ABOUT ALYSSA
I dabbled in photography as a business since the beginning of college. As the third generation of business owners, entrepreneurship is in my blood, even though I grew up telling myself that I wouldn’t own a business. I knew I needed “a real degree” in case photography didn’t quite work out for me, so I got a psychology degree because I’ve always had an intense interest in people. After working in a neuroscience research lab studying chronic stress, my name on a few published scientific papers and the suicide of my only sibling, I realized that life is simply too short to not do what you love, and my love was documenting important things in people’s lives- the little things, and the big things.

After training under a very successful Scottsdale wedding photographer, documenting over 100 weddings anywhere from high end to equally awesome backyard weddings, making hundreds high school and college seniors see their own beauty and unique personalities, and photographing beautiful artistic underwater sessions, I think I’ve found what I love.

Having had both a psychology background and traumatic loss in my life has made me sensitive and compassionate towards human emotion and impressed upon me the deep importance of documenting life- real life, not the stylized versions of ourselves we put on social media. Every client I photograph tells me that they aren’t good in front of the camera, are awkward, hate how they look- the list goes on. The key, I’ve found, is to give them the space and security to be themselves and their inner beauty and light always shines through. I’m especially good at getting guys who are forced into a session by their significant other, mom, etc to open up and be themselves. One of the highest compliments I can receive is from a less than willing guy to say “wow, I wasn’t looking forward to getting photos done, but I actually had fun”, or from someone who is particularly hard on themselves to say that they loved the photos. I want every one of my clients no matter what kind of session or event they are hiring me for to walk away having a tangible, physical story of their meaningful life event and photos that show their real personality. The kind of photos that you pass along to grandkids and they say, “wow, I can see your personality in these photos and I feel like I was there.” That is what drives me to do photography.

When I’m not photographing weddings, you can find me at home with my husband, dog, chickens and 2 wild and spirited young kids, tending to our mini suburban homestead. I love cooking and gluten free sourdough baking.

 

Alyssa is absolutely amazing! So blessed to have found such a spectacularly talented and professional photographer for our engagement, wedding and underwater photography! Alyssa will be stuck taking photos of our family for years to come!

 

 

Rachel & Robert