We were lucky to catch up with Lex Poulakos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lex thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

After quitting my full-time job on a whim I knew I just *had* to dive deep into building my photography business. I honestly had no real plan but began attempting to put myself out there as much as I could to try to at the very least let people know I was for hire. It was a bit slow going at first — I was undercharging, shooting for free to build content, and doing giveaways just to get people in front of my camera. I always feel bad when new photographers ask how I got to where I am now because I really don’t have some top secret formula aside from pouring as much love as you can not only into what you do but the clients who choose you as well. There’s been somewhat of a running joke that people initially hire me for my photos but continue coming back for my personality. I can honestly say that I genuinely care about all of my clients so much, and I’m always in the background rooting for them. After I would say less than a year of starting my business I was starting to have months completely booked out and I was able to quit the side hustle (i.e. substitute teaching) that I had once needed to survive. That transition into being completely full-time was all thanks to positive word of mouth referrals. Clients would tell their friends that I made them feel comfortable and that their session was so much fun and from there it just snowballed!
I think the only way I could have sped up the process would have been if I was able to stop being SO anxious and nervous quicker. My own anxieties and insecurities held me back a bit in the beginning because I was afraid of being judged, looking silly, or just not being taken seriously. I was so shy in those beginning months! I’m still nervous going into every session — I don’t think that is something I will ever fully get over — but once I start going I always end up feeling like the best of friends with whoever I am shooting and it will always be one of the best parts of this career.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was gifted my first point-and-shoot camera at 12 years old. This was the height of the MySpace era, and I quickly learned that I love documenting anything and everything my friends and I were doing. Growing up in the middle of nowhere Illinois was kind of a blessing and a curse at the same time for this. While I wasn’t surrounded by beautiful landscapes at every angle, it taught me how to find magic in the mundane. All of those goofy “photoshoots” led to me getting a DSLR and really starting to learn the ins and outs of photography. I don’t think it was until I was around 18/19 and I was asked to shoot my first wedding that I actually realized I could make a career out of photography, but honestly after photography a wedding for 12 hours I wasn’t sure if that was the life for me! I didn’t really take the plunge into becoming a full-fledged business for a few years, but once I did I realized there was no going back. Photography quickly transformed from taking fun new photos of my friends for Facebook into documenting some of the most important moments in my clients lives. From proposals, pregnancy announcements, elopements, and beyond — I am so honored to be able to be a fly on the wall witnessing these milestones unfold.
Regardless if I’m traveling across the country for your elopement or your yearly family photos on your property — the love I pour into it is all the same. There is magic in every moment and I always strive to show my clients those glimmers in their photos.
I am currently phasing out of traditional weddings and solely focusing on intimate micro-weddings and elopements. While phasing out of weddings I have began to open my door up to lifestyle newborns. I never thought I would make this type of pivot in my business, but I have such an amazing privilege of having clients who want me there for every step of the way.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think what has helped me build my reputation the most in my market has been always giving everything I have to my clients. I always try to make every session easy, comfortable, and most importantly FUN. My clients experience has always been a main priority for me, and I tend to receive a lot of feedback from my clients that the experience was a breeze and a blast. I’ve learned that when people love something they will want to shout it from the rooftops, and I’m so lucky that I’ve had so many amazing clients do that for me.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I guess I’m not entirely sure if it’s a “lesson” or not, but I had to unlearn the negative thoughts I had around photography being a legitimate business. In the early years – even before I started my business – I heard countless times that photography was a side hustle at best and there was no way I could make photography my sole income. When I was asked what I did for a living I would honestly cringe a little bit when I said I was a photographer. To this day it is sometimes still followed up with questions asking if it’s really my full-time job or if I do anything else on the side. It took a long time, but I have proven to myself over and over again that not only does photography matter, but it is also very much a stable career!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lexpoulakos.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lexpoulakosphoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lexpoulakos

Image Credits
Lex Poulakos: Photographer