Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Moreno.
Alison, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I always saw the beauty in nature as a child, and I wanted everyone else to see it as I did. My dad would give me his old cameras when he upgraded to a newer version, and I would take pictures of everything! When I grew up, I couldn’t afford a nicer camera, so instead, I started taking pictures in my mind. I Imagined myself clicking the shutter button on a scene that took my breath away. When I could finally afford a camera, I got scared because then I wanted it to be a way to earn income which took away from the art a little bit. But over the years as I’ve developed my skills and learned to sell my work a little more, I’ve tried to make it more about what I saw as a kid, the beauty in the scene and wanting others to see it as I do.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am a photographer; which is a very common thing these days. I don’t think you can throw a rock and not hit a photographer in the Dallas area. It’s a very saturated industry. But we all need to find our own style. I find photography an easy way of expressing myself. I’m a very visual person, and I love watching people interact and express themselves. I think being a photographer allows me to show who people really are. Some people find it difficult to let themselves just be, especially in front of a camera. We live in a world where people are taking selfies and using filters and showing only the best outward appearance of themselves. But people are deeper than that. I want my clients to be comfortable with themselves. My best photoshoots are those that are more fun and relaxed, where my subjects can just be themselves and at the moment. I want clients to walk away from a shoot saying “that was fun” or “that was easy.” Then I know I’ve done my job.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I think there are a lot of struggling artists today. But there are also those that are rockin’ it and marketing themselves and have amazing success stories. I think that it’s harder to become an artist now because, like I said before, its a saturated industry. People are just trying to break into it and be noticed. But its also not an industry that is encouraged among a lot of people. I know one of the biggest questions for me was “will I be able to make enough money doing this?” and the truth is I don’t. But I think if you want to use your art to make a living, you have to really dive into it and fully submerge yourself in marketing, getting your name out there, and making it an everyday job. My photography brings me peace and so I don’t go that route. I don’t want to add stress to something that brings me joy. But I think if someone finds an art that speaks to them and it’s all they can think about and their dreams are big enough, then they will make it happen. I would love more local art fairs and ways for artists in the area to show their talents to the people of Dallas. This is a pretty amazingly diverse place, and we have people all over the world living around us with beautiful gifts that we don’t even know about. To put all that talent into someplace we can go and learn about them would be a great way to support artists.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I post my work on social media, both Instagram and Facebook under Alison Moreno Photography. I do have a website but its a little outdated. Even with a web developer for a husband I just find I enjoy posting on social media. I think just seeing my work and sharing it with others is the best way to support my work. Word of mouth is a powerful thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alisonmoreno.com
- Email: alisonmorenophotography.@gmail.com
- Instagram: alisonmorenophotography
- Facebook: Alison Moreno Photography
Image Credit:
Dallas Arboretum
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