Today we’d like to introduce you to Al Jones.
Hi Al, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have had a camera in my hands since I was at least 12, I have been fascinated with photography most of my life. In high school I participated a little with an afterschool photography club. For the next 20 years or so I was just the occasional snap shot photographer. Capturing the odd family gathering or vacation memory.
Then in 2012, I bought my first DSLR and with the help of a couple of web classes, an app not to mention a large number of Youtube videos I taught myself a lot of the basics of photography. One thing many of the classes and videos agreed on was to get out and shoot, and shoot as much as possible. Over the following 5-6 years I purchased a number of photography textbooks and took close to 80,000 photographs ranging from portraits, events, even a couple of weddings. I continued to hone my craft and take more and more photographs.
I feel like I have found my niche in “amateur” editorial and boudoir photography. My greatest pleasure is helping brand new models that want to at least attempt to break into the world of modeling. Helping them build up a portfolio showing as many different looks and styles as possible and introducing them to others that can help elevate themselves into a more professional model.
Running a close second to the above, is helping women see themselves for the gorgeous and powerful people that everyone else sees in them. This is accomplished in many ways from portraits, to fashion photography or even in boudoir. I love when I can work with a model and help her meld her vision with the practical items to help the vision in her head become a picture to be shown and shared online or even printed.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have not always had a smooth time. However, ever bump has turned into a learning experience. Some of my most important lessons learned are: 1) be prepared, this can be from making sure your batteries are charged, you have enough SD cards with free memory space. 2) Always save your photos to an external storage before starting the edit process, nearly lost an entire wedding shoot when my computer hard drive crashed. 3) never trust others to move your equipment, this follows with #2 above, I had a my computer stolen while I was moving and had nearly 2 years worth of photography taken with it. Now all my photos are saved to an external hard drive before I do anything and the hard drive never leaves my sight when I move.
In addition to all the above, I have learned little things with nearly every shoot and always try to be as prepared as possible. In my camera bag now, I will always have certain basic items, bobby pins, hair scrunchies, compact mirror, double sided tape, first aid kit, and safety pins. Any number of wardrobe malfunctions can be solved with double sided tape or a safety pin.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I classify myself as a hobbyist photographer. I am better than an amateur, but I don’t charge so I don’t lay claim to being “professional”. That being said though, I always hold myself to the mindset and attitude of a professional. I am professional in my conduct, in the way I shoot and in the way I deal with my models, customers and potential clients. You don’t have to be a paid professional to act like a professional. While I don’t charge, my clients are always more than welcome to gift me with tips for appreciation of my work.
My style of work is to keep things as close to reality as possible. I am in no way degrading anyone that does heavy altering of their photos, that is their style, it is gorgeous in their way as mine are in mine.
How do you think about luck?
I believe we make our own luck. although I have had my share of bad things happen, I am firm believer that the universe will give us back the good we put out there. It may not be immediate or in the form you want. But you will always get back whatever you put out into the universe.
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