Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alyssa Irons. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alyssa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

After I had my son, I knew I never wanted to go back to the world of education. I knew I could not give my son 100% of myself if I were still teaching a classroom full of children every day. Being a stay-at-home mom is such a blessing, but I started to lose sight of who I was and felt trapped in Groundhog Day. I knew I had to change something and that something was pursuing my passion for photography. I’ve had a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember, but I was too afraid to listen to my peers in the past when they told me to take photography seriously. The thought of becoming a professional photographer felt out of reach and terrifying, even though the longing to become one was in the back of my mind constantly throughout the years.
After becoming a mom, I had my camera in hand ready to take pictures of my son 24/7- whether it was photos of him reaching milestones or when he had food smeared across his face, I was capturing it. Looking back, I don’t think it was fear that was holding me back from pursuing photography, it was inspiration. I finally found my niche – I became obsessed with capturing the real, raw moments of motherhood, encapsulating memories and emotions forever in a photo I can look back on.
After a couple of months, I finally felt confident enough to take the risk and post my photos on social media to share with the world and I haven’t stopped since. Now I spend my days not only being a mom, but by editing photos, booking clients, & connecting with other moms in the photography world!

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

To briefly introduce myself, my name is Alyssa Pearson Irons, my business is known as “Alyssa Irons Photography” and I am a photographer who holds candid, authentic, & mundane moments close to my heart. My passion for photography started at a young age, collecting old photographs of my family members, and taping them to the walls of my bedroom. I loved how they were frozen in time – capsulated in a photo. I would always picture myself in the picture with them, wondering what they were laughing about, what they were doing, or what they were celebrating. As I grew up, the wall started filling up with the photos I would capture: of myself, my family, my friends, and anything that caught my eye I would document, develop, and place on my bedroom wall.

Now that I am a mom, I deeply understand and appreciate photography. I want to freeze every moment I can of my son in time so that when I look back at a picture I can feel the smile, hear the laugh, and see the pride on his face when he accomplishes something new. This is what inspires me during sessions. I aim to capture moments no matter how big or small so that I can tell the story of who my clients are and how they will be remembered when their children, grandchildren, and so on are looking through old photographs of them. Whether it’s a family session or a wedding, the goal is always the same: shine a light on real, authentic moments & emotions so that when my clients are looking through their gallery they are brought back in time to that day.

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

A majority of my marketing is done through social media. I am still growing my audience & learning new ways to attract clients daily. My biggest advice for those just starting to build their social platform is to be their most authentic selves. With social media, it is so easy to get lost in what others are doing and lose sight of yourself, it’s important to put blinders on and remind yourself that you’re on your own timeline. When I first started, I would compare myself to other new photographers and lose a day of progress because I was sitting at my desk overthinking everything rather than focusing on all of the positives I was doing. On my Instagram story, I post what I am doing daily as a photographer & a mom. It’s a fun and easy way to connect with your followers. It also gives clients an insight into who you are as a person so you feel like less of a stranger when you first meet! So stay true to yourself, don’t overthink, and follow your agenda.

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

One thing that has helped build my reputation is how I communicate with clients. I always try to converse as I would with a friend throughout the booking process and session. It breaks the ice and helps them feel more comfortable being themselves in front of the camera so I can capture real emotion. The best feeling is when I hear families or couples say, “Wait, this is actually so fun,” and share genuine laughs!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ironsphotos.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssapironsphotos/