We recently connected with Aleah Torres and have shared our conversation below.
Aleah, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
Truthfully, my generosity comes from those who have been generous to me. God loves a cheerful giver! Have you ever heard of paying it forward? This concept has a domino effect of one person pushing down the first domino of generosity and then cascading from one domino to the next. My family has been beyond generous in my times of need. Even strangers have uplifted me with a kind gesture or word. I hope I have done the same for others. Let this serve as a reminder that a small gesture, a smile, wave, or friendly hello can go a long way!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My grandmother has always been my inspiration to be a photographer. Growing up, she always had a camera or camcorder in her hand(I know I am dating myself here haha). After she passed, when I was 16, my family and I combed through at least 30 boxes of printed Kodak photos all categorized by date and event. These memories meant the world to us and I knew I wanted to provide that service to others.
I love capturing special events for clients. From engagements to weddings to babies to families, I love it all! I thrive capturing where love is blossoming, where families are growing, and every little moment in between. As I have grown as a business owner, I have seen a need for clients to have style guides, wedding guides, and vendor lists to make their experience seamless from start to finish. I have partnered with some of the best vendors in the industry and I am confident they will offer the same quality as I do!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One of the biggest assets to my journey was building meaningful connections with everyone I come across. When a client chooses me to be their photographer, they are choosing me to capture a snapshot of time and memories that are fleeting. I want to tell their story in the most meaningful way. I believe it is also important to have empathy. Second, being empathetic helps me make connections with my clients and tell their stories. I have captured brides dancing with their mothers who are struggling with cancer, I have seen fathers break down in tears seeing their daughters as women, families having one last session with their elderly grandparents, and so much more. I know and feel how incredibly important these moments are and I will not miss a moment, even the candid ones! This brings me to my last skill, you have to make the session FUN! No child wants to sit still in front of a camera for an hour or even half an hour. Children love to be prompted to do silly things and let their energy out and that makes for the most genuine photos of you and your children!
The biggest piece of advice I would give to someone starting out would be to never give up! I have put my business on hold so many times because it is hard. It’s hard being your own boss, choosing what to learn, what gear to purchase, and the best way to advertise. At the end of the day, everyone is going to do this journey differently but if you are truly passionate about photography, don’t quit!
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal photography client is someone who values the art of photography and understands its importance in capturing special moments and memories. They are open to my creative vision and trust me to bring their ideas to life. They communicate their needs and preferences clearly and are willing to work collaboratively to achieve the desired outcome. They also show respect for my time and expertise by being punctual, responsive, and professional throughout the process. Overall, my ideal photography client is someone who values the relationship between photographer and client as a partnership built on trust and mutual respect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thewanderingstoryteller.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewandering.storyteller/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWanderingStory
