Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Hawkins.
Hi Alex, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I fell in love with photography as a kid. My dad had a digital canon camera and I loved being able to use it. I had to ask permission and be supervised since I was still young and the camera was fragile. But one morning, my parents were sleeping in so I snuck the camera out of the closet under the stairs and set my dogs up for their close up. I took some blurry photos of the dewy grass and the freshly watered flowers of my mom’s garden. The minute my parents woke up, I turned myself in, fully expecting to get in trouble for taking the camera without asking. But instead, my mom got the pictures printed and framed and she still has them hanging on her bedroom wall. From that moment, I knew I wanted even more people to have my photos hanging on their wall.
I practiced taking portraits of my friends in high school and worked for a cat adoption agency taking their profile photos of their adoptable cats. My first wedding I took on as a leap of faith. I wasn’t sure if I was cut out for it but I knew that I’d never know if I didn’t try. I threw up in the courthouse bathroom from nerves but went out there and gave it my best. After that one afternoon, I knew that weddings was my calling and I’ve never turned back! I’ve fallen in love with capturing people falling in love.
Throughout my career, I’ve had a lot of “eras”. I’ve had the posed and editorial look. I’ve had the candid and carefree look. The era I’m in now I’d describe as very documentary style. I love capturing just authentic moments with my clients. Each gallery I deliver I want to feel like it is a moment captured in time. I want my clients to look back at their photos and remember exactly how they felt on that day!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning your own business comes with a lot of uncertainty. A lot of the time you’re leaving success up to chance and hope. Of course, success ebbs and flows and just because you experience a time of slowness, that doesn’t diminish what you’ve done in the past. That took me a long time to come to terms with. When slow season comes (and it always does), I’ve used that as a time for reflection and gratitude of what I’ve completed to get me to the point I’m at now.
I’ve had a really difficult time with “imposter syndrome”. This is when people feel persistent feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and fraudulence despite their achievements or evidence to the contrary. Sometimes I’ll leave a session worried that I just scammed my clients and there is no way I am good enough to be doing the job I am. It was super embarrassing for me for a while and held me back from marketing myself or throwing my name into the ring for a potential lead. But, I’ve found a really amazing community where I feel comfortable talking about my struggles and getting genuine feedback and tips to help me feel more confident. I highly recommend finding creatives in your community to lean on–especially when you’re starting out. I think I held myself back for a long time in the beginning of my career due to self-doubt and comparison. Just because another photographer is talented, doesn’t mean you aren’t!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a portrait and wedding photographer. I love capturing authentic love and moments. I specialize in the moments in between. When you share a glance with your new wife, that gasp of realization just before they drop to one knee to propose, the squeeze of your hands as you share vows at your ceremony. I focus on telling the story of your love, no matter how it reads.
I am very rarely in front of the camera because I HATE photos of myself! I always feel so awkward and I don’t know what to do with my hands or my face. I hate feeling robotic because you can always see it in photos. I have made it my #1 priority to get to know my clients well before the session to see their comfort level on camera. Are they a natural born model when it comes to photos? Or do they feel more stiff and awkward like I do? As I set up a pose for a client, I make sure I show them exactly how to move their body, what to do with their expression, and how to feel natural! If I notice a client feeling stiff or uncomfortable, I adjust to make them feel more at ease so everything runs smoothly. I basically treat them how I’d want to feel on camera–natural, confident, and authentic!
What matters most to you?
Inclusivity.
I am a queer woman and last Christmas I was looking for a photographer for some holiday photos and I found myself so self conscious and nervous in this current climate. What if the person I reach out to retaliates negative towards my girlfriend and I? What if they reject us because of our orientation? I am so lucky to live where I do and work with super accepting and inclusive photographers so I knew I could find the perfect fit. But that experience really made me think about what it’s like for other couples who aren’t familiar with the ins and outs of the creatives in their area. I never want someone to feel nervous to inquire with me because of how they look, who they love, or where they’re from.
My priority as a business owner is being able to serve EVERYONE. I don’t want my clients to just feel comfortable on camera, but comfortable on the street we’re shooting on. I will ALWAYS stand up for my clients and put their safety first.
Pricing:
- Elopements starting at 1700
- Weddings starting at 2500
- Couples starting at 400
- Lifestyle starting at 300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hawkinsphotos.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/alexhawkinsphotos
- Other: https://g.co/kgs/1iB79Gq
Image Credits
Lauren Marie Photography
