We had the good fortune of connecting with Ali Evans and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ali, what role has risk played in your life or career?

Taking risks has been the name of the game for me ever since I started my photography journey. I started shooting 11 years ago, and I was just a senior in high school. Not long after, I realized my dreams for photography felt somewhat out of reach. Had I stopped then, I would have missed out on some of the best experiences of my life.

Instead of staying comfortable, I chose to reach out, make connections, and go to events that felt much more “black tie”. The more I immersed myself with like minded creatives and others who valued their craft, the more attainable my goals felt. Sure, I felt out of place at first, but before I knew it, I was standing stage-side with Mac Miller, Kid Cudi, Logic, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and began traveling across the country to shoot weddings. Some of my most adventurous work has taken me to the warm beaches of Hawaii and challenged me to hike to the mountaintops of Colorado with bridal bouquets in my backpack. These experiences seemed like out of reach dreams when I first began.

If you know me at all, a challenge becomes motivation. I purposely schedule myself for the intimidating events or clients because once I say, “Yes,” there is no backing out. This has only played a positive role in my photography career, and I’ve met some of my best friends in the industry this way, too. Making these connections steered me to teach collegiate photography classes and lead other photographers in photography workshops.

Along with photography, my other passion in life is teaching dance. In 2019, I took my love for movement and cultivated it into Elements Dance Concept with my partner in crime, Megan Crawford. If you want to talk about risks, ask us about our first year in business and how we navigated opening our first year of business during a global pandemic!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
There is a lot of pressure to be unique in the photography world. For years I felt like I was chasing this idea of being the trendiest photographer in my area. What I’ve learned along the way is my work will forever be ever-changing and unique because I am the artist behind it. The friendships I have made in the photography industry have assisted in knowing this is not a competition, but a cultivation of all our distinctive work. The confidence behind my work ethic has changed dramatically over the years, and that is what sets me apart. It wasn’t an easy journey to get here, but man, it feels good to finally be proud of what I put out into the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My little corner of the world in Lincoln, Nebraska has so many of my favorite places and people! A few of my must-go places would include the hidden speakeasy bar hidden in Lincoln’s Haymarket, The Other Room. If their green light is on, there is room for you, if the red light is on, trust me, their handcrafted cocktails are worth the wait, wait for the green light. For the morning after, a hot cup of joe from The Mill will give you a pep in your step. The atmosphere is super cozy and you will probably catch me editing in one of their nooks. If you are like me and have a sweet tooth, head over to Goldenrod, for allergen friendly sweet treats that are decorated with bright fanciful colors. Last, but not least, do not leave Nebraska without trying a Runza sandwich. Just trust me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If I had to thank one person only, it would be my incredible husband, Nakemm. He has sat in the front seat for almost my entire photography career and has cheered loudly. He held my hand and stood side by side with me as we jumped in head first to my crazy ideas.

Website: www.ali-evans.com

Instagram: @alisonevans.photo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonEvansPhoto

Image Credits
Of The Earth Florals Linyage

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