Meet Alyssa Hollis of Chasing Galilee Photography in Marietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Hollis.

Alyssa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started photography or should I say I picked up a camera which happened to be the best gift I ever received in my life almost 10 years ago. I did not get serious with my business until about 5 years ago after I had my second son. I started with photographing every single genre of photography I could in the beginning. Weddings, families, kids, birthday parties and even cake smashes you name it I was there with my camera. It was not until last year when I finally got a wake-up call and decided that I could not do it all and that something had to change. I took almost half a year off just to get my mind right and to figure out exactly what my goals were for this crazy photo business.

In that time I changed everything. I changed my business name, my price point and how I edited my images. I then decided that I would only take on lifestyle family photography because that is where my heart always landed. Being a mother and wife myself I wanted to fully take on what I knew in the depths of my heart. Photographing real authentic family moments makes my career so worth it. I am a lover of real life, the things no one else would ever notice off hand. My little boys help me remember to slow down and savor time and life to its fullest. When I photograph a family I trying to preserve very tiny details are my number one goal the things you otherwise would not see in your day to day life.

Real smiles, laughs and even tears (yes tears do happen!). Tiny hands holding mommy’s hand, little faces looking up to daddy and siblings being silly is, for the most part, an unseen form of true love. Sweet glances to your significant other that otherwise would be lost in the craziness of the life of being parents. I believe we have to remember we were “us” before those sweet tiny humans came along, and we can’t forget who we are. I always take that extra time to get Mommy & Daddy one on one while the kiddos run around us and play. I try to ease your anxious hearts into thinking that you need those perfect posed images.

My sessions are very laid back and I do not push or pressure the time of my clients. Life is not perfect as nothing is, but I strive to capture the true beauty of what it is to be a family. I take on your family as if I am trying to preserve my own memories. I take absolute pride in my work and I put my whole soul into it. I want to evoke true emotions with each image that is delivered to you from the bottom of my heart. I believe I got where I am today is just with pure faith. Faith that this desire in my heart and gift I was blessed with will give glory back to Jesus.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh goodness no! I can’t even begin to tell you how many tears I have cried through this journey over the past few years. Other than God and my family photography is my entire life. I live, eat, sleep and breathe this gift. Price points, tough clients who you can not seem to please, late night editing, location scouting… you name it! So since I am being fully honest here, I have had a tough time in the past with fellow local photographers causing me stress some direct and some indirect which tends to be a huge issue in our industry.

This job is definitely not for the faint of heart and spoiler alert! I have a faint heart. I have befriended the wrong people and given myself to some who have used me and hurt me. I can’t say that lasted too terribly long though and it’s not something I dwell on any longer. Over the past few years, I have gained some amazing photographer friends who build me up and who give me life and I like to think I do the same for them as well. I don’t know what I would do now without my tribe of true photographer friends I have now. The fight to get where I am now was worth it in the long run. I wanted to quit many times due to my competition in those first years in business though.

As an artist looking at the work of those around you can become a huge internal struggle. We can get inside of our heads and question if we are good enough or if we have what it takes. Now that I am where I am today with a real tribe of the right photographer friends there is no sense of competition in my mind or my heart anymore. We are all in this together in a way. We all need support and encouragement. It took me so long to find it and I am so glad I did. If there is one thing I can tell a fellow photographer just starting out or even a seasoned one who is struggling… Don’t judge his/her story on the chapter you walked in on and always no matter what remember YOU ARE ENOUGH AND YOU CAN DO THIS!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a lifestyle family photographer. For those of you who are not familiar with the term lifestyle, it just means that I do not pose my clients I am more of an emotion-based director if you will. I specialize in artist family portraiture. I focus on real moments and true authentic connection. I feel like what sets me apart from others is my exceptional customer service and my attention to detail. I truly treat my clients as if they are my own family. I am most proud of my ability to never ever give up.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was very introverted, quiet and shy. I was a huge book nerd. I loved to climb up on top of the roof or up high in a tree and read. I loved to play in the woods, go hiking and get dirty with the neighborhood kids. I am still am quite introverted but when I have a camera in my hand that all goes out the window.

Pricing:

• Family photography session $350 (edited digital images are included in session price)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chasinggalilee.com
• Phone: call/text: 6788002929
• Email: alyssa@chasinggalilee.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/chasinggalileephoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/chasinggalilee

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.