Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Akers.
Hi Angie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As cliche as this may sound, my love for photography started when I was young! As a child, I was infatuated with pictures and the memories behind them! At the age of seven, my mom put a disposable camera in my hands, and that is when I really fell in love with the art of capturing those moments. She gave it to me so I could have memories from a trip to Sea World that my dad took my brothers on and me.
After getting them developed and seeing the pictures, I was hooked. I honed in on my craft in high school in photojournalism class and did photography on the side as a hobby for many years. I shot pictures for friends and coworkers and would just ask for donations. I just didn’t have the heart to charge for my passion. Let’s just say, as word of mouth got out about my photography and more clientele came along, I begin to realize my worth and started to get serious about turning this into a true business. It has definitely been a beautiful journey.
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?
If this road was smooth, it wouldn’t be worth it! I love a challenge! No pain, No Gain! I would say that this road has been more of a learning experience rather than a struggle. With each session, I am able to learn something new that I can use towards the next session to improve. It’s been a continuous growth process and I love it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I dabble in several areas of photography. You can catch me doing Family portraits, Headshots, Event Photography, Landscape, Themed shoots and also one of my personal favorites, Boudoir! My ultimate goal, in whatever type of session we shoot, is to have you leaving with a memorable experience and just a pinch more self-confidence than you had before you came. I love being able to show people the beauty that I see in them through my lense.
That is one of the reasons I love Boudoir so much is because it is such an empowering experience! A lot of us have issues with body image and self-love and to be able to help someone conquer that, even just a little, through my photography, is a gift for me all in itself. I love to see people loving themselves!
Out of all the shoots I’ve done, one of the most proudest and fulfilling for me was a project that I created called Flaws N All! The basis of this project was to get volunteers to willingly do a photoshoot and ultimately expose what they considered to be a “Flaw”. It was an amazing and emotional project! The catch to this was the volunteers would not be able to see the final picture until the reveal party. It wasn’t until the night of the reveal party that I realized how much this project helped so many people. It is a project that I hope to relaunch this year.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Wow, this one is an easy one! My biggest cheerleaders are my family!! They are my #1 supporters! They have been behind me my whole journey, from helping me come up with my name, being test dummies, to help get equipment and bookings, to spreading the word. There is just no limit to the support! My friends and co-workers cannot be forgotten as they root me on as well! It’s not enough room to list them all!
There are so many photographers in this industry that I have been exposed to, but there are a few in particular that have played a big role in my development! Just right off the top, I want to say thank you to my photo friends Anthony Blake, Sam Jackson, CJ Johnson, and Chris Allen. They don’t know it, but these guys each have given me golden nuggets that have helped me develop my skills as a photographer.
Also, I want to send a special shout-out to Comedian Q Coleman for taking a chance on me and hiring me as the official photographer with Quality Events Dallas. God put me in the right place at the right time to be blessed with a job opportunity in front of a whole crowd of people. The story just never gets old lol! The doors he opened exposed me to so many people, which I now call friends & forever clients!
Contact Info:
- Email: LinachellePhotos@gmail.com
- Website: www.LinachellePhotography.com
- Instagram: Linachelle_Moments
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NaturalMomentsbyLinaChelle
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Lina’Chelle Photography
