Meet Allison Williams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Williams.

Hi Allison, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My love for photography started as a child with the glossy pages of ESSENCE and EBONY magazine. I studied Graphic Communications as an undergrad (Aggie Pride!), followed by receiving a graduate degree in Instructional Technology. While in undergrad, I fell in love with photography and spent time photographing friends, campus life, and cemeteries (odd, right?). After school, I entered the working world and didn’t pick my camera up until 2003, when I photographed my sister for a maternity shoot, and my niece’s birth announcement followed. It wasn’t until 2019 that I got serious about photography again. It started because I wanted to publish a photo essay book in the form of a coffee table book. I started taking photos to brush up on my skills and fell in love with photography all over again! It was not a business at first. However, people wanted to pay me, so it turned into a business. It isn’t solely about photography for me. My goal is to help people affirm who they are. Shooting with me is an experience clients have told me they thoroughly enjoy! We all need a little empowerment sometimes, and I consider myself your biggest supporter and cheerleader.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Hmm. Smooth? I would say no! However, I don’t mean it negatively. I consider everything I’ve been through to be a learning experience. Learning about myself, business, people, and my craft. I am learning to trust my instincts and keep my purpose at the forefront of everything I do.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

My purpose in life is to help people. It sounds really broad, but how I do it is very specific. The name of my company is, This is Affirm, LLC. There are currently three focus areas; photography, publishing, and wellness. Affirm Photography focuses on helping people affirm who they are through the power of images. Affirm Publishing focuses on website development, business consulting, and publishing needs for small businesses. Affirm Wellness focuses on mentoring, 1:1 coaching, and group coaching. Each session is empowering! All three focus areas are things that I am passionate about and have experience in. It’s important to do things I’m passionate about that align with my purpose.

Affirm Photography specializes in what I call The Birthday Experience! It’s so much more than a photo shoot! I am most proud of my first book, Dear Momma, which is currently developing. I encourage mothers and daughters to sign up for this project. You can find out more about Dear Momma at affirmphotography.com. You do not have to be a mother who has a daughter to participate. This project is why I started Affirm Photography. It is the heart of my business. I don’t know what sets me apart from others. I focus on being of service to my clients and improving every day to become the best person I can be. I truly live by my favorite quote by Arthur Ashe: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned that no matter what is going on in the world, people are still searching for things that bring them joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.affirmphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/affirm_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imagesbyaffirm
• Other: https://thisisaffirm.com/

Image Credits
All photo credits- Affirm Photography