Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Acosta.
Hi Alexandra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In middle school, I took a yearbook class on a whim. I was given a camera to take pictures of everything around the school and helped design the yearbook. I immediately fell in love with photography, wanting to take pictures of anything I could. As I entered high school, I dove head first into the photography program, which started me off with two years of film-based photography classes, with an option to switch to digital in my third and fourth years. During my senior year, my photography teacher asked if I wanted to be a second shooter for one of her photographer friends at a wedding. While the experience wasn’t perfect, it was enough to inspire me to keep learning and shooting weddings. For undergrad, I went to Texas State and majored in photography, hoping to expand my knowledge and creativity to apply it to my budding photography business. Throughout college, I continued to network and grow my business and eventually moved to Austin from San Marcos. After working various full-time jobs and getting my master’s in mass communication, I began working in marketing while keeping my photography business part-time. I kept this structure to truly get to know my couples and continue to enjoy photography as a creative outlet instead of eventually getting burnt out. Now I can become friends with my couples before and after their weddings, and it’s truly the happiest I’ve ever been with my business!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The hardest part is finding the right couples that fit your personality. I was trying various advertising methods, and while I was getting clients, they weren’t the ones who truly valued me. Now that I’ve raised my prices appropriately and have phone calls or coffee dates with couples before they book with me, photography is more enjoyable for me and keeps my couples and I on the same page.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in wedding photography and sometimes do engagement sessions or family sessions for couples I’ve photographed or through word of mouth. I’m most proud of myself for breaking out of my shell and getting to know my couples more. I’ve had anxiety around weddings since I started shooting them, and only recently has it mostly gone away. Getting to know a couple to the point of an established friendship puts my mind at ease for something as significant as photographing one of the most important days of someone’s life. I think it helps them instill more confidence in me as their photographer too. I think my ability to connect with my couples in this way sets me apart from other photographers in this sector. Everyone has their unique way of connecting, but once a couple meets me, it’s easy to connect if our personalities mesh well.
We love surprises, fun facts, and incredible stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I recently started outsourcing my editing for weddings, which is very out of character for me. It lowered my stress level because it was becoming too much for me to handle, and I had to decide between control and less stress. I could feel the burnout approaching, and I didn’t want to get to that point, so outsourcing it is! People who know me know I like to control or be in charge of everything because it helps ease my anxiety. I’m optimistic about this big step for my business!
Pricing:
- Packages start at $2900
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexandrawhitephoto.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/alexandrawhitephoto
- Facebook: facebook.com/alexandrawhitephoto
- Other: Junebug Wedding profile: https://junebugweddings.com/vendors/wedding-photographers/texas/austin/Alexandra-White-Photo
Image Credits
Alexandra White Photo
