Conversations with Alyssa Buller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Buller

Hi Alyssa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Muskegon, Michigan, with an artist for a mother and a photographer for a father. From an early age, I had a creative spirit and often spent my time helping my mom paint our walls or assisting my dad as he color-corrected old slides.

My life took a different turn into music for a while, which led me to join the Marine Corps Band.

After my military service, I knew I wanted to work for myself. I tried working a cashier job for about three weeks before realizing that this type of work wasn’t for me. Around the same time, I got my first dog and stumbled into the dog training community.

As I immersed myself in dog training—and later owned a dog training business—I realized I needed high-quality photos for marketing. Being a chronic do-it-yourself type of person, I went online and bought myself a $50 camera. I started by practicing in my yard with my own dogs and eventually began photographing the dogs of my training clients. In fact, it was with that $50 camera that one of my photos was featured in a pet magazine for the first time (if I could remember the name of the magazine, I’d link it here, but alas…).

As I honed my craft, my creative ventures started gaining traction in the dog and animal communities. During this time, I also taught myself how to design logos, websites, graphics, and more.

About halfway through my dog training career, I met my partner, Chris. Chris and I shared a dream: to perform with our dogs for a living. In 2021, that dream became a reality when we started working for Stunt Dog Productions as stunt dog performers. I know—this is a bit of a wild twist. But with a well-trained pack of dogs, a passion for trick and frisbee training, and a little luck, the stars aligned. Before long, I found myself performing with my dogs for hundreds of thousands of people each year at fairs, theaters, zoos, and even NFL and NBA halftime shows.

Chris and I absolutely love performing with our dogs, so we’ve both committed to running our own businesses to maintain the flexibility to perform when needed. For example, just a couple of weekends ago, we drove from Michigan to Maryland to perform at the Washington Commanders halftime show!

In October 2024, our lease was up, and we decided to move back to West Michigan to be closer to my family. This move became the catalyst for me to transition from training pet dogs full-time (when not performing) to pursuing photography full-time and officially launching Vivid Photo LLC.

Now, less than three months into running Vivid Photo, I’ve already seen more traction than I ever anticipated. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken the time to appreciate my photos, compliment my websites, and hire me for design work.

As I continue to build Vivid, I’m developing a full branding collection for small businesses and professionals. My goal is to be a one-stop shop for everything a small business needs to create outstanding digital content with a strong online presence—logo creation, website design and SEO, branding photos, videography, editing, and truly full-service support.

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?
This venture has not come without its challenges. I was actually preparing to transition my career into photography in early 2023. Things were looking promising, and word was spreading about my work. But then, one day, everything changed. I arrived to photograph an event, walked inside to greet my contact, and returned to my vehicle only to discover that all my equipment had been stolen from my car.

My camera, lenses—everything—was gone. I promptly filed a police report and an insurance claim.

Unfortunately, the police were unable to catch the perpetrator, and my insurance company denied the claim. It felt like everything I had worked so hard for had been taken from me in the blink of an eye.

It wasn’t until a year and a half later that I was finally able to save enough money to re-purchase all my photography equipment. The moment I held a camera in my hands again, I was overwhelmed. I had gone so long without it that I had almost forgotten what I was missing. My camera wasn’t just a tool—it was my missing piece. And after all that time, I finally got it back.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in brand and commercial photography, helping small businesses and professionals create eye-catching, high-quality visual content that reflects their unique identity. My work includes everything from branding photos and videography to logo design, website design, copywriting, and SEO. Essentially, I aim to be a one-stop shop for businesses that want to elevate their online presence and tell their story in a visually impactful way.

I’m known for my vibrant, authentic, and artistic style of photography. My images are crisp, sharp, and full of life—they’re designed to grab attention, whether they’re on a billboard, a website, or social media. Beyond just creating images, I focus on storytelling. I want people to see themselves or their business in a new light, and I take pride in making my clients feel proud of how they’re portrayed.

I’m proud of the connections I’ve made through my work and the moments I’ve been able to capture. Seeing how my photography or branding designs have helped someone’s business grow—or just made them smile—is incredibly rewarding. It’s those small wins that keep me motivated every day.

What sets me apart is my dedication to understanding my clients and bringing their vision to life. I don’t believe in cookie-cutter solutions; I approach each project with fresh ideas and a personal touch. Whether it’s a small business needing an entire branding overhaul or a professional looking for a few standout photos, I take the time to ensure that every detail is just right.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Family and flexibility. At the end of the day, I am just working to build a sustainable life for myself, my partner, and our little family. Achieving those things with photography is really my ultimate dream.

Pricing:

• Custom-Build Collections

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vividmichigan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vividphotogram
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vividphotomichigan