Today we’d like to introduce you to Alvis Pham
Alvis, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From a young age, I’ve always been drawn to photography and videography. I remember borrowing my parents’ old camcorder to make my own “short films” with stuffed animals. In 6th grade, I even started a YouTube channel to showcase my arts and crafts projects. Fast forward a few years, and I found myself as a broke college freshman taking out a small loan to buy camera gear, determined to get serious about photography. It might not have been the most financially sound decision at the time (I had about $2 to my name), but looking back, it was one of the best choices I ever made.
Before diving into weddings, engagements, and other professional shoots, I began with graduation sessions. Thankfully, it was right around graduation season when I bought my first camera. After shooting a dozen or so grads, I realized just how much I loved capturing those moments and knew I wanted to turn my passion into a career. I was well aware the journey wouldn’t be easy, but as long as I had a camera in my hands, I was happy. To build my portfolio, I offered to shoot weddings and engagements for free, launched my website, and dedicated every spare moment to honing my craft. Following my passion without hesitation has taken me around the world, allowing me to witness some of life’s most beautiful moments.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most creative careers, photography comes with its challenges, especially in the beginning. One of the biggest struggles was getting my name out there and building a client base. When I first started, I had little to no experience, so I offered my services for free or at very low rates just to build a portfolio. It took time and a lot of patience to get my foot in the door. I never had a mentor and everything in the field was completely new to me. I was on my own and had to learn everything about running a business properly.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a wedding photographer and videographer based in the Orange County area. What I’m most proud of is the connection I build with my clients. I take the time to get to know each couple, their personalities, and what’s important to them. This allows me to not only capture beautiful photos but also moments, but to create a connection that continues past their wedding date. I often become friends with many of my clients and it’s honestly one of the best parts of being a wedding photographer!
I have dabled in many forms of photography, not just weddings. Whenever I have free time, I always find myself doing landscape, car, street, photo journalistic, and film photography. My unique style is a culmination of all the different elements from each form of photography into one.
At the end of the day, I’m proud of the fact that I get to do what I love while making a meaningful impact in people’s lives. The trust my clients place in me to capture such important memories is something I don’t take lightly, and it’s what drives me to keep pushing forward.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to keep expanding my team and the do more passion projects to showcase my creative vision. I’ve always wanted to plan and photograph editorial styled shoots around the world in locations such as Italy, Iceland, and France.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alvisphamphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alvisphamphotography/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/ZhyeANn1By
