We had the good fortune of connecting with Allyson (ally) Blankenburg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allyson (ally), where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Louisiana and moved here with my family when I was 3. My parents chose to leave their family and jobs and move to texas because they felt like there was a better opportunity for them and for us, long term. They took a big chance and used all of their savings to start a self employment business. My mom worked with my dad and did not take a paycheck for years. Eventually, once they were on their feet with my dads business, my mom decided to start a business from a hobby she loves;landscaping. I saw her become a successful entrepreneur doing something that made her happy. That idea stuck with me and I always wanted to have a job that made me happy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My brand is ever evolving. I love photographing families and that is where I started, but that has also lead me to other things, such as weddings and lifetime milestones. I enjoy being around people and being a fly on the wAll. My job lets me capture peoples greatest memories and events. And I get to take that raw emotion and translate it into something tangible that they can cherish for a lifetime.

One of th biggest lessons I have learned is to value myself. I spend a lot of time, energy, and money on my profession. There is a misconception that photography is cheap and all you do is “click a button on a nice camera”. And while good gear is important, it’s more about the person behind the lens. So I invest in myself and my craft and use that to become better every day. Therefore, valuing myself is important. And that helps me attract clients who value my art as well, instead of looking for the cheapest photographer. My goal is to make this an experience you LOVED with a product that is beyond beautiful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I think our city has some great things to offer! And while I have no taken advantage of them all, I have done quite a bit of them. We would for sure enjoy some amazing food! One of my favorite places to eat is Gyu-Kaku Japanese bbq grill. You get to cook your own food and the atmosphere is nice and intimate. We would also make a trip to ikea, because why not? It’s like a big maze of little treasures and ways to organize and that is right up my alley! Houston has some amazing spas and hotels as well. One of my favorites is Hotel Zaza because it’s so pretty and has a great spa! So, we would probably go walk through river oaks and admire the gorgeous houses and then treat ourselves to a spa day at Hotel Zaza.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents were the ones who planted the entrepreneur seed in me. My husband has supported me though this venture and my friends are always encouraging and supporting me to be bold and take leaps of faith.

Website: Allysphotographytx.com

Instagram: Allysphotographytx

Facebook: Ally’s photography

Image Credits
Zara, Amazon, target, H&M

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