The Challenges of Starting Out in Professional Photography

The Challenges of Starting Out in Professional Photography

Alexis Hymore has a passion for photography and a drive to match. She’s a 21 year old from Toledo, Ohio studying photography at the prestigious Arts Institute of Raleigh. Alexis has been into photography for about 7 years but recently created her own freelancing business within the last year. She plans on attending school for her degrees in photography and business. Her future plans also include running her own Hymore Photography studio someday upon graduating from her classes. Alexis is eager to blog with other photographers and get tips and ideas on how she can make all of these ideas a reality!





When Alexis contacted Photography Blogger we naturally wanted to help. We saw that Alexis was sharing what all new aspiring photographers want and need, some sound advice from seasoned photographers. We want to share her story and see if we can help her get her story out, see if our photography community can share any tips and suggestions, perhaps even some words of wisdom.

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My passion for photography all began about seven years ago. For years I wanted to be a singer, until one day someone pointed out to me that in order to be successful at singing you have to be good at it. “Well that makes sense”. Someone else pointed out to me that I should consider being a photographer. It was then that I discovered my dying passion to be the best photographer that I could possibly be.






I started off practicing with a simple canon 6.0-22.5mm camera with 3.8x15x’s optical zoom, and have recently upgraded to a Sony 3, 1-5, 9/4-104mm camera with 26x’s optical zoom.
My issues with photography aren’t so much learning the camera or learning the art of the photos. Because as much as I have picked up on it, I also plan on going to school for my Associates, Bachelors and Master’s Degree.




When it comes to my struggles with photography; The biggest issue so far has been the business side of things, the advertising and the marketing in particular. I have a website, A Hymore Photography Facebook page, business cards, my photographer’s license and my own mini home office. I’ve basically taken all of the baby steps but the clientele isn’t there. What are the secrets to building clientele? That is the question that runs through my mind on a daily basis.

 


“A picture speaks over 1,000 words but it takes a real photographer to capture the beauty”



I want to be the photographer who captures the beauty of the photos, to speak those thousands of words. I want to have a nationwide Hymore Photography business, I want to be able to provide photos for people all over the world, whatever kind of photos they need.







Most photographers specialize in one type of photography but I would like to be more than that. I want to do landscape, portraits, babies, head shots, movies, anything that anyone needs. I want to do it all and do it very well. I want my name all over the world and I want to be the first person someone calls when they need pictures taken. Of course I’m sure that’s what all photographers want as well. But how many of them are actually willing to travel the farthest mile for their clients? How many photographers want to take pictures of anything and everything?



Most photographers only major in one or two areas of photography…But not me. Unlike most who usually stick with portraits or landscape, senior pictures, or weddings…I want to do that and more! I want my pictures to be seen on billboards, magazines, websites and just about anywhere!



Having said that, I don’t want to do it for just myself, I want to do it for my family as well. My immediate family, so they never have to be without work, and the family I hope to have of my own someday, when I’m married maybe five or ten years from now. I would like to establish a successful photography business in my hometown Toledo, OH and another where I live. Hopefully the business does well and I can expand from there.


“Winners never quit, And Quitters never win”. I’m pretty bound and determined to succeed whether I can only enjoy it for a year or for the rest of my life. I would be satisfied and die happy knowing I pursued all of my life’s dreams, possibly made it into reality.

source :P / B