We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Allison Liffman Innenberg a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Allison Liffman, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

From a very early age I have had that creative energy. I can remember painting with my Oma (paternal grandmother) as a little girl. Everything seemed so effortless with her. Her creativity just engulfed everything she touched. She painted on purses and wore beautiful clothes. She designed window displays and even had a scholarship to The Lourve before the war started. She inspired me then, and she continues to inspire me now. Even though she has been gone more then 20 years.

I never really enjoyed school or classes. I didn’t feel connected to any of the material. When I was a freshman in high school I was told about a vocational art program. Students from all over the area applied and needed to be accepted in order to participate. I had the talent to get accepted, but I needed the support from my family. This program meant less time studying classic education like math and science. It meant more time in an art studio experimenting with my craft. I don’t think my family took it that seriously until they came to my first show. My father looked at me and told me I reminded him of his mother, my Oma. Since then, my father, and the rest of my family have supported each artistic direction I took. Now, decades later, my art has developed into a photography career. My family continues to be supportive of my choices as an artist, and still to this day, my father tells me how I remind him of Oma.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Cleveland based lifestyle photographer. My photography focus is on family, baby, kids, maternity and portraits. My photo style is classic and vibrant. I combine lifestyle photography with posed photography to get stylish and natural photos.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Every day I feel lucky to be a photographer and artist. I am able to meet new people all the time, I explore new parts of my city to find gorgeous locations to take clients, I help with styling and aesthetic, and after sessions I use software to edit. The whole process from start to finish is creative. Yes, there are days when I don’t leave my computer, editing hour after hour. But for the most part, I get to be outside and run around with these families. All while creating something beautiful and extremely special for my clients.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Owning your own business is a constant battle. It is a balance of keeping a creative mind, while trying to ensure that the business side is taken care of. Social media can be a struggle for many business owners, but it is key to creating a successful business. Everything is digital these days. Whether I am creating reels and photo content for Instagram, posting to numerous Facebook groups, sending out quarterly email blasts, even participating in networking events. It’s all part of the job. You need more then just a quality product, people need to actually see that product. Putting your work out there to your specific market, and making sure that you remain diligent and consistent. It’s definitely not something that happens over night. Over time, an audience grows and people begin to recognize work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.AllisonLiffmanPhotography.com
• Instagram: @allison_liffman_photography
• Facebook: Allison Liffman Photography

Image Credits
Allison Liffman Photography