Today we’d like to introduce you to Charla Ayers.
Charla, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I became interested in photography in high school. It was more of a hobby and something I liked to research in my spare time. I have an undergrad in writing and am working on a master’s in publishing. I LOVE books and grammar. I am a storyteller at my core. I was certain from a young age that writing was my path, but God had different plans. During college, I decided to pick up photography more seriously as a way to make extra money. This led me to land a job at a local boutique where I ran the social media, website content, marketing, created look books, and did all of the photography for the store.
I fell in love with fashion photography here. I cut my teeth learning about body angles and clothing and what looks good and what doesn’t on different shapes and sizes. This is hardwired into my brain and helps me so much in every single shoot. I went on to start my own photography business in 2014 because I wanted to get into more lifestyle work. It’s been six long years since 2014, and when I look back at all I have accomplished, I am still shocked. In all that time, I taught myself everything about the business- photography, composition, lighting, camera ins-and-outs, studio set up, editing, marketing, social media, and have even built my website from the ground up. I also make logos for other businesses in my spare time because I have come to love design work. I have spent countless days and nights teaching myself new techniques or learning the best way to promote myself in the most authentic way possible. I have gained the most INCREDIBLE clientele- seriously. They all connect with me in the best way, and I love them so much. I have truly found myself in my career. It has shown me the talent I didn’t know I was capable of. It has given me grit and fight and passion I wasn’t sure if I would ever find at a “job.” Although. It isn’t just a career or job to me- it’s genuinely who I am a person. I have a need to create, and I am so honored people trust me to make amazing art with them. I am still learning and growing every day, but I am a full time and become more established every day. I have no doubt this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely has not been the smoothest ride. I have quit more times than I can count. I have doubted myself and my talent probably every day. I have restarted, reshaped, and rebranded more than I should have. But, looking back, I chalk it all up to growing pains. Every time I would challenge myself or create something rad, I would question if it fit into my mission at the time, and it never did. In the beginning, I spent too much time on research and demographics. I branded myself and my work after what I thought people wanted, looking at the other photographers around me.
I finally got to a breaking point a few years ago and determined I just wasn’t cut out for it, that I couldn’t be the super trendy Pinterest photographer everyone wanted. At that time, I stopped paid work for a bit and just started doing what I wanted with my work. Then magic happened. I boomed instantly. People were attracted to my style and vibed with the kind of work I was producing. From that moment on, I promised I would always be true to myself. I would never compare my work and abilities to another photographer again, and if people didn’t like my style, then those are the people I am not mean to work with. I feel like this is where it all started for me. It was when I finally started being completely transparent and seen through my work. It still blows my mind that people love that, but it is incredible that they do. I have been able to do all of this while raising my two year old son at home. My husband, Caleb, has supported me every step of the way and is pretty involved in the business himself.
Please tell us about your work.
I feel like I am still niching out my business. I think most photographers take any and all work starting out-which isn’t a bad thing. It lets you find what you like and don’t like. I do a lot of weddings; although, I don’t consider myself strictly a wedding photographer. I recently have moved my focus more into couples and single person portraits. Portraits are my favorite. I absolutely love intimate sessions with one or two people where we can really get to know each other and create super tailored albums. I love single person portraits because they allow me to flex my skills of working with models, lighting, and clothing to make amazing images. I love my couple sessions because I wholeheartedly nerd out with two people get comfortable and cozy in front of my camera. Ask my clients. I get into my work. I am so fiercely passionate about what I do that when I start shooting, my brain takes over, and I get into this space that is all about creating. There’s nothing quite like it.
I would say I am most proud of myself. Not in a conceited kind of way, but more in the sense that I never thought I was capable of the things I have created. Not that I thought I couldn’t excel at it, but I am still blown away at the work I have produced. I am also just so happy I finally got out of my own way and started producing what I wanted to do. I also feel like the most important aspect of photography is having the ability to truly connect with people. It’s not about being fake bubbly and putting on a show. It’s being able to intuitively tell what kind of people you are working with and shooting in a way that is honest to who they are- not what you want them to look like. That seems to be what sets me apart. I don’t ever try to be anything I’m not. I’m sassy, edgy, I love to laugh, I’m pretty awkward and super passionate. I never try to hide that.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I think too many people define success within numerical boundaries- money, followers, amount of bookings. Sure, all of these things can contribute to success, but for me, it’s not an external thing. I know I have been successful when I am crying on the way home from a session because of how moved I was and how excited I am about what I had just created. I feel successful when my clients send me page-long messages about how in love they are when their images and how they have never felt more comfortable. It’s when my boudoir clients write to me to say they never thought they could feel that way about their bodies and that they have a newfound sense of confidence they never knew was possible. I am most successful when I make others feel and see themselves the way I do. To be able to have a vision and create it, and people see and understand it, and it evokes the exact emotions I felt producing it- that’s the magic.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.charlaayers.com
- Email: hello@charlaayers.com
- Instagram: @charlaayersstudio
- Facebook: @charlaayersstudio
Image Credit:
Charla Ayers Studio
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