Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan Blakely.
Hi Alan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began my photography career as a teenager in the 1970’s when I landed a job as a photojournalist with my hometown newspaper. I eventually became a professional photographer through persistent personal effort, and through the mentorship of a few generous professionals. My formal education is in advertising communications, with a degree from Brigham Young University. My interest in photography has always been on the commercial side, and I’ve only ever worked for commercial clients.
I’ve worked as an independent commercial photographer since the late 1980’s. I capture images of buildings and homes for the architecture, interior design, and construction communities. My work appears in my client’s marketing materials, on social media, and in trade and consumer magazines.
I’m the founder and director of three professional organizations that connect architectural and real estate photographers with clients worldwide, and I host of a popular podcast and YouTube channel called “A Photographer’s Life.”
Alright, 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?
Self-employment is a challenge regardless of the industry. The photography industry has undergone a massive transformation in the course of my career with the advent of digital photography. Most of my competitors from the 1980’s and 1990’s did not survive the transition to digital photography.
I feel fortunate to have been able to adapt my business as technology evolved so that I could offer a service that was still in demand. I’ve had to make adaptations to the market and to technology in an ongoing basis to remain profitable.
The recession of 2009 put many commercial photographers out of business. For me, it was an opportunity to re-evaluate my business plan and expand my reach outside of the Utah market. The key to survival for me was to transition from being a Utah photographer to being an American photographer, working coast-to-coast.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Alan Blakely Architectural Photography (www.alanblakely.com)
Other business holdings:
The Association of Independent Architectural Photographers™ –
www.aiap.net
Real Estate Photographers of America™ – www.realestatephotographers.org
Aerial Drone Photographers of America™ – www.aerialdronephotographers.com
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned that the best competitive advantage is to always do great work. A service based on price rather than value will continually struggle to stay relevant and competitive, while a service based on the quality of work will always have an advantage.
Pricing:
- By Quotation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alanblakely.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alanblakelyphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlakelyPhotography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanblakely/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsdl3_PLJEUP8zNWVGY-SYQ
