Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Helm.
Hi Alex, 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 first picked up a camera back in 2016. It was during my Sophomore year of college and I was going through a bit of a rough patch; both mentally and physically. I was actually placed on Academic Probation due to how poorly I was doing in school at the time. So I decided to use Photography as an outlet and channel all of that negative energy into something positive. I started by taking pictures of landscapes while on hikes with my dog. Eventually, I came across a portrait page on Instagram and was absolutely mesmerized by the images I saw. I fell in love with how the photographers and models were conveying a short story through a single photo. So, I decided to reach out to a few of my friends and ask if they would be willing to help me develop my portrait portfolio. Everyone I worked with at the beginning has a very special place in my heart because without their love and support; I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. After I posted a few of the portraits on my social media pages, I announced that I would be doing Photography part-time while still attending school.
Eventually, I had a friend message me and ask if I would take her senior photos. This is what really jumpstarted everything. After taking her photos and posting them, I had about 4-5 more people reach out and ask if I could take their senior photos. So this is when I decided to sit down and come up with a business strategy. I’ve always loved creating videos, long before I even got into Photography, so I wanted to include in my name as well. Which is how I came up with the name of my business; Helm Visuals. This was around October 2016 but I honestly had no idea the door I was opening when I made this decision. By the beginning of 2017, I was hired to photograph and film my first wedding. I’d like to give a quick shoutout to my friend Keith for tagging along and being a second shooter. Shortly after that, I began traveling to different states for photography gigs. I met a ton of extremely talented people and made some really cool connections with people that I still keep in touch with to this day. Towards the end of 2017, I joined a Photography community called The Hub. It was a platform designed to help you connect with like-minded creatives in any area all across the world. Long story short, they held a challenge for all 25,000 users on their platform.
Fortunately, I was among seven other individuals that won the challenge and we all got flown out to Los Angeles where we sat down and met the founder, discussed potential business opportunities, and were selected to be Core H Members; giving us first access to jobs and connections in our hometown city. What a wonderful time that was. Fast forward to the following year; 2018. I was still living in San Marcos (just south of downtown Austin) I began working with a good amount of people all around Austin. I believe my biggest highlight of this year was having the chance to work for Red Bull during Austin City Limits. I was hired to film a promotional video showcasing their contributions to ACL. 2019; the year I traveled to Hawaii and made unforgettable memories with the most kind and loving souls. This is also the year I finally graduated from college which was a huge accomplishment for me considering I was placed on Academic probation and switched my major twice. Nevertheless, I got my degree in General Studies with three disciplines; Mass Communication, Media Studies, and Sociology. Alas, we enter everyone’s favorite year; 2020. I spent the first three months traveling since I had just graduated.
However, when we entered lockdown there was obviously no work in place. Once things started to open back up, I was offered a photography position with a company called Lifetouch. They hired me to join their Prestige team where I learned more about the technicalities of lighting, off-camera flash, and more. After about a year, I resigned and dove back into Freelancing full-time. I had missed the creative freedom that comes with freelancing. Things started off a bit slow but soon enough I was back to getting paid to do what I love most. Fast forward to the present, 2022, I now own a photography studio and work completely independently. Since the start of it all, I’ve taken hundreds of students’ graduation photos, filmed/photographed 10+ weddings, worked with some amazing individuals, and had the best of time while doing it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were definitely some obstacles along the way. I think the struggles that I’ve encountered have helped me become a better business owner, though. For instance, at the very beginning I was constantly looking for the next job just to stay busy which lead to me taking on gigs that weren’t really suited for me. However, I am thankful for the hardships that I had to face. Those experiences helped me learn that it’s okay to respectfully decline certain positions. Not every opportunity that comes your way will truly be meant for you and that’s totally fine,
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance Photographer/Videographer that also happens to model on occasion. I would describe my work as Euphoric. I like people to feel like they’re being hugged by the warmth of the sun whenever they take a look at one of my photos or viewing a video.
Something that I am most proud of is never letting myself quit along the way. There were multiple times where I questioned if I was making the right decision by becoming a freelance photographer. I would always hear people say “artists don’t make real money” and things along those lines. And at times, I really let that kind of energy get into my own head.
I believe something that sets me apart from others is my authenticity. I love creating things that only I can see in my head. This is what separates me from other individuals in my field of work.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice to anyone getting into photography: don’t wait to start. Just go for it. There will be mistakes made. There will be things that simply do not work out. Rock bottom will teach you lessons that mountain tops never will. Another thing that most photographers will tell you; YouTube is going to be your best friend. There is an immense amount of knowledge taught on that platform so make sure to take advantage of that. Enjoy the process and let things happen as they may.
Contact Info:
- Email: helmvisuals@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.helmvisuals.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helmvisuals/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRdh2Y3RTxzdub70wd6J3Cw?view_as=subscriber
