether it is a senior, business owner, or family, my goal is not only to give my clients beautiful, creative photographs, but to also show their authentic and unique selves.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation within my community comes from providing consistently creative work, exceptional customer service, donating gift certificates of photo sessions to help causes within the community, and honestly, simply being helpful and kind to my clients and to clients for whom I am unavailable for their event or date, but I still help with referrals and other advice.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Making the decision to leave my career as an attorney to focus on being a full-time photographer was on one hand a very difficult decision, but on the other hand, one of the easiest choices to make. I had the guilt of all the time and money spent in earning my law degree, yet once I became a mother, I realized that I wanted a different lifestyle. As I started photographing families and children, I realized that it was all I wanted to do; it was fulfilling, creative, exciting, and allowed me to create the schedule I wanted as a mother. For awhile, I worked part-time in both careers, but as soon as I could support myself as a photographer, which I believe was within one year, I quit my job as an attorney and became a photographer full-time. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alisonfrank.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/alisonfrank
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/alisonfrankphotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-chesney/
• Twitter: n/a
• Youtube: n/a
• Yelp: n/a
• Soundcloud: n/a

Image Credits

Alison Frank Photography.