Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lexi Wissenbach.
Lexi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a full-time wedding photographer and lash artist here in Utah. A couple of years ago, I never thought I would get to this point of success. It all started in high school; I took over my family’s old DSLR, a Nikon camera. My sister and I would go do little photoshoots together. I would take photos of her, and she would take some of me. I really enjoyed taking photos, so I started posting some of the photos we would take on Instagram.
In high school, I got my CNA license and was working as a CNA at an assisted living. One of my co-workers and good friends asked me to take her senior photos. I immediately said I’d love to, but I am not a professional. She insisted I take them, and we went to the Utah State Capitol building. After that, I just knew it would be a dream to become a photographer. I was nervous, though. I was nervous about what people at my school would think if I started an Instagram and started posting photos of my work. I didn’t want people to view me as silly and see my photos and dislike them. Which I am sure happened in the beginning. But it was all so worth it.
I started taking photos of friends and anyone who would let me take photos of them. I kept posting more and more. I started learning how to edit using Lightroom on my phone. I graduated high school in the covid year of 2020. I then moved to Logan, Utah, to go to college at Utah State University. I hated online school. In high school, I was a straight-A student, but the online college classes kicked my butt. Part of the reason I was struggling with my schooling was because I was working overtime as a CNA. I worked 40+ hour weeks and got paid absolute garbage. I was barely getting enough to pay rent, pay for college, and pay for my other necessities. I worked hard because I wanted to move out of my parent’s house and experience life on my own.
I finally saved up enough money and spent all my savings on a new camera. It was the Canon EOS R that I still use to this day. I was obsessed with this new goodie of mine. I kept doing random shoots and even started to get paid to take photos of people. I fell in love with photography. I started shooting more couples. The hopeless romantic in me loved taking photos of couples.
In 2021, I reached out to a wedding photographer I looked up to and asked her if I could come to shadow her at a wedding. To my surprise, she said yes, and I went. I brought my camera and followed her around all day. She was so nice and answered any questions I had about wedding photography.
After that day, I thought to myself, “It would be so cool to be a wedding photographer.” One thing I struggled with though is talking to new people, I had really bad social anxiety in high school. So obviously, working with new people all the time was a bit stressful. I started doing more and more shots. My photography Instagram page slowly started gaining more and more followers as well.
My work was improving; however, I felt like everyone still saw me as this little hobby photographer. Then, in 2021, I booked my first wedding. I was over the moon excited but also incredibly nervous. At this point, I had a second-shot a couple more weddings with different photographers. And I learned a lot from them. The first wedding I shot was a long-time family friend of ours. The wedding went amazingly, and I booked three more weddings for 2021.
Then, in 2022, it started to really pick up. My work was becoming better and better. I started to get a little more confidence in myself. In 2022, I decided to take a leap and drop out of college. I kept working as a CNA and did photography on the side. I booked 13 weddings that year and booked quite a few other random shots as well. I even booked an out-of-state wedding in Redlands, California. Which was crazy insane to me. I couldn’t believe someone wanted to fly me out and shoot their wedding in California.
I love being an entrepreneur. I am so hardworking and dedicated. I still have social anxiety to this day, but I have become a whole new person since high school. Now I love meeting new people! And I am so much better at talking with people. I knew it was still going to take me a few years to officially be a full-time photographer. I also had an interest in becoming a lash extension artist. I thought, well, why not? I am 20 years old at this point; I might as well try it. I started cosmetology school full-time. I had enough saved up and also got some scholarships, so I had enough money to quit CNA work. Being a CNA was probably one of the hardest things I’ll do in life.
So yeah, I was really excited to be able to quit. I did Cosmo school and photography on the side. I should also mention at this point, I was dating the love of my life, Troy. We met in my first year of college. Troy was my rock throughout all of this. He always supported me. We got married in August of 2022.
Now, last year was THE year my business started kicking off. 2023 was the year I finished cosmetology school and started working as a part-time lash artist at Rage Salon in Logan. In 2023, I booked 20 weddings! I also booked weddings in Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, and Moab. It was the most wedding I have ever booked, and I was so grateful and excited to be a part of their special day. It came to a point where my husband quit his job and started doing school full-time. I then became the main provider. I officially became a full-time wedding photographer and part-time lash artist. It has been a dream. I still cannot believe that I am able to support myself and my husband while he goes to school with my two businesses.
