Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Pitzer.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey into professional photography started in 2001, when I began modeling professionally during the final days of the pre-digital era. At home, in the small town of Victoria, Texas, I would splay out fashion magazines across my bedroom floor and study the poses of the models as well as the composition and lighting in each image, hoping to better my own work in front of the camera. I was fascinated by image after image and delighted in the creative process shared between subject and photographer and the limitlessness of it all. However, my love of people probably stems from much earlier days and that, truly, is the driving force of Funkytown Photo Co.
When my husband, Brandon and I were blessed with our first of three children in 2011, I happily threw in the modeling “towel” and became enthralled with wanting to capture our son just as he was. I participated in photo challenges and through much disappointment, I began to fumble with learning to shoot in manual mode. Most of my son’s early days were captured in a literal “blur”. Through persistence and learning to get over myself — failure IS part of the process — I began to improve. I started a mentorship with my father-in-law who has been a professional photographer since the 60s (he is AMAZING), poured into magazines once more and studied online through CMU and Creative Live. I learned though that photography, much like life, is experiential and so with the encouragement of my husband and father-in-law, I brought my camera with me and harassed, err, photographed anyone who would allow. Thankfully, my most challenging and emotive subjects, my children, were fairly nonchalant about my following them around the backyard or out on location scouting field trips.
In the summer of 2016, I had a chance for a career change. I had been shelving dreams of being a professional photographer for years. With the encouragement of my family and a relinquishment of that old fear of failure again (and again), I decided to go for it. In June of 2016, I began Funkytown Photo Co. and the last year and a half have brought so many dear friends into my life that I get to bear witness to from behind my lens. The growing support of this community that I love as well as the inspiration to be found in Fort Worth and the metroplex, it’s nothing short of phenomenal. There is congenial spirit present here and in the people, that call this place “home”. Being able to photograph and capture the unique love stories of each person and family that I meet is an honor.
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?
The journey to finding this niche space of melding my passion for people and photography into my profession has certainly been a winding road. Definite struggles along the way have been overcoming self-doubt, balancing home and family life and getting our newborn to take the bottle for her Dad when I am at photo-sessions. My husband and I always talk to our children about grit and the power of persistence. I hope that when they look back and remember me editing photos for hours with a baby in my lap or coming home from photo sessions energized and excited, they will absorb that our passions are always worth pursuit and persistence, no matter how rocky or winding the road. Do what feeds your heart. Your passions were placed there for a reason.
Please tell us about Funkytown Photo.
I am a lifestyle and family photographer for Funkytown Photo Co. I photograph people and families from all over the metroplex and Texas. I do have clients from out-of-state as well and it still blows my mind when people contact me about wanting to travel for hours to have a session together. I specialize in capturing people in a beautiful and authentic way. Lighting is especially important to me when photographing and I aim to give direction but not control the outcome of our sessions together. I want to photograph a person just as they are. People are not props. My clients often tell me that they most appreciate my use of lighting and ability to create images that show the truth of who they are as people and as a family. They also tell me that I am incredibly patient and kind, which hopefully helps them to feel comfortable and maybe makes my Momma proud. I think I am most proud of the relationships that have been created between my clients and myself and that I am able to give them images that will encapsulate and tell their unique stories over lifetimes and generations.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Such a great question. One of my favorite memories from childhood is waking up to my mother tickling me by nuzzling her chin into my neck. It was the best way to wake up — laughing. I think she was also singing a song about a fly being in my belly button? Total sweet silliness. I can almost hear our giggles and her singing thinking about it. Even today, if I have a tired and hungry toddler in front of my lens who is just not having it, I will ask for Mom or Dad to tickle him and that will usually result in fantastic energy and smiles and laughter from everyone. Pouty faces are cute too, though.
Pricing:
- Photo Sessions start at $175
Contact Info:
- Website: www.funkytownphotoco.com
- Phone: 361-550-2996
- Email: alexandrapitzer@funkytownphotoco.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/funkytownphotoco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/funkytownphotoco
Image Credit:
ee photography
Alayna Alvarez
Funkytown Photo Co.
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