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

Brittany , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.

The first risk I took was starting my business! Like many people, I didn’t have a huge savings put back nor have I inherited a lot of money. My parents don’t help me financially. So starting a business as a single mom in my 20s, was very intimidating. It’ll probably always will be but my love for what I do trumps the fear. I had been working for Wag/Amazon in 2018! When I was finally to the point to take the leap, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I decided to start focusing all my energy on building clients! It was hard work but I loved it. I love people. Even the ones who have challenged whether or not I should really be doing what I do. For all of those people taught me a valuable lesson on how to do business better. Along with how to value you myself better. To stand up for myself in ways I didn’t know possible; with empathy and honesty! I started building clients slowly but surely. The old fashion way, by talking to people then those people would tell there people. Then I was working more constantly ,and to this day I still believe that connecting with people will always be more beneficial in ways that making an ad will.
From there I started to share, explore, and promote my other passions. Such as art and murals. Being a business owner has pushed me to be more authentic than I ever was before.

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

I am a completely self taught, full time professional photographer and artist. I have been photographing since I was 13 years old and drawing since I was 16 years old. I started doing those professionally at 23.
I have obsession with visual arts! Honestly what pushed me into believing I could do this professionally was my Aunt Shayr Guthrie and uncle Jimmy Guthrie. They are locals of Atlanta, that built their business from the ground up. They were real life examples of what my life could be if I put in the work growing up.

With my work the up most important message I want to send it. Is that we are all beautiful and deserving of acceptance especially acceptance from ourselves.
I feel like you can see that in my photographs and hear it from my clients. The highest compliment I’ve received is that I make them comfortable. For someone who is a highly sensitive person, and in the lgbtqia+ community that means a lot.
To be able to make someone fall in love with themselves.
As far as my art goes I love to transcend stigmas, and injustices.
I love to create pieces that make you question biases and show more love.
A particularly piece that I feel like best represents this is “the shared stoop” that was in a gallery last year. With the topic what does abortion mean to you.
That we are all affected by not having access to abortion health care. That we are all affected by injustices.

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

Authenticity, being authentic with why I do what I do. Whether it is a boudoir photoshoot or a mural. I show up and connect with my clients to create an environment that brings love. I’m there to help them fall more in love with themselves or the space that they have put themselves into. Working with an artist like myself is very vulnerable. With photography it’s allowing yourself to be you for me to capture. With art or murals it’s sharing your ideas, trusting me with them to bring them to life. I try my best to create a positive and receptive relationship for that to happen. I feel like that’s what sets me apart. It’s the person first and the financial aspect second. Which everyone appreciates and will come back to.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson that I had to unlearn is that request is not the same as setting boundaries. That a boundary is something established that requires nothing of the other person. Example: if a client calls/texts you all hours of the day. To the point where you no longer what to provide your services to them. Asking them to stop calling you is not going to solve the problem nor telling them to only call once a day. But by telling them your business hours are between this and this time. Creates a boundary that will not hurt anyone’s feelings but forms a line of respect for one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bhamphotographerartist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhamphotographerartist?igsh=MTNiYzNiMzkwZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/britt.allen.334?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britt-allen-264258245?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Phone number: 205/253/7591
• Email: bhamphotographerartist@gmail.com