Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Laviano.
Hi Alexandra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Recording memories was always important to me. It started when I was in my high school years in Colombia with the sole purpose of keeping my own recollection of special moments and people in my life. I just wanted to have candid photos of my friends and family in Colombia, especially after finding out we were moving to the US. Once in the US, the desire to continue documenting all the places we went and the people we met continued. Having a camera everywhere I went became very important to me. I enjoyed making albums (this is back in the day before the digital world exploded) and being able to reminisce about the moments in the photographs. Slowly, through my late teenage years through my mid-20s, I upgraded my camera. Then there came a time when I just knew I wanted to be able to take better pictures than the average cellphone or the basic digital cameras. That’s when I decided to invest in a more pricey camera and some basic education to know how to work the camera and photography basics.
The education came in the form of books which taught me little by little how to work the camera to get those crisp images that I craved and some basics about the other elements of photography. The more I learned, the more I wanted to practice and take my photography to the next level. I started using my family members and friends as subjects and getting as much practice as I could while at the same time recording their memories in photographs that they are able to treasure for a lifetime. As my expertise in photography grew, so did the love of people for my work. That’s when I started getting paid for it. Once again, I outgrew my camera, and it was time to upgrade. Thanks to all the photography jobs I did, I was able to fund my new upgrade to take my photography even further. This is when my most artistic photographs came into being. And so, here I am. Growing in all things photography while enjoying the look of satisfaction on peoples’ faces when they see themselves in my art.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has been a smooth road outwardly but a slow journey. While the desire to dedicate more time to growing my business has always been there, the time availability has not. My husband was just starting his career along my journey, including 3.5 of chiropractic school, so I had to work a full-time job to help sustain us. That did not allow me to spend as much time as I wanted to perfect my skills and study to be better. Now that we own a successful chiropractic practice, I am able to step aside and spend more time doing what I love, which is photography.
There has also been obstacles and challenges inwardly. As in many others paving their way to success, there’s always that inward voice wanting you to doubt everything you are doing. Thankfully, I have always been able to overcome that voice and keep pushing. The result and biggest reward is the look of satisfaction on my clients’ faces when they see themselves in my photos.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a professional photographer. I specialize in family and individual portraits and small event photography. I love making my subjects feel comfortable, almost playful, in front of the camera. I found ways to get genuine smiles and capture my subjects’ true essence instead capturing just stale poses. I am proud to say that most of my photographs are storytelling and reflect my subjects’ meaningful expressions.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The art of photography has only grown exponentially throughout the years. Nowadays with social media, it has become the medium for people to showcase their work and make a living or to instantly share their likes and dislikes. The need for the human beings to document their lives, whether it’s for work or for their own recollection has become almost a vital part of their daily lives. Therefore, I believe that the technology for better photography will continue to advance in order to keep up with the demand, as will the need for good photographers. However, technology growth will not affect the essence and demand of family and individual portraiture, just as it has not for the past decades.
Contact Info:
- Email: alaviano13@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesjoliesphotography/
Image Credits
Personal Photos Credit: Allan So
