We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alyssa May Scrivener a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alyssa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Personally I have noticed a shift in wedding trends since the Pandemic. We are seeing a LOT more elopements and small ceremony inquiries, and minimalistic weddings. Which I LOVE! More and more people seem to appreciate what is important in the day without being over the top. Even the number of guests seems to have dipped in the recent years. My favorite thing to do for courthouse elopements is photos at the courthouse, then we pick a location to have the portraits at the same day. The Springs, State Parks, Beaches… Florida is a great backdrop to any elopement and we can tailor the day to the couple to create portraits that are editorial worthy but also an experience that is memorable. My kind of love story!

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

My name is Alyssa but I prefer Aly and I am the owner/founder/lead photographer of Rose Quartz Imagery, LLC. Photographs have always been an obsession of mine since I can remember. My favorite thing as a child was asking my parents to look through the photo albums with me and tell me about the memories I was too young to actually remember. From there I learned about how my dad shot 35 mm film for a hobby while on deployment, of course I thought that was the coolest thing and wanted to take photos too so I could be like my Daddy. (I actually got to use his camera in college to shoot and develop my own 35mm film. The Canon camera model tattooed on my forearm represents this and is an homage to one of the reasons I picked up a camera in the first place.) Showing my age here but digital cameras became more popular when I was around 11/12 and let’s just say by 15 I had convinced my parents to buy me my first DSLR because I NEEDED to create. From convincing the neighborhood kids to model for me in the woods with way too much eyeliner, to eventually being modeless and using a timer to shoot my own portraits. Working with people and portraits has been a constant for me. Then I shot a backyard wedding before I could legally drive. I’d like to say the rest is history but truth is, it’s been 16 years of learning, growing, and never ever giving up (even though there are times I want to). Summer of 2020 I went fulltime into my journey of photography and sometimes I still pinch myself to check that this is my reality.

In this journey I have narrowed my focus to Weddings, Elopements, Couples, Maternity, and as of this summer I officially opened my first private studio for Boudoir.

The main thing I would love for people to know about my work/services is my why, “Why do you like to shoot photos?” And I wish I had a sugar coated answer here but the ‘why’ sounds dark. Why I shoot photos has a lot to do with death. One day, we all will eventually pass on. I have experienced death in so many forms from such a young age. Out of high school, I originally perused Mortuary Science for college and even worked in a funeral home. Seeing the memorial boards that family members put together was something I always took time to look over in detail. Photos, beyond shared verbal memories, is what memorializes our loved one when they are gone. Those photos tell a story of someone’s life. What more beautiful way to honor someone in the present by documenting the memorable and intimate moments? With intention, purpose, a person behind the camera that sees the bigger meaning of those yearly family photoshoots. Photos can mean something to you now, but when you are gone, photos mean everything to your loved ones. I am honored to have the responsibility of being a “memory keeper” for my clients.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Simple. Social Media. It’s free advertising. First of all I was anti-social media for years and relied on word of mouth to run my side business of photography. I could be much further ahead if I had leaned into the marketing and networking that is utilized with social platforms. Once I got on Facebook I was able to connect with vendors and meet other photographers. Styled shoots through Facebook Groups also helped me pick a style to showcase my work so I could attract a client that was aligned with my aesthetic, vision, and brand. I would 10/10 recommend anyone starting out to try styled shoots to gain experience, learn from other creatives, make connections with vendors, and create content.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That you are not the photographer for everyone. And that’s okay! When I first started I would allow clients to request styles of editing that were different than what I regularly produced. For example, light and airy, are not words typically used to describe my work. Over the years I became comfortable and confident in the images I deliver to tell someone I will not change how I edit in style. I will refer them to someone who specializes in what they are looking for. (If a paying client requests editing tweaks that’s different but I will not copy the editing/style of another photographer or give a version of my work that does not represent my brand). First and foremost, I encourage everyone to book a photographer whose style of shooting, editing, and even personality matches their vision for what they want from their images. Weddings especially since we work so closely with couples, you don’t want a client that is looking for the best deal because your vision may not exactly be theirs. The ideal client is out there for everyone and you just have to advertise the types of work you most want to attract. Also getting comfortable being a face for your brand, make it personal. I used to hide myself and let my work speak for me. Putting myself out there and making my business more “human” allows me to make genuine connections with my clients and often we have things in common. Plus it’s nice when my clients know ahead of time that I’m tattooed and likely wearing all black to shoot your wedding (:

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rosequartzimageryllc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosequartzimagery.llc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosequartzimageryllc/

Image Credits
All images shot and edited by: Rose Quartz Imagery, LLC.