We recently connected with Allison Lopez and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Allison thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

I think the biggest challenge to profitability as a photographer would be knowing what your market and goals are in an industry that is having to integrate with the growing technology of phone cameras and social media.

As freelance photographers the client’s perception of the effort we give into every shoot and the art form in general can be screwed. The budgets and opinions of what the price point should look like tend to get equally as creative as the project.

Photography is a job for freelancers. We’re lucky that we love the job but it is still a service. With the increase of high quality phone cameras, tripods, and editing apps, the art form is being viewed as less valuable in certain spaces.

Client’s perceptions of what they think your work should be worth mixed with struggling to receive inquiries can lead a young photographer to sacrifice their creative goals.

Any business that is not serving their mission statement. is not truly profiting at their highest potential. The wavering between lanes and compromising is not sustainable long term and could lead to a point where the work you are putting out no longer reflects your ideal market.

The best way I’ve seen this challenged conquered is by setting boundaries with the work you accept and applying strategic collaboration when needed. Strong collaborations with people that add value to your business and show your capabilities while also knowing your worth/price point is a system that keeps you busy and values your time.

It’s difficult as a creative to profit as not many are able to apply business tactics to something they would do for free. In many cases you are asking an artist to set a price point on connecting to humans.

Breaking through the cycle of FOMO on potential clients for a quick buck is a pivotal and inevitable choice most have to make.

The clients you want are also seeking you I believe, and I think that the humanity aspect of the industry has not been fully destroyed by technology..yet.
I’ve been told the industry standard for budgets has gotten smaller in the commercial world in comparison to the golden age of the greats, but the world changes and those who are adapting are keeping the spirit and the art alive in a new way.

Knowing what your mission is through photography and making strong choices in where you invest your creative energy can elevate you into a position where you are in your ideal market and no longer have to accept lowball offers and the popular “I have a buddy who would do it for $20”.

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.

Im a photographer who really sets out to create comfortable spaces for people to capture themselves and their ideas. I love working with people with the intention of helping in any form. I find myself helping creatives bring their idea to life and also showing people their beauty in a way only someone on the outside could see through portraits. I enjoy playing my role and knowing that what I do is a service to others. I recognize that the industry can be filled with intimidating egos, false perceptions of grandeur and tyrants, I work very hard to bring the creativity and humility to shoots and hopefully make the experience what it should always be, comfortable and fun.

I would love to continue sharing photography with others through their desired concepts, as well as any moments they wish to be documented with events. With portraits, I strive to help people reach their full potentials and modeling goals, bringing out the star they already are.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My first job in the industry my first year as a photographer was a lucky break. I was thrown into the fire immediately into high level productions. I was completely green as an intern on editorial photoshoots sets so huge I could never anticipate, while also simultaneously going through tumultuous events at home.

The experience was intense but beautiful, being thrown into my dream job environment almost daily with celebrities I looked up to, while also having to process events of the morning of or night before at home.

I had about 5% of knowledge of what it took when I started. Learning everything from assisting and digital-teching to grip equipment during this time was a journey. As a short girl with minor workout history I found out very quickly what your body can feel like when you pickup EQ wrong after assisting for several hours. Or how 2 sandbags can feel like 4 some days.

Despite the physical struggle and mental rollercoaster I was on I found a way to have fun and see each shoot as a gift.

What I learned was dedication and a willingness to learn get you through a lot of interesting scenarios. Life comes at you fast and so does burn out so you can’t rely on those two traits solely.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I worked a regular job and took what I could when I could to make smart purchases that would start to lead me towards bookings. Every paycheck I set aside enough to purchase EQ that would help me have a studio at home. I built the essentials of what I needed to get slowly but I made sure my purchases were exactly what I needed to complete a specific photo goal I had. I love Richard Avedon portraits so much so the first thing I did in college was get a white backdrop and some strobes to set up in my living room.

The right marketing was also key to receiving bookings that would be put towards more equipment and funding portfolio shoots. I found being honest at what point of your journey your on will attract people who just want to help and would like to join your beginning kickstart as a small business. I would post that I was willing to do portraits in my parents living room or garage in Palmdale for a low price as I was building my portfolio on instagram stories and this snowballed into proper bookings with real studios in LA.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://allisongl1004.wixsite.com/my-site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alli.g.studio/