Today we’d like to introduce you to Hunter Edgerly.
Hi Hunter, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started photography in 2016 as a hobby, I would photograph my high school sporting events, my friends and family. After I graduated high school in 2016, I decided to go to Texas State. After being there for a year and still having no clue what I wanted to do long-term, I moved back to Austin. I decided to go to ACC and take some photography classes, I learned all the fundamentals of how a camera works. I loved the photography program but felt after taking all the fundamental classes, the rest of the program wasn’t for me. I decided to just start building my portfolio up. I started to take photos of things that I actually enjoyed instead of objects. After leaving school, I was a full-time nanny and did photography on the side. I was mostly getting senior portraits and family sessions at the time but I knew that those sessions weren’t my passion. Then I had one of my cousins reach out about taking their engagement photos and that’s when I knew I wanted to photograph more couples.
I had so many amazing people around me and in the photography community encouraging and helping me. I am so grateful for all the people who supported me and still do to this day.
I now shoot couples, weddings, and elopements only and it has been my favorite season so far in my photography career. I love getting to know my couples and their love story. Then to see them get married on top of that is even more amazing, I always end up shedding a few happy tears on a wedding day.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road and I definitely don’t expect it to be! Hahaha. For me, it is always more of an internal struggle, imposter syndrome is huge in the creative space and definitely in photography. Imposter Syndrome, as best as I can explain it is, comparing yourselves to all these other amazing creatives. When I scroll through my feed, I see all these STUNNING images from others, I compare my work to theirs. I’m always so impressed that I sit there just thinking how, why, and I’m not good enough. I struggle with that the most, and I know it will probably always be prevalent at points in my career. I know many creatives go through imposter syndrome and I don’t see it as a terrible thing. It just reminds me that I need to take a minute and not scroll through Instagram so much. I’ve noticed that I also feel it more when I’m not creating as much. When imposter syndrome comes around, I know that I need to have a creative session just for myself to help me get out of my funk.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Professional Wedding, Elopement, Couple Photographer. I am most proud of sticking with what I want to do, even though it’s not always easy, I love what I do and am super proud of what my company is today. I think so many young people want a job that makes them happy but they don’t fully commit to it because they think it’s going to be hard and unachievable but it definitely is possible! And you should keep trying!! I think it’s super important to advocate for what you actually want to do because you will be doing it for a long time. What sets me apart from others is that my sessions are laid-back, I always tell my couples to just be in the moment with each other, treat the session like a date night! I want to capture their love and the authentic moments between them and I can’t capture that when they stare at my camera the whole time hahahaha! I definitely have a few tricks to get them to relax, but you’ll have to book a session with me to get the full experience!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Oh man, this is a tough one, hahaha. My boyfriend and I have this conversation a lot. So I am a true Austinite, I was born here and have never left this city, besides my brief year in San Marcos. Because I have lived here my whole life, the change that is happening isn’t my favorite. I love that everyone loves Austin but I’m like it’s mine and what are y’all doing to it hahaha. For me, it used to feel like a small town, and now it gives me big city vibes. It is just a change I will eventually get used to but man, I am over the traffic. Even with all the change, I do not see myself leaving anytime soon, it’s home to me and I think it always will be, that is my favorite thing about Austin.
Pricing:
- Couples & Engagements – Start at $400.00
- Weddings – Start at $2,400.00
- Elopements – Start at $1,600
Contact Info:
- Email: hunter@edgerlyphotography.com
- Website: https://edgerlyphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgerlyphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edgerlyphotography
