Meet Angelique Alcaraz | Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Angelique, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I started my career as a photographer, it was during the chaos of COVID. At that time I was primarily staying home with my baby boy in a tiny house in the mountains. We had lots of time to watch the deer, bake, and just wait for my husband to come home. I have always loved staying busy and was even fonder of taking pictures. With all that lockdown time on my hands I began to research and start my business, Angelique Alcaraz Photography.

My son napped 2 hours everyday so I would use that time to get my editing and advertising done. When my husband came home, I would leave for an hour or two to make some sunset magic with my clients. Looking back, it was a pretty balanced schedule. However, everything was new to me so it didn’t quite feel like it.

Now I am based in Littleton with a toddler and a newborn. I have much more on my plate at home, and with Covid mandates coming to an end I have a busier shooting schedule than ever! My husband takes my son out for about an hour everyday so I can get my work & self-care time done while the baby naps. I am truly blessed to be able to work around my OWN family’s schedule while still being able to contribute lifelong memories to other families.

It may seem like more, but with experience comes the efficiency to achieve a better work-life balance. I have also come to see the value of outsourcing. I now outsource my contracts so I am able to spend more time doing what I love — connecting with my clients & designing their images!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think one of the first things that sets me apart is my love to create & to share that with others. I feel a burst of energy after a photoshoot when I have connected with amazing people & then get to look back on the gorgeous images we have curated to reflect just how amazing they are!

I am currently most excited about my most recent fall photosessions with a fresh, warm, bright editing style. It has taken me a while to develop that style and I feel like it is now at a place where I can consistently be proud of it.

Professionally, I got to where I am today by steadily educating myself, practicing what I’ve learned, and then marketing my work with those new acquired skills. When I first started my business I wanted so badly to be as busy as I am today & create the beautiful images I do. It was definitely not easy and I tried so so many things that just did not work out. It was definitely discouraging at some points, but I think I was able to overcome that and avoid burnout by reminding myself why I chose to to this in the first place.

I am a photographer because I love to contribute to something outside of myself while still having the flexibility to be present with my own family; I am caught up in the dream of photos that will be treasured for generations. Then the last piece of that puzzle was developing a shooting and editing style I really loved. Those are the things that encouraged me to keep going on the hard days, and even the hard months.

I’ve learned that to be an entrepreneur you have to love what you do. There is so much “blood, sweat, and tears” that goes into having your own business and if you don’t enjoy it then it will never be worth it. I’ve learned that different things work for different business models even within the same realm; you cannot “copy and paste” someone else’s methods and expect them to work for you because you need to develop your own style, workflow, and brand.

When people look at my business, I would like to be known by the experience I provide & the care I put into hand-editing each image. I am not the budget photographer who says “stand still and smile” then delivers your images with a preset filter over them the next day. My goal is to make my subjects comfortable so their true personalities can shine through the lens. I seek to deliver an EXPERIENCE.

This starts before the shoot when I get to know my clients and really dig into who they are and what is most important for them in this season of life. I have been with clients through marriage, through first steps and last ones. I want to be the one who tells their story for the years to come. My favorite clients are often the ones I come to truly know. The ones I can say “I can’t believe how big they’ve gotten!” to and the ones who’s names I remember. When you form a consistent client-photographer relationship, your photographer learns the best way to connect with you and your loved ones which truly shows in the images that result.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oooo this is such a great location with so many things just minutes from our doors. I love showing people around the city. Of course we would have to hike and see some of the lovely scenery Colorado has to offer. We could grab some Sprouts sandwiches (which are made-to-order and oh-so-delicious) then head out to RMNP where you truly cannot go wrong. The next day we could grab some pizza from Romano’s — minced garlic with pepperoni and a chicken pesto because it would be rude not to let my guest experience that. We could take the night to visit the 88 Drive in which is always fun. I’m also a big fan of our local recreation centers, libraries, and the Littleton Museum! A few more favorite food spots are the new Yummy Station off Littleton BLVD and of course Los Dos Potrillos which is a common (but not basic) South Denver favorite.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shoutout my family first of all. From my grandma’s house to my own, my family members have undoubtedly been my biggest supporters; I am blessed to have them. They have been ready & willing since the beginning — to be my guinea pigs while I developed my unique photography style & to provide endless encouragement on my social media posts.

Next I would like to thank YouTube! I am so so grateful for the abundance of resources at our literal fingertips. I have learned so much from the videos of various creators such as Julia Trotti, E-Squared, & Adorama to whom I am especially grateful.

Website: https://angeliquealcarazphotography.mypixieset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angeliquealcarazphotography/

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