Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Stone.
Alex, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started with one opportunity. One opportunity to shoot an event and then another to shoot a portrait session and then one huge opportunity to shoot a friend’s wedding to catapult me into my career as a photographer. To take the story back in time a bit, it REALLY began when I was a student at Dallas Baptist. I was fiercely studying graphic design and was specifically interested in advertising. A mentor of mine let me know that as a creative in this industry camera skills and photography techniques would be incredibly beneficial. All I had was a hand-me-down Nikon camera with a starter lens (I now shoot Canon and Canon only!) but I was so deeply passionate about being successful as an entrepreneur that I made it work until I could afford to upgrade. I truly believe the way I got to where I am today is by the support of the people around me trusting me, promoting me, and giving me opportunities to practice. This began with on-campus events, senior photos of my friends, and photos of my family members and their babies and is now a full-time endeavor.
Great, 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?
I WISH I could say it has been a super smooth road, but the things worthwhile are never easy. At least 95% of every session I did in the past was edited in the wee hours of the morning. Almost all of my shoots were down before class, before events, or before or after work. I have spent my entire career as a full-time photographer and designer as a full-time student and working full-time up until August of 2018 when I was finally pushed into taking the leap to make this thing my main hustle! It is still crazy to think about. It is not easy and it is not for everyone I truly believe that and will continue to preach it. I believe everyone is completely capable, but not everyone will be driven enough to actually do it or have that fire lit inside of them burning bright enough to push through and continue. I am completely engulfed in flames with a passion for what I do and that fire is set ablaze by the reward of each and every shoot. No matter the struggles, the desire to pursue this career and learn more has made every experience worth it.
Astone Photography + Design – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Astone Photography + Design, previously Astone Design Etc., started with a dream and after two years has become my full-time passion and source of income. I am boldly and completely obsessed with love and I love to capture love (say that ten times fast!). I never see a wedding or any shoot as work but instead as love I get to witness and capture in the form of priceless memories. I strive to tell a story by capturing organic moments that naturally unfold to result in stunning imagery. I want my photos to timelessly evoke emotion, beauty, and joy. I specialize in couple and wedding photos and I sprinkle in some senior photos when I can. I have been told, and truly believe, that I set myself apart with my personality. I pride myself in being down-to-earth, able to connect with other people from all backgrounds, and the desire to make my clients completely comfortable in front of the camera which results in natural candid photos that will mirror their true personalities. I had a client recently tell me that a photographer told her that “she was going to be sore tomorrow after she was done with the poses she would be put in” for a boudoir session. HERE is my issue with that: my client said she liked the pictures (they were beautiful so no hate to that photographer!) but she did not feel like herself whatsoever. The complete opposite of that is my goal and how I choose to set myself apart. If I can contribute to a person’s, or a couple’s, confidence then I am all in.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Overall, I am so personally proud of the growth my little company has seen over the past two years. Specifically, I can think of a few proud moments that stood out. I am overwhelmed with pride and happiness when I am able to capture moments for people in hard times or struggling with self-esteem. Whether it is a boudoir session for a woman who is struggling with self-love or a family session for a family that was recently broken and reassembled, any shoot that provokes confidence in my client makes me proud. Oh, also shooting for Bumble and Rachel Lindsay and of course being interviewed by VoyageDallas. Those are huge moments too.
Pricing:
- Wedding Collections begin at $2400
- Portrait Sessions begin at $200
Contact Info:
- Website: www.astonedesignetc.com
- Phone: 9408678009
- Email: astonedesignetc@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astonephoto.design/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astonedesignetc/?ref=bookmarks
- Other: vimeo.com/astonephotography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
