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

Allen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I actually had a regular job for years, until July 2018, when I made a move I had long considered: Becoming a self-employed creative. I love the freedom and variety of my work, and I have said many times since then, I hope I never have to go back to an 8-to-5 office job, because I’m not sure I could adjust back to that world. My primary work is photography and videography, both capturing images and editing them. But I also have many years of experience as a writer and copy editor, and in my self-employed world, I have been able to put all of those skills together to market myself as a versatile communications professional to clients and potential clients. So, one day I might be shooting and writing a story for a regional magazine; the next day I could be editing real estate photos for a photo agency; and another day I might be creating social media posts for a non-profit client, using images from my own library that I’ve shot for them over the years. My career as a creative is always evolving, but more than four years into this, I still wake up some days and can’t believe I get to do this.

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

Like many photographers in the digital age, I started out as a hobbyist. In my case, I took some introductory workshops at a resort where I was employed in the marketing department at the time. When I started to get more proficient, people began offering to pay me to shoot events or buy images I had shot, and the thought occurred to me that photography might become more than a hobby. Since then, I have built a small business, AHA! Photography, Inc., which I initially launched in Jacksonville, Florida, then relocated to Waycross, Georgia, my hometown, in September 2021. I concentrate primarily on commercial photography and videography (e.g., local and regional businesses, chambers of commerce, resort properties), special events, and family and senior photography. I am an FAA Part 107-certified drone pilot, so I can offer aerial imaging as well. I think what sets me apart – besides technical skill and top-notch images, which are a must for any photographer – is a reputation for being personable, easy to work with and dependable. I work hard to earn my clients’ confidence and maintain those relationships, so they will know I am there for the long haul and am there to serve them and meet their needs.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

After moving to a new city, Jacksonville, Florida, and launching a new business, I packed up and did it all again three years later, relocating 80 miles to the north of Jacksonville, to my hometown of Waycross, Georgia. I did it to be closer to family, get back to my roots, and get involved in a small-town community. It’s a long process, but gradually I am reconnecting with old contacts, making new ones, and getting my name out there as a creative who’s skilled, reliable and committed to serving the client.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I’m a member of the Professional Photographers Association (PPA), which has a wealth of resources on these topics that have helped me, and continue to help me, develop as an entrepreneur. I only wish I had more time to take advantage of PPA’s many educational offerings. I’ve also read many books on professional development, but one in particular stands out. Dane Cook’s The Fast Track Photographer: Leverage Your Unique Strengths for a More Successful Photography Business has been a big encouragement to me to simply be myself as a photographer – i.e., don’t try to mimic someone else or be someone I’m not – and develop my business on that foundation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allenallnoch.com
• Instagram: @georgia_rambler
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allen.H.Allnoch
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenallnoch/
• Twitter: NA
• Youtube: NA
• Yelp: NA

Image Credits
AHA! Photography, Inc.