Conversations with Alisa Thayne

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisa Thayne.

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?
I’ve always been in love with photography. But I didn’t take it too seriously until I was exploring my options in college.

I had 2 kids at the time and a third on the way, and decided that photographing my growing children was the most important thing I could learn there, so I made it part of my major. The more I learned, the more I had friends and family asking me to take their family photos and wedding photos. At one point, I realized I could do it as a side business instead of just a hobby.

There have been so many personal and professional highs and lows through the years, but I’m proud to say that I have been photographing families professionally now for 11 years, and it’s a full-time business for me. As a single Mom to 4 boys, I couldn’t be more grateful for the talents I have developed, and the memories I have captured.

Not only for my life story but for other families around the world as well.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had many personal life trials and struggles while building my business over the last decade, but I didn’t let it get in the way of what I was meant to do. I have a great passion for creating priceless memories for people and knowing that people relied on me to do that for them, kept me going through some hard times.

When you are an artist, you also get a heavy dose of imposter syndrome. I think everyone goes through this at some point in their life when they are being brave and stepping out of their comfort zone. But remember that everyone is struggling at something, and everyone is on their own path of learning, which has helped me overcome that. Being proud of how hard I have worked to get where I am, no one can take that from me.

It’s an emotional process to own your life journey, it’s something I wish more people would do.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in emotive family photography. There are the portraits where everyone is posed and staring at the camera, which I still take from time to time, and then there are the portraits that you feel. When it comes to family photos, the images that you feel are always going to be the most cherished.

A photo of you dancing with your daughter. A closeup of your mother’s hands playing with your hair. The whole-hearted smile a child has when all their dreams have come true. These are photos that make you feel something. These are moments that need to be captured. I don’t just promote capturing photos during the good times, the hard times are equally part of our life story and need to be captured.

I have photographed many family funerals. Many families face cancer or other illnesses. These are all memories of a life lived. We need to capture and embrace it all for what it is.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
When I think of risk, the first thing that comes to mind is fear. Fear can be so paralyzing if you don’t call it out. We look at fear all wrong, and we let that emotion stop us from being great. Calculated risks assist in removing the wall of fear.

It gives us a way to work through the fear, cautiously. I don’t think you can do anything great in life if you don’t take a risk. One of my most recent risks was developing an online beginner’s photography course. It took me over a year to develop, and many, many sleepless nights.

It has just recently been released and I cannot tell you what a blessing it has been to be able to teach and inspire people on a larger scale. I don’t know where it will take me, but for now, I’m so grateful I invested my time, energy, money, and expertise into it, even if it only helps one person.

Pricing:

• $325 for a mini photo session.
• $700 for a Family photo session.
• $447 for my Beginner’s Photography Course.

Contact Info:

• Email: alisathayne@yahoo.com
• Website: www.thefamilyphotograph.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefamilyphotograph/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tfpbyalisathayne

Image Credits
Susie Mendoza Photography