Conversations with Aliscia Klenke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aliscia Klenke. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Being a wedding photographer and business owner was actually never on my radar. I went to school for Photojournalism in hopes of pursuing a career at a publication like National Geographic or something. I wanted to travel the world telling stories. And then halfway through college, some friends of mine asked me to photograph their super intimate wedding. And I have to admit, it was a lot of fun! I had no clue what I was doing, no clue how to prompt or pose. But my friends wanted me to document their day, and I was all about it! That was back in 2008. 

Business started to pick up shortly after college. The year I got married, 2013, I had a wedding every single weekend except for my wedding weekend and the weekend of my honeymoon. After that though, photography was put on the back burner, just due to being freshly married, and photography education and community wasn’t really a thing yet. I didn’t know how to handle being newly married and having a business all at the same time. 

Fast forward to today, in June of 2022, I can say that I’ve been a full-time wedding photographer for the last 4 years and have seriously been loving it. Business comes with its ups and downs; we all know that. And I’ve had them. But I’m pumped to see just how far I can take this business and watch it help provide for my family, and also provide future couples with amazing memories to look back on! 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
To be honest, it has NOT been a smooth road. Like I said, when I started in wedding photography, I knew no one. Online education wasn’t a thing yet. The wedding industry community didn’t exist. I was very much alone. Alone in my work, and alone in figuring out how the heck to run a business and market myself. 

Figuring out who I am as a photographer was one of the hardest parts. I love so many things, and so many styles of photography. But for a while, it seemed like the only way to be successful to have this one particular style, and so that’s the work I created. It took me YEARS to realize that I didn’t have to deliver work that didn’t resonate with me, that I could create work that felt like me, that I loved, and hopefully someone else would love it too! 

I still have A WAYS to go, but don’t we all? I’m excited to say that I’ve been learning so much over the last few years about how to run this business, and how to really reach those clients that truly love what I have to offer. Definitely wished I had learned all of this so much sooner in my career, but we all sometimes feel that way. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in Intimate Weddings and Elopements. And I would definitely say I’m known for how I make my clients feel. I want them to be themselves. Natural, goofy, adventurous, intimate. Whatever it is. And I truly believe it shines through in the work that I put out there. 

I would have to say that I am the most proud of the way that I make my clients feel. When I have couples, guys especially, say that they actually had fun, that they wouldn’t want to be photographed by anyone but me again… I can’t think of a better compliment than that. To know that people who don’t like being in front of the camera, don’t mind being in front of mine because they know they can trust me and are comfortable with me, that’s the absolute BEST! 

And I believe that’s what also sets me apart. Photographers are a dime a dozen. Everyone knows one. And there’s SO MANY amazing photographers out there. And we all “tell stories.” But not everyone knows how to elicit those feelings of comfort and intimacy. And I would say that totally and completely sets me apart from the crowd. That no matter what your personality is, no matter whether you think you photograph well or not, I’m going to capture you in a way that just screams who you are. And it’s going to be in a beautiful way. 

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think my ability to listen to people, and really get to know what they want, has contributed to success in my business. Because let’s be real, these aren’t my memories. I wouldn’t even have this business if people didn’t like me and hire me. Clients put their trust in us as photographers to truly document their lives as they are right now, and one client’s story isn’t the same as another’s. And I don’t ever want them to look like they are. 

I’m learning more and more every day how to really draw out someone’s personality. And I think that’s the most important thing we can do as photographers. Draw out who someone is in that moment, and document it in a way that they can learn to love all of the aspects of who they are. 

Pricing:

• Weddings start at $3,200
• Elopements start at $2,000
• Couples start at $500

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alisciamariephotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/alisciamariephoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/alisciamariephoto

Image Credits
Aliscia Marie Photography