Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernard Ayala.
Hi Bernard , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started as a dad with a camera, not as a business owner or “professional creative.” When my third kid was born, I became obsessed with freezing every tiny expression and moment, and somewhere in those long nights and busy days, photography shifted from a hobby into a real calling.
From there, I began photographing friends and family, then local families, and eventually high school sports, weddings, and portraits all around Georgia as Ayalas Photography. Each step forward came with a lot of trial and error: upgrading gear one piece at a time, learning how to pose real people who weren’t models, and figuring out how to balance a growing photography career with being a husband, father, and working in retail full time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, and honestly, that’s a big part of my story.
One of the biggest struggles has been balancing everything at once—working my regular job, being present as a husband and father, and still trying to build Ayalas Photography into something real and sustainable. There were seasons where bookings slowed down, money was tight, and I wondered if I should just treat this as a hobby instead of pushing for it to be a business.
I’ve also had to learn a lot the hard way: how to price my work, how to say no to sessions that weren’t a good fit, and how to stay confident when a shoot didn’t go the way I imagined. There were moments of burnout, nights staying up late to edit after a long shift, and times when doubt was louder than belief.
But those struggles forced me to grow. They pushed me to get clearer about my style, tighten up my process, and remember why I started — my family.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a portrait and storytelling photographer, and my work lives in that intersection between real life and a little bit of magic. I photograph families, portraits, fashion, fairytale concepts, cosplay, weddings, and sports, but at the core of all of it is the same goal: to capture emotion and personality in a way that feels genuine, not stiff or forced.
Over the years, I’ve become especially known for my creative fairytale and cosplay sessions, dynamic sports imagery, and portraits that help people see themselves with fresh confidence. I’m proud of how far Ayalas Photography has come—from shooting my own kids in the backyard to covering major sports events and creating images that clients want to hang on their walls for years.
What sets me apart is how personal I take every session. I don’t see people as “just clients”; I listen to their stories, their insecurities, and their vision, and then I build the session around that. I’m patient, I give a lot of direction, and I’m always chasing the right light, angle, and composition so that when someone sees their photos, they recognize themselves—but in the best, most empowered version.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The most important quality behind my success has been resilience.
Photography, like life, comes with a lot of ups and downs—slow seasons, long hours, missed shots, and moments of doubt—but I’ve always tried to keep showing up, learning, and adjusting instead of quitting. That resilience is what helps me push through tough days at work, late nights editing, and personal challenges at home, and still give my best to every client. It’s also closely tied to patience and empathy; staying calm under pressure, treating people with respect, and remembering that every person in front of my camera has their own battles and story.
Pricing:
- – Portrait sessions start at **$300** and include professionally edited digital images and an online gallery.
- – Family sessions start at **$400** with options to add extra images, extended time, or multiple locations.
- – Fairytale and cosplay sessions start at **$250** and are fully customized around your concept, wardrobe, and location.
- – Event coverage starts at **$600**, with final pricing based on hours of coverage and specific event needs.
- You can also add this optional line if you like: – Payment plans and flexible retainers are available to help make sessions more accessible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ayalasphotography.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayalas.photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernard-ayala
