Conversations with Allison Reeves

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

Hi Allison, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I fell in love with photography in a way I never could have imagined. The day I turned 18, my parents took my siblings and me to dinner and gave us some life-changing news. They were going to buy a summer camp. More specifically, they were going to buy property in North Georgia, and they were going to begin turning it into Camp Lighthouse, which provides a free Christian camp for kids who otherwise could not experience it. Although my siblings and I had attended summer camps for as long as I could remember, I never expected that my parents would feel called to start one themselves. As we were prepping for our very first week of camp, we realized we needed to document this experience. I had a NikonD3400 that I got as a birthday gift and I thought, “I’ll take some pictures this summer, just until we find a real photographer.”

12 years later, I am still our camp photographer. I absolutely fell in love with photography, especially capturing the smiles of our campers as I see them experience hiking, fishing, and swimming for the first time. Through the lens, I can slow down time. I can see other’s perspectives, see beauty in God’s creation in a way I never have before, and find minute details that help me understand the big picture.

In fact, I fell in love with photography so much that I opened my own business, Yes Lord Photography Co., in 2023 to capture North Georgia’s weddings, families, newborns, and seniors. I’ve served over 120 families so far, and each one has taught me something incredible about life, parenting, marriage, finding joy in dark situations, and even about how to better run my business.

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?
Of course, opening my own business has come with challenges. I never knew all the paperwork, accounting, and communication management that would come with being a photographer. I am our only employee, so if anything is missed, I know who to blame! The good thing is, I always win employee of the month!

In addition to wearing a lot of hats, learning how to market myself has been difficult. I was a teacher for 6 years before I opened my business, and though a lot of those skills transfer to photography, I would really like to take a social media marketing course to better understand how to get my name out there.

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?
Yes Lord Photography Co,’s tag-line is “Raw, Real Images Become Editorial Portraits.” I specialize in taking candid moments and capturing them in a way that shows how beautiful they really are. I love to zoom in on special moments that you might otherwise miss. I think this is because of all my years as a summer camp photographer. Frame-able moments happen all the time, you just need to know when to click the shutter.

As for my editing style, I love to think of it as clean, documentary style photos edited with true to life skin tones and unique lighting situations. I want my clients to get their photos back and say “Wow, I cannot believe she noticed that!” or “I can’t wait to print this and hang it in our living room.” That’s the best compliment in the world!

I am most proud of the relationships I have built through this business. I have been blessed enough to photograph a wedding and then, a year later, a maternity shoot. I have worked with some families to do shoots with them every couple of months to document how their daughters are growing up.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned that the most important part of photography is making people feel comfortable in front of the camera. You can have the latest and greatest camera and lens, the best editing software, all the bells and whistles, but if people don’t like getting their picture taken, the picture has no hope. One of my best compliments I get from brides is “my husband hates taking pictures but actually loved working with you.” A genuine smile, relaxed body language-these are things the camera picks up on right away. I use a lot of jokes, conversation, and smiles to get people to come out of their shells.

I hope my clients feel like seeing me is like seeing their “cool aunt who has a camera.”

Pricing:

• Family Portraits- start at $200
• Senior Portraits- start at $275
• Weddings- start at $2500

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yeslordphotographyco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeslordphotographyco/p/DEPx-0spOxf/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Yes-Lord-Photography-Co-61552533050555/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@YesLordPhotographyCo
• Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/yes-lord-photography-co/7209e7faf5831072.html

Image Credits
Yes Lord Photography Co. LLC