Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Allen.
Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been interested in photography. More so, capturing moments, moments in time. Growing up, I always had a disposable camera on hand. My family would travel every summer and I remember the anticipation of waiting for the film to be developed at the end of our vacation waiting to see our family memories. In college, I had progressed to the digital camera, and I was always the one snapping away nights out with friends.
I have ALWAYS had a camera of some sort in hand! Fast forward to 2014, I had a 3 year old and an infant, and my best friend was a hobbyist photographer. She very regularly captured my family’s photos and knew my love for photography. She pursued to teach me the world of photography and we had “Photography Fridays,” Every Friday for a year Lindsey taught me what I needed to know. I practiced every chance I got. I fell even more in love and as we approached the end of that year we decided to start a business together.
Coco Alley was born and here we are 8 years later. I have grown so much in my love for photography, made so many connections, met a ton of amazing people, and have had the pleasure of watching so many families grow. This is my happy place!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing is ever smooth and there are always struggles. But even so, it was a very enjoyable journey! My business partner, Lindsey, and I both acknowledge we have strengths and weaknesses and we have done a great job at supporting each other and making an amazing team!
I couldn’t do it without her! We are all about the teamwork that makes us each stronger and makes for a successful business!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My primary goal is to capture real people in everyday life. Capturing the feel of something so candid for someone or a family is my happy place! There is so much beauty in lifestyle photography- my goal is to tell a story artistically. I want to inspire people and make them (hopefully) feel amazing about themselves! I go into a session with a loose plan because they are unscripted.
Every person, family, or event is unique and it’s my job to figure out what works best in the moment and give gentle direction so I can capture everyone’s true personality while making it a fun and comfortable environment. I’ve learned to embrace what I have been given. Everyone is different and has different comfort levels but at the end of the day, someone has hired me to document something special. It can be a big event or a monumental milestone, I always try to make sure I am prepared for a session and make sure I give every shot my all!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I hope society continues to value photographers. I know it’s easy to pick up a cell phone and snap a photo in an instant! And heck – cell phones these days are amazing!! BUT, as a mom, I know I can attest to the fact that someone (often, Mom) is always behind the camera and not in front of it!
I also tell my clients “Just play, don’t look at me”, “find someone to tickle”, and “who is the funniest of the group? Ok, tell a joke.” The laughs and the genuine happiness that can come from this are pure and not something you can achieve if someone is always behind the camera!
Contact Info:
- Website: cocoalleyphotography.com
- Instagram: @cocoalley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cocoalleyphotography
