Today we’d like to introduce you to Akila Anderson.
Hi Akila, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Really, I’ve always taken pictures of random things, from Polaroids to my first digital camera that I begged my mother for one Christmas. I’ve always been a person that liked keepsakes to remember a moment or a time in my life that I never want to forget. To this day I have boxes and boxes of printed pictures stashed away at my grandmother’s house. So, in college, I started taking picture of people around campus, in the library, and certain events. I grew a love for portrait photography right off the bat. I had no idea at the time that I could turn it into an actual business for myself. I had a talk with one of my good friends who swears she isn’t my mentor lol but indirectly she very much is. She inspired me to step out on faith and go for it and for the past 4 years I have been consistent and taking my growth with it very serious, I absolutely love it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been smooth the most challenging part for me is second-guessing my ability to be great. I always have it in my head that something could be better. Yes, that can be a good thing and a bad thing but it’s a mental struggle at times. Ultimately, I want my photography to be my main source of income so getting good enough to do that is a constant struggle for sure. Not to mention influencing people that prices change with growth. I am far from a person just learning the camera and charging little to nothing to capture a moment. Being professional and a businesswoman while still holding down a regular 9 to 5 also has its fair share of sleepless nights for sure. I am grateful for the growth of my business and to be where I am now. It is truly rewarding nonetheless.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a DFW-based portrait photographer, I currently specialize in model and family portraits. I can’t say what I am currently known for, I have to be honest I have a long way to go in order to seek the type of credit I would like in the community to be known for anything in particular. I can say what I want to be known for most is model and sport portraits. I would have to say that what I am most proud of is not giving up, Over the past couple of years, it’s been really ruff, dealing with the passing of my grandmother, and during that time I’ve wanted to give it all up. I have yet to throw in the towel and now I don’t see that coming any time soon, I worked hard to get where I am and I only see myself getting better and acquiring way more success. I believe what sets me apart from others is my willingness to learn, to practice, and apply. I’ll re-edit a picture a million times if I am trying to learn something new. I’ll do it so much that the action then becomes repetitive. I also, believe there is enough clients and money out here for everyone so I never shy away from helping someone that may want to get into photography, I don’t know everything but I know what I did to get here and I feel it’s okay to pay it forward, because someone helped me. Someone answered the questions I had, and someone pushed me to get me to go for it so why not continue the blessings.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best is you can catch a vibe almost anywhere. You can go into a bar with 5 people in it and music is going and people are serving you like the house it packed. I also love driving through Downtown Dallas at night, the lights, the fancy cars, and all the people dressed up and walking the streets on the way to a dinner date or just out for a walk among the rest. I will say the thing I like least about the city is the cost of living lol, everything is soooo high, but I guess right now that’s everywhere. It just baffles me that rent for a 1BR apartment is almost the same as a mortgage payment on a 3-bedroom 2 bath houses. All in all, I still love this city with a passion!
Pricing:
- Outdoor Sessions start at $200
- Studio Sessions start at $280
- Small Events start at $200 (2Hr Min)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/iamakilaj
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/iamakilaj
Image Credits
Akila Anderson Photography
