Three Year Anniversary!

     Did you know that every thing that you have done in your life helps you with photography?  Whether it is what you learned in high school, your school projects, your extracurricular activities, team sports, chores, or recitals?  It all helps with running your own business, talking about your art work or even the social media aspect?  The math I learned in school or at least some of the math helps me with my business taxes.  Then there is the fact that you have to write thank you letters which without English I would have way more grammar errors.  Some businesses have a catch phrase or even a slogan which you learn through a business class.  I do appreciate my education as every year around Saint Patrick's Day I think of how when I finished my college experience three years ago and hit the ground running.  For example: a month after I graduated I started my business Allie Ray Photography, had found an apartment, and even rescued a dog.  I sometimes laugh when I think of this and think I did this all backwards.  I was supposed to find a job not start my dream job at 23. 
     Today, as I think of these accomplishments I also think of how I describe my work to people.  I have been thinking of this after I described it to many people at my First solo art show in Leeds, Alabama on March 6th where my work will be featured all month at the Leeds Theatre and Art Center.  The first thing I realized is explaining my work is harder than I thought it would be.  I have learned I have to explain things in simple terms and that it takes time to get people to see how unique my work is.  I enjoy explaining my work to my relatives or people I know really well so they are able to give me feedback.  I wish everyday I could have an art show and find the right people to buy my work.  The thing I keep reminding myself is being an artist is 'yes this is my dream, but it will not always pay the bills.'  I do have a part time job, babysit and more, but my photography is always close to me keep me grounded.  Here are some photographs of the set up from the event and you are still able to go see until April 1st!

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Toot Your Horn

Hello once again my avid blog readers!!
     My photography if you did not know it is my safe place to express myself when the world around me gets crazy.  When I happen to get a great review, my name in the paper, or some acknowledgement for my my I get butterflies.  These are not the type of butterflies you get when falling in love, but the kind you get from pure satisfaction of a job well done.  Here is the article that my sister helped me edit for an upcoming art show.  When I say edit I mean without her it would sound like a third grade level paper maybe sixth grade level paper.  Anyways,  I just have been shouting out to the world my good news or as some wise women once told me to do toot your own horn.  Honestly, I have learned over the years that you are your worst and best critic.  I am not the exact person who first said this, but I will always remember this.  That is why I try to be proud of all my accomplishments big or small.  I feel proud of the praise from others, but I try to keep myself in check with who I really am as a person.  So I have been posting tons of information about the show for Leeds Art Council at the Leeds Theatre and Arts Center on March 6th 1:30 to 3:30 pm is the opening reception on my social media outlets.  All while doing some celebratory dancing!  I hope you all can make it to one of the days the gallery is opened.

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March will be Busy!

     First, I am excited to announce I will be the featured artist for a month for the Leeds Art Council in March.  You can find out more information here and your can see the other artists that will be featured each month here.  Now of course I was jumping up and down.  And I was very excited to know that the hanging of my pieces will be able to work around my other jobs and that it is the weekend before I am photographing a wedding.  A wedding and being the artist of the month in March is just a dream to me.
     Now, I want to tell you about something I witnessed at my part-time job this week.  They were getting ready for a photo shoot and I was able to see them do the make up and hair on one of my colleagues which was so fun for me.  But I could tell by her posture and that she was not enjoying it.  I know some of us do not love having our photographs taken.  I am one of them.  I will admit that you have to get me laughing so you are able to get my natural smile.  That is why when I take photographs I am watching my clients.  I was taking a Christmas card for my aunt and my uncle looked so stiff basically unhappy.  I told him and he laughed.  After uploading the photos the laptop my aunt was happy I told him, because you could see a big difference in his smiles.  I have learned as a photographer you have to be honest with your clients.  If they are not comfortable with having their photo taken talk to them for a while.  I would not go right into photographing someone who is uncomfortable.  It may take a few tries, but in the end it will be worth it.
     I will show you more photographs in my next blog after I go take some photographs at a fabulous Engagement Party!  I really do love photographing all types of events and doing all your commissions.

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Thank You 2015!

