Meet Ali | Your Milwaukee Family Photographer

I’d love to share with you a little bit more information about me as a Milwaukee family photographer and my photography business. So if you are looking for someone fun, upbeat and outgoing to help you feel comfortable in front of the camera, help you decide what to wear, how to pose, and provide you with beautiful family pictures, this blog post is for you!

HOW DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A MILWAUKEE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER? HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT STARTING OUT?

I actually started out teaching special education. During my teaching career, my husband and I started a family and I picked up my first “real” camera to capture my growing little boys. The perfectionist in me wanted to take the best images possible, and the teacher in me learned how. I started photographing friends and family and eventually turned my newfound passion into a business.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?

I have been in business for three years, and very blessed to have grown so significantly in such a short amount of time. This year I was awarded one of 2019’s Top 50 Up & Coming Senior Photographers and The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2020 which was very exciting!

WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES THAT MAKE A SUCCESSFUL MILWAUKEE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER?

As a family photographer, I get to work with some pretty amazing families! I think that my outgoing personality really helps families relax and have fun with their portraits. I also encourage each family to celebrate the love they share. So not only will we have beautifully posed photos, but also ones that illustrate your loving interactions.

WHY DO YOU LOVE PHOTOGRAPHING FAMILY PICTURES?

My favorite part about being a family photographer is the ability to create images that my family clients feel truly “captured them” – their natural loving interactions and family member’s genuine personalities.

I am also a huge people person, so being able to meet new people as part of my job is a perfect fit!

HOW HAS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY (STYLE) CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?

When I first started photography I was an all-natural light photographer, and as I searched to find ways to take my images to the next level I started utilizing off-camera and occasionally on-camera flash. It is something that I have grown to love, and use in most of my family portrait photography. With the exception of families with very little ones on the move, who need a move flexible lighting set up. The use of off-camera flash ensures my families look their best with flattering and beautiful light.

I also started my business as a very posed and almost rigid photographer. I often shot entire sessions with only posed images, and while a few of these images are important they often lack emotion, energy, and movement. I decided to add fun prompts into the mix. For example, asking my family to have a tickle fight. Their response to prompts usually gets everyone laughing! The resulting images illustrate their natural loving interactions.

WHEN CHOOSING THEIR MILWAUKEE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER, WHAT SHOULD A FAMILY LOOK FOR?

I think that when choosing a photographer, families should look for a person they feel comfortable with.

I also recommend that families check to see if a photographer’s style of photography aligns with what they hope for. Do you want posed or unposed images? Do you have a preferred style of editing (ie: true to color, light and airy, dark and moody). Looking at a wedding photographer’s portfolio is a great way to view their style.

DO YOU HAVE AN ALL-TIME FAVORITE FAMILY IMAGE?

I don’t have just one all-time favorite family image because I often fall in love with three or four images from each of my family sessions that best “capture” that family!