We recently connected with Allyson Zajac and have shared our conversation below.
Allyson, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
My optimism stems from not stressing over things I can’t control. It has helped me keep a clear mind when it comes to decision making and keeps me calm in situations where it may be difficult to do so. This helps me whenever a roadblock may arise and I’m able to find the positive in whatever situation occurs. I’m not saying I’m always optimistic, but I do know how to get in the mindset of what needs to be tackled next and to make light of certain situations.
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?
As a photographer, I enjoy capturing special moments and pure emotions for my clients. I do not limit myself to one photography style which keeps my content new and exciting. I have taken photos of growing families, military homecomings, weddings, engagements, as well as nature and the world around me. When delivering the albums to my clients, I enjoy producing photos that are vibrant, and full of color and life so they may cherish those moments forever. What I love about photography is that no matter where I relocate to, I can always take it with me. My love for photography began in Charleston, SC at The Citadel, then once I graduated and moved to Virginia, I stuck with it and mainly took photos of nature. Since then I have lived in many other states, broadening my horizons on the type of subjects that I photograph which keeps my craft exciting and new.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Personally, I feel as though having an open mind and creativity in my passion, adaptability, and patience have been the three significant qualities that have impacted my journey for the better. Being able to see things from a different perspective and being able to use my creativity in photography have helped me keep an open mind when it comes to new content. This allows me to treat each customer as a unique individual, providing that special feeling to each photoshoot. Being the wife of a military member has forced me to embrace the power of adaptation. I learned that frequently moving throughout the country had unique challenges, that became rewarding opportunities as I adapted to new environments, clientele, and styles. I learned the importance of patience throughout those moves as well, as I worked to establish my brand in new locations. While it is difficult to move away from an amazing group of clients, it has enabled me to spread my art and passion throughout the country and that is so fulfilling for me.
The best advice that I can offer to those who are early in their photographer journey is to never limit yourself, and get out of your comfort zone. Explore different types of photography and see what you’re best at. For example, I thought that I would only enjoy photographing nature, but I expanded to families, couples, and children, and now I absolutely love capturing their candid emotions. That is one of the many beauties of photography, I get to capture memories for my clients while finding new passions for myself, and growing as an artist. I also highly recommend new photographers try different editing styles to discover what compliments their vision. How I started editing and shooting in the beginning of my photography journey is different than how I currently take photos and edit. So always be open!
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
In my experience being a well-rounded artist has been more useful and rewarding throughout my journey. Focusing on areas of improvement has allowed me to photograph confidently regardless of the setting or circumstances, because I pushed outside my comfort zone in the past. Furthermore, I think being well-rounded has helped me thrive while moving throughout the country as I have been able to engage a larger variety of clientele. In practice, this could be as simple as trying new equipment or photographing outside of your preferred medium or style. I remember the uneasy feeling of learning individual model photography for the first time. In preparation for high school senior class photos, I had my husband serve as my model in the planned location. This was my way of learning single-subject posing methods and gaining familiarity with the venue ahead of time. In the end I learned a lot, had a successful photoshoot, and became a more well-rounded artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allysonlatschphotography.pixieset.com/
- Instagram: @AllysonLatschPhotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allysonlatschphotography/
