Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Grimes
Alexis, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I always had an interest in photography throughout my middle school years which manifested into many slightly embarrassing & very cringy photoshoots with friends, and even being tasked with taking a few photos at my cousin’s wedding on my little point-and-shoot (a job I took VERY seriously). My interest grew as I entered high school and began taking photography classes where I learned how to shoot on & develop film, as well as the importance of composition & basic editing knowledge. The summer before my senior year of high school, my high school sweetheart’s mother (who is now my mother-in-law and is also a wedding photographer) called me frantically asking if I was available to photograph a wedding with her since her original second photographer failed to show. I was terrified, but she was desperate and I was not going to say no to her in her distressed state. I grabbed my parents’ ancient Nikon D50 and whatever stock lenses they had for it, and headed to photograph my first wedding. I wish I could say that I knew that day that I wanted to spend my life photographing weddings, but I’d be lying. I enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong, but I viewed it as a fun little hobby for many years. I continued to shoot weddings with my mother-in-law and portraits on my own throughout my remaining high school years. Once I was in college, I began to book my own weddings. Looking back now, I must’ve started to realize how much I genuinely enjoyed it then because I sacrificed many weekends away from campus to photograph strangers’ wedding days, and the limited free time I had outside of classes and work to edit. I was a COVID graduate, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology in May of 2020 while sitting on my parents’ couch all alone. Despite this unfortunate ending to my college career, I was lucky enough to get a job as a research fellow at the FDA soon after graduating. I enjoyed the research, but I couldn’t fathom spending 8-12 hours a day working and commuting to-and-from work once I had a family. More than becoming a scientist or a photographer, I’ve always wanted to be a mother, so having the freedom to spend time with and raise my future children is very important to me. I spent 2 years at this research job, and during this time, my photography business continued to grow. I quickly realized I was booking as many weddings and portrait sessions a year as many full-time photographers I knew, at which point I made it officially and filed for an LLC. The more I worked at this job that I didn’t love, I also quickly realized how much I LOVED photographing weddings, as well as growing families, excited and ambitious graduates, headshots for new businesses, and so much more. Once my photography income surpassed my fellowship income, I decided to take the leap and run my business full time. It’s now been 2.5 years, and while it’s certainly been stressful, I wouldn’t change it for the world!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Taking the leap and deciding to leave my previous job to do photography full time was a huge struggle itself. It’s terrifying to leave a job with a steady, reliable income to run your own business, completely on your own, with no guarantee of success. I ultimately decided that the risk was worth it because if I could make it on my own, I would be able to travel more, spend more time with loved ones, and be present for my future children. With the freedom that comes with running a small business, however, self-discipline is necessary. It’s too easy to get behind on work and develop less-than-ideal working habits with no one but you setting deadlines and work schedules.
Maintaining a work-life balance is another struggle I’m still working to overcome. With photography specifically, it is an art form, and just like with any art, creativity doesn’t always manifest exactly when you want or need it to. I tend to work best in the evenings and late into the night, which isn’t always ideal when I’d like to be spending quality time with my husband once he’s home for the evening.
My biggest struggle, however, is probably my perfectionism. When I was photographing things and people for fun, I wasn’t as worried about making the final image “perfect” because it was for my own enjoyment. But now, I am completely aware that professional photography is a HUGE investment for the average family, so I want every session and image to be as perfect as possible, which is very time-consuming and very stressful. Working to overcome my perfectionism is a daily struggle, but keeping myself inspired helps a lot.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in wedding and portrait photography (couples, families, graduates, newborns & boudoir). On average, I photograph about 25 weddings a year, primarily in the Delaware-Maryland-Pennsylvania-Virginia region, but I LOVE to travel, so I am also willing to go just about anywhere to capture love stories. I would describe my editing style as very bright, colorful and true-to-life. With any event or session, I strive to take a mixture of both perfectly posed and imperfectly candid images. My ultimate goal is to capture the beauty in both everyday life and special occasions, while highlighting human connection, love and joy.
In 2024, I photographed my first two destination weddings – one in Kentucky and one in Connecticut – which was very rewarding and something I am extremely proud of. I feel honored anytime someone anywhere trusts me enough and likes my work enough to photograph their special day, but it feels extra special when someone chooses you to travel to them instead of hiring someone closer. Another thing I am very proud of is the amount of repeat clients I have. Nothing makes me happier than being in my clients’ lives from their engagement & wedding day to maternity & newborn sessions, then to full-blown family sessions. I love watching families grow and enter new seasons of life.
What sets me apart from others is my desire to make every image as perfect as possible, from the formal portraits to informal candids. I carefully curate, crop, straighten, color correct and retouch every image to reflect my best possible work because anyone who hires me deserves my very best. I don’t view clients as just clients – I view them as friends, as individuals who trust me to document and be apart of their important milestones and special events. I also never stop trying to learn more ways to better improve my client experience, workflow and final images.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that there will always be room to grow and improve. The best thing a creative (or anyone, really) can do for themselves is acknowledge that there is always more to learn and more ways to better serve clients.
Pricing:
- Weddings starting at $2800
- Portraits starting at $295
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alexismanningphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexismanningphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexismanningphotography/
