May 1, 2017

Meet Aspen Evans of Aspen Cierra Photography

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aspen Evans.

Aspen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started off watching America’s Next Top Model as a kid and knew I was too short to be a model. I realized that I loved watching Nigel Barker photograph the models and be the person that captured the beauty of the models and made it visible and tangible. It was then I knew I wanted to be in the fashion and photography space. I originally wanted to be a fashion writer, then I wanted to do both and finally dropped writing altogether to aspire to be a top fashion photographer someday. I attended SCAD Atlanta for photography and graduated in 2016 with my BFA in Photography. Now I’m trying to navigate the freelancer space as a fashion, branding, product photographer here in Atlanta.

Great, 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?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I’m still in the beginning phase of my life as a freelancer and learning how to find, book and retain clients, as well as making a full-time income.

Marketing is something I’m trying to work hard on from posting on social media, sending out mailers to networking at in-person events. As someone that is a self-proclaimed introvert it’s been a struggle to try and sell yourself to strangers. Overall, photography has been helping to bring me out of my shell. As a photographer, it’s your job to assure the client that their project will go smoothly so I try to be as bubbly and reassuring as possible when on set.

Another struggle is being a young photographer. Clients see you as a student or an intern instead of a professional that is skilled and worth the hundreds to thousands that I may be charging. I try to combat this by sounding as knowledgeable as I can to the client and being firm when it comes to my pricing and negotiating. People would try to lowball me because they think I didn’t have a lot of experience but at the end of the day they came to me because my work was good.

Please tell us about Aspen Cierra Photography.
I’m a fashion, branding and product photographer for small businesses and startups, usually in the fashion space. I shoot product photography, personal branding, fashion look books, model portfolios, flat lays for social media, magazine shoots and more. I’m most proud having a few publications under my belt such as my work for Atlanta Magazine and Sesi Magazine. I think what sets me a part is working with more models, MUAs, stylists and clients of color. I’ve sort of made it my mission to put more talented people of color in the fashion space so it’s not just the same 3 top models for every campaign or the same 5 white guys from the 80s photographing all the major campaigns.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from my childhood was when I wrote my first poem. I was 8 years old and I remember that I couldn’t sleep that night. I was always a night owl and I went and found a notepad and a pencil and starting writing this poem called I Wish I Could Fly by the nightlight in my room. I don’t have the poem anymore. My mom probably has it stashed away somewhere, but it was just about being free and how I was tired of my daily routine. How dramatic was I? And that was the moment I knew I was a creative.

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