     As the year 2015 comes to end and I write my last blog post for the year.  I have to say a few things to my readers.  I have felt like my blog has become more and more about my life and photography.  I have been telling you about running a business, having a part-time job and having free time.  Now, I have come up with something new to talk to you about which is for all those creative people out there reading my blog.  My mom is discussing down sizing her house.  That is awesome for her.  I am thinking umm... hello do you actually know how much stuff I have at your house???  I have been thinking in between Christmas wrapping, editing photographs, and finishing commissions of how I can begin to clean out all my things I have kept over the years.  Now, I would not describe myself as a hoarder.  I would just say I am sentimental about a few things.  I have decided my first move is going to be to get some help with getting someone to make a quilt out of all my sweatshirts.  I have probably close to 20 sweatshirts.
     Now, that I have one idea down another thing I am trying to think about is the year 2016.  The goals I need to set for my business.  It is more that I need to always work on getting people involved with my work and the social media parts of my business.  I need to keep the word of mouth going.  I have this neighbor who has been helping a lot and who tells everyone about my work she can!  This helps me a lot.  I try to tell people at my part-time job, the people I work out with and whenever I see someone posting about it on Facebook.  For 2016 I want you all to know that I appreciate each and everyone's business in 2015.  I can not do what I am doing today without you all.  Have a Happy New Year's!

This is a recent commission I did over Christmas.

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Busy Season!

     It is Christmas time again when most all photographers are busy editing, working on commissions, and starting to prepare for a new year of business.  We begin with renewing our business licenses and making sure everyone has paid their bill.  We also need to make sure we are not rushed in any way possible so that everything goes to our clients looking fabulous.

     Last night I was working on commissions for a client praying they turned out well after they printed.  After doing that I emailed another client photos we had been discussing to be printed which she responded in the morning.  Finishing tasks that are either small or big has allowed me to prepare for more commissions and more time to plan for extra photo shoots.

     Now, I do not know how you enjoy editing your work, but sometimes listening to music or watching a funny TV show helps me.  This also allows me to judge how long I have been working so I able to take small short breaks.  I would not suggest anyone to get consumed with your work.  Breaks can help us all refocus our energy and we can see something that might need to be fixed with fresh eyes.  So remember it is the holiday season wear a tacky Christmas sweater and have fun with taking photographs.  Enjoy the holiday season photographers!

Enjoy some recent photographs and work I have done.

A piece I did for a family that I met in Highlands, NC

Family Reunion Thanksgiving 2015

A proud great-grandfather with his youngest great-grandson

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Never Give Up!

     Have you ever had a very busy season during your job?  I feel like that is what happened to me this fall.  I love fall.  I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am for my new clients that I acquired in Highlands at the end of the summer and the ones who are starting to use me in my own hometown.  I have been making slideshows, books, making my unique images and much more.  I know I sound like most photographers who say I am super busy.  It is not just me being busy, but I am also working around my clients schedules and the weather.  We want to take photos outside and it is cloudy.  I am not one of those people who will say no, you have to do it today, because this is when we planned it.  I want my clients to hopefully remember me as working with them, making them happy, and overall be satisfied that they suggest my name to other people.  I think that is what many photographers want, but I think even overall even if I might not be one of the top in my city at the moment I will not give up.  I enjoy reading the inspirational books by Brene Brown and the quotes on Twitter that the Shark Tank group puts up every day.  These things give me hope.  They make me realize I might be a young woman with her own business, but I should never give up on my dreams.

Here is a quote I enjoyed from Twitter:

"Don't take things personally in business, do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal. Don't let hardships or difficult personalities stop you."  ~ Lori Greiner

Honestly, I do not think I could ever give up on my dream and I am so in love with my photography.  I have this gut feeling this is how I am supposed to show everyone how I view the world.

Thank you so much for reading and I will post photos soon.  Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

Busy Busy!

     Hello again my fabulous blog readers.  I know it has been a while since I have written a blog post, but after the Highlands Art Show I became busy since I received two commissions.  Which was very exciting since I saw people react very well to my artwork.  Another thing that has happened lately was so fun was that I ran into a fellow artist this week and we began talking about art.  It was also very interested to learn she also had another job along with her art career as I did.  This was great for me to hear as a young artist especially since some days I feel like it is hard and right now I am so happy with all the thing I have going on for me.  Just this past month I have been working on two commissions, I was asked to photograph at sip and see, I am working on a rehearsal dinner video, and I have been photographing my newborn nephew.
     But wait that is not all I have events lined up in November and something lined up next year that I will tell you about in another blog.  For now I will leave you with a few photographs I have edited this week.

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