Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexa Machado.
Hi Alexa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a professional UGC creator and photographer! I actually found the world of User Generated Content by accident! I’ve always loved photography, and in 2017 after getting diagnosed with a chronic illness I ended up quitting my job and my degree to pursue it full time. In 2021 I started advertising on a freelancing platform and people started asking me to make videos for their products aside from photos. I quickly taught myself how to do it and was getting good results for my clients and that morphed into a full time UGC business! I love what I do because I get to use all of my creative skills like photography, modeling, editing, videography, and social media management to help other businesses grow!
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?
It’s not always a smooth road, because of my chronic illness I get really tired out easily so my schedule is always dictated by the amount of energy I have that day, and therefore is always changing. I’m blessed to be able to work for myself and have flexible hours so I can take rest days and work whenever I want to so that’s definitely a plus! I also struggle with some of my friends and family not understanding what I do, some of whom voice their opinions very loudly that I should get a “real job” lol. It can feel stifling at times, but I know they themselves aren’t happy with their current jobs so I hope as my business expands I can show them what’s possible as an entrepreneur and I hope it will inspire them to make changes to make their work life more joyful and exciting as well! And lastly, I’m an introvert, and UGC requires channeling a good amount of extroversion – you have to show up on camera and communicate with brands through video meetings. Surprisingly, I love doing camera work, but hosting meetings has been something that’s out of my comfort zone! It challenges me (in a good way) and that’s ultimately what I like about this job, getting to learn and practice new skills! It’s never boring.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
So I’m a UGC creator, which stands for User Generated Content. Basically I make video and photo ads for brands to use on their social media, websites, and advertisements. I offer everything from Facebook and TikTok ads for apps and physical products, to social media management, to Amazon product videos for product listings, to professional photos and modeling products for boutiques or brick and mortar stores. I have experience with a wide variety of niches but my favorites to work with are fashion, pet products, and home decor.
I think what sets me apart from others is the sheer amount of services I offer. I’m a professional photographer and videographer, as well as a model, and a content creator with experience managing social media, so I can cover most of the creative demands. The brand would only have to hire one person (me!) to take care of those elements, instead of hiring a different person for each job. This makes the process much more efficient and cost effective in the long run. Since there’s less people to keep track of, they’ll be able to keep a smaller team, and it’s also easier to build a solid relationship with the brand.
I’m most proud of serving over 600 clients from all over the world! I’ve met so many amazing, kind, creative people!
The process is super easy too! The brand tells me what they need in terms of content, then ships me the product, and from there I do all the creative work and deliver the final videos and images. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are because the whole process is fully remote!
What matters most to you? Why?
The thing that matters most to me is the overarching theme that no matter what curveballs life throws at you, you can build something fulfilling from the experience. I want to show others who are chronically ill and homebound like I was in the beginning when I was first diagnosed, that there’s still hope and ways to accommodate and work around their needs and still be able to follow their dreams. I would really love to write a book someday about my journey from losing everything to ending up where I am now and beyond.
Pricing:
- UGC content: Packages start at $200
- Product Photography: Packages start at $200
- Creative Photography: Sessions start at $800
- Social Media Management: Packages start at 1k
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexamachado.com
- Instagram: @Alexa.machado.photography
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/alexamachadophotography
Image Credits
Alexa Machado Photography
