Meet Callie Lawrence of Ann Arbor, MI

Today we’d like to introduce you to Callie Lawrence

Hi Callie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi friends! My name is Callie, owner of Callie Alexandria Photography and I’m your local adventure photographer. Oddly enough, my photography journey started during the COVID-19 pandemic when I found myself at home more without many hobbies that I could do while socially distanced. My partner had an old Canon camera and I asked if I could mess around with it taking photos of my horse and dog for fun. I quickly fell in love with capturing anything and everything I could and being creative in how I edited photos. Next thing I knew, friends and family were asking me to take photos of them too.

After a few months of taking photos for loved ones, someone mentioned I should consider charging and making a business out of this since I was such a natural. Once I started to think about my “brand” and what I wanted to do with my business, it really took off. For the first year or so, I took on mostly equine sessions and couples sessions. I then started to dabble in horse show photography, but my heart kept being drawn to nature. I wanted to be out in the woods capturing my clients stories.

Now, most of my sessions are out in nature. We pick a location based on activity level and goals for the session. Sometimes we hike, sometimes we enjoy a sunrise on the beach, sometimes I follow a horse and rider through the woods to capture their love for the trails. My brand is about authenticity. I am merely a vessel to portray who you really are, and I’m so proud to be.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most of my photography journey has been smooth sailing, but there are definitely learning curves along the way. There is a lot happening behind the scenes that I had NO clue about going into the business aspect of photography. I’d say learning to navigate business talk, the legal documents you need, and building a website (CODING OMG) have been the hardest parts for me. I wouldn’t change a thing about my journey though.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am what I consider an adventure photographer. Adventures can be just about anything that sets your soul on fire: weddings, elopements, couples, equine and pets are my JAM. I’m known for creating a space that feels comfortable, where my clients feel like a friend is simply third wheeling on a fun date night. I’m most proud of hearing my clients talk about their vision for their time with me and making it come to life. I will never get tired of all caps texts after I deliver a gallery where a client tells me they’re in tears with how much they love their images. I think what sets me apart from others is my deeply innate empathy. I feel EVERYTHING my clients do, particularly on wedding and elopement days where we are together for an extended period of time. If I can sense there’s something bugging you, you can bet I’ll say something and do what I can to problem solve.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My biggest advice is to MAKE FRIENDS! I felt very alone the first year or so in my photography journey. Once I started going to content days and connecting with other photographers, I feel like I truly blossomed. Some of my best friends I’ve met at content days. It’s so nice to be able to bounce ideas off one another without judgement.

Pricing:

• Weddings – start at $3000
• Elopements – start at $2000
• Sessions – start at $375

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.calliealexandria.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calliealexandriaphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calliealexandriaphoto