We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angela Gilmore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Angela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
I’ve always had an interest in photography- how one moment can be captured for a lifetime, how it can make an individual in front of the lens feel, and how the photographs make people feel. Before Proteas and Pearls Photography, I started out as the ‘AGE Project’, a fun acronym playing off of my monogram. I had recently moved to San Diego, CA where I was learning to navigate life as a new military spouse while my husband was deployed, and the AGE Project was a small and simple way to go out and explore. I started photographing things that would catch my eye and later share them on my Instagram.
My spark for photographing others really started when a friend reached out about photographing her husband’s military homecoming. I still remember thinking to myself, ‘Really? Me? These moments are so special and intimate. Am I ready for something like this?’ Ready or not, the day had come, and I waited patiently, camera in hand, as the buses full of Marines arrived and began to unload. My friend spotted her husband and ran towards him, leaping into his arms with tears in her eyes. As they embraced, I just kept thinking to myself, ‘Don’t screw this up! You only have this moment, make it count.’ The moment was so beautiful, that I was crying while photographing. With the rush of anxiety, love, and excitement running through my body, I knew I had to do this again. That I needed to do this again.
After I posted the session on social media, it felt like my brand changed over night. The positive feedback was incredible and more friends were either reaching out personally, or referring their friends. It was then that I knew I needed to change my brand and grow this beautiful business I had started.
I knew I didn’t want to use my name and that I wanted something unique but as I researched different symbols and their meanings, nothing felt right. Then, I discovered the Protea flower.
Protea flowers are symbolize strength, courage, and resilience but can also symbolize diversity, due to the hundreds of variations of its kind. Between the strength, courage, and resilience for navigating the military lifestyle, and the way the photography world is so diverse – it was perfect.
It was then that I decided to change my brand name to Proteas and Pearls, and dove headfirst into photography.
Angela, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I consider myself a Florida native, but I was born in Cairo, Egypt and was raised in Israel until I was seven. I then moved to St. Augustine, FL for a few years before my final move to Key West, FL. Due to unfortunate family events, I spent a few years of my life in the foster system bouncing around from home to home. However, I was blessed to have found my adoptive family through foster care. They have helped shape me into the outgoing, creative person I am today. It’s no wonder I was so drawn to Protea flower- strength, courage, and resilience – all things I’ve required even during my childhood.
Key West will always be home. It was there that I met and married my amazing and hardworking husband, Michael. It was shortly after, that the U.S Navy moved us to San Diego, CA. Three years later, and in the middle of COVID, the military relocated us to our current duty station, Patuxent River, MD. We have been here for four years now, and are actually preparing for another move, this time Yokosuka, Japan!
I will say, for anyone wanting to try photography, starting out and learning the logistics wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I had to really to invest in myself and learning the art. I knew I wanted to provide not only a service but also, an enjoyable and memorable experience for my clients.
I joined meet-ups and learned from other creatives. I would often feel discouraged in the beginning, and would feel a sense of imposter syndrome comparing myself to others. I needed to remind myself that just as people are different, so is photography. Different styles, different niches. I have grown to understand that photography will always be an evolving art. Looking back at my very first sessions there is so much growth in just the editing styles alone. When you think you’ve reached the glass ceiling, something comes along to shatter that! You grow, you learn, you evolve.
Since starting in 2018, I’ve had the privilege of photographing so many families, homecomings, couples, and even a couple intimate elopements. I am really passionate about and enjoy documenting families, couples and important milestones (i.e maternity, birth, graduation) in peoples lives, so I’m currently offering Lifestyle sessions. I am so thankful to those who have grown in this business with me. It has been a journey but one I have thoroughly enjoyed embarking on.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I’d have to say I’m definitely known for my authenticity and I think that has been the biggest factor in building my reputation. When I meet new clients I am very open with them and advise them that they are not only booking a service, but also an experience. I am a silly/goofy person by nature, making the sessions more relaxed while still maintaining the professionalism to give the clients what they ask for. I play music and dance with the clients, to help shake off any nerves they may have. I’ll crack a joke here and there, creating authentic and genuine smiles, which I’ve come to find are my favorite photos! My focus is always on an authentic moment, where you can feel the true emotions in the photograph.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The clients emotions and reactions to their photographs are so rewarding. I’ve had individuals love their preview photos and their confidence will immediately start radiating. I’ve had clients cry during their session and I am able to capture that emotion in a photo. It will always be rewarding to capture an intimate moment and have others feel that exact emotion by simply viewing a photo.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ProteasandPearls
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ProteasandPearls
- Website: https://
unscriptedphotographers.com/ lifewangela - Email: [email protected]