I was also able to buy a new camera, a new MacBook, and even a new car. I couldn’t believe it. I absolutely love what I do, and I am so glad I took the leap of faith to do what I truly wanted to do. I work a lot now, but it doesn’t even feel like work to me. I truly have the best job. I have been able to grow so much as a person throughout this process. Now, for this year in 2024, I am going to be shooting close to 30 weddings. And even more exciting news: I am shooting a wedding in Connecticut this year! My first East Coast wedding. I have also had weddings in Colorado, California, Arizona, and Idaho.
I am making more money than I ever have. I love my job for different reasons, though; I get to work for myself and do what I want. I get to meet amazing people and do what I love. I am 22 now, and this is just the start of my story. I am so excited to see where this takes me.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In my story, I talked about social anxiety. Social anxiety consumed me when I was younger. Photography and lashes have forced me to come out of my comfort zone. It has been the best thing for me. I still struggle with mental health; however, my businesses have changed me in the best way. I am now able to not worry so much and be myself. I can actually talk to people without freaking out. It’s been hard but good.
I also didn’t mention this in my story, but in December of 2022, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Which is an autoimmune disease that causes flare ups in my intestines, I am also more susceptible to ulcers. This diagnosis changed my whole life. I also deal with severe eczema in my arms because of my stomach problems.
This did not help the self-esteem I had worked so hard to achieve. Unfortunately, there’s no cure, so I’ve learned to deal with a couple of month-long flare-ups. It is a big trial in my life that affects everything. Even me in business. And yeah, I have to avoid all the yummy treats at weddings. They make my tummy hurt. (Haha).
It also was just a struggle for people to take me seriously. I felt like a lot of people saw me as a “hobby photographer” and not a professional photographer. This year, I’ve noticed that people have started to treat me better and see me more as an actual photographer. I don’t know if it is because I grew to almost 10k followers on Instagram or if people appreciate my work and dedication.
I still get people here and there who don’t believe I am a full-time wedding photographer. I have been told that I look too young and am too young to be one. However, I am here to prove them all wrong!
We’ve been impressed with Wissenbach Photography and The Lexi Look, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Wissenbach Photography is my wedding photography business. I primarily focus on shooting weddings, elopements, and engagements.
It’s just all things couple-related. However, I do shoot families, senior photos, maternity photos, and other random shots from time to time. For my weddings, I have started to travel more as well. Most of my weddings are here in Utah, but I love to travel and started getting more opportunities to shoot out of state. My goal is to shoot a wedding out of the country. My all-time goal for photography is to become a traveling, luxury wedding photographer.
The Lexi Look is my lash extension business. Photography is my main focus, but I love doing lashes as well. It also helps during the wintertime when photography is slow. I then have my lash business to help me through those slow months. I started lashing in April 2023, so it will be a year next month! I currently work at Rage Salon in Logan, Utah.
What does success mean to you?
This is such a good question because, for the last year or two, I’ve struggled with this idea of success. I think everyone has their own definition of success. I am a very goal-oriented person. I set a goal and will do my absolute best to achieve that goal. I also suffer from imposter syndrome, though. I achieve one of my goals, and instead of acknowledging myself for accomplishing the goal, I focus on the next goal.
My husband, sister, and a lot of people in my life had to keep telling me not to get down on myself. I would start to get so stressed and down myself. I started feeling drained and burnt out. I always feel like I am not doing enough. I have to tell myself to slow down. I want to take a step back and realize all that I have accomplished. It is good to set goals. I will continue to set goals because that’s how I’ve accomplished all of this. Sometimes I just need to take a breather and tell myself, wow that is so cool we were able to do that and accomplish this and that.
To sum up, I think everyone’s “success” means something different. Some people are okay with where they are, and that’s success for them. For me, I find success in the big goals I accomplish. Success for me can lead to more success. I need to start realizing and acknowledging my success and keep pushing for my hopes and dreams.
Pricing:
- Utah Wedding Packages: Start at $1200
- Out-of-State Weddings: Start at $1800
- Engagement photos $250
- Bridal Photos $350
- Individual portraits $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wissenbach.photography/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wissenbach.photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexi.soper
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/the.lexilook/
Image Credits
Wissenbach Photography, Lexi Wissenbach
