We recently had the chance to connect with Ally Rose and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ally, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A huge aspect of life as a freelance professional photographer is that a “normal” day doesn’t really exist. Every day looks different, demands a different amount of attention on the many aspects of my job, and requires being flexible and adaptable. In the interest of finding some routine and normalcy amidst all the craziness,
I do my best to create a sense of “normal” in the beginning of my days: I start with coffee, I get my steps in (crucial for sanity, by the way), then I’ll open my computer to edit. The second half of my day I reserve for all the constant changes – whether that be calls, shoots, location scouting, or spending some time on the admin side of things. This loose sense of structure allows for me to have balance.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ally, and I own Ally Rose Photography, based in San Diego and beyond. I’ve been a professional photographer for 8 years, and I’d say the most critical component of my business – and the aspect I want to emphasize most – is the backbone of creativity. I’m lucky to have a hand in so many styles of photography, which I feel like is a truly unique part of my business. My first love was with weddings, and I’ve expanded to include brands, fashion, portraits, products, businesses and more. Maybe it’s creativity…maybe it’s FOMO…but I’ve never gravitated towards one specialty. I love to be apart of anything and everything, and that intention has brought so much versatility and color to not only my portfolio, but my life. I’m thankful to do what I love and love every second of it, and I hope my work speaks for that.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my mom. She has been in my corner through every creative endeavor I’ve pursued, a champion for it all. I feel lucky to have been raised by someone who saw my potential and created the opportunity for me to see it through. There’s a life-defining impact on a child when their parent pays attention. I’ve always felt seen, loved and valued through the eyes of my mom. That presence taught me to show up for myself and others with the same intention, and ultimately gave me the belief in myself to do what I love.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back from my career the most is one I know I’m not alone in, and that’s the fear of failure. After college, I spent three years at a corporate job whilst managing my photography business, and ultimately holding myself back from fully investing in myself. I spent those years being spread thin and stressed out. Eventually, I realized that there isn’t a perfect time to do anything. Life was flying by and I was spending it scared of risk. If I’ve learned anything about fear, it’s to quiet the noise and take the risk (take it from me, as someone who’s gravitated towards the “safe” option their whole life. This is a verified endorsement).
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Allow me to provide a list:
Friendship, creativity, fitness, coffee, my morning walk, a good pasta, and keeping a camera on me at all times, just in case.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes! A corporate job was a very ideal position for me to aim for most of my life. It offered me safety, security and reliability. What I quickly realized is that it lacked fullness, creativity and connection with people. All that to say, this isn’t a smear campaign on the corporate world. If you love your corporate job…that’s awesome. My extroverted self just needed to play more to my strengths at the cost of risk, and I’ll never regret that decision.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allyrosephotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyrose.photo/
Image Credits
All images by Ally Rose Photography
