Today we’d like to introduce you to Akia Williams.
Hi Akia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Akia Williams. I’m married with 7 beautiful children. I’m a Florida native resident residing in Kissimmee, FL. I have been on my Photography journey for about 8 years, and I’m always reading, learning, and creating new ideas. I ended up on this journey when I noticed I didn’t have photos from my childhood because I moved around a lot as a child with my mother. When I entered adulthood and began having children, I realized how precious it is to have photos to look back at when they became older so that I could pull these memories out and laugh at them later in life. I love to share what I’m thinking through my work. It’s like an outlet. It’s kind of like a ZEN. I’ve always been a fan of photos(all kinds) because I believe I have an eye to see beauty in all things “Mean (all things).” I love what I do as a professional photographer and keeping my clients happy with their photo sessions, and the outcome of images is and always will be my number one Top Priority. I strongly believe in the saying “Quality over Quantity.” I aspire to have my work displayed on billboards, in businesses, and in magazines. One of my goals for the coming year is to open a photography studio in the Orlando, FL, area to expand my business. I’ll be so booked and busy that there will be no room for distractions to have my attention.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the photos provided and getting to know a little about me and my business. Along with being a photographer, I’m beyond fascinated with fashion, so I always try to throw fashion into my sessions; it’s another way I express what I love. In some of the images I’ve provided, you may notice different fashion wear I’ve photographed some clients in.
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?
The road could have been smoother for me. Lol. I’ve checked engine lights, flat tires, and blown head gaskets, and I even ran out of gas a few times. In other words, there were times things began to get a little challenging, like when I would reach out to others who were more experienced than I, and they would turn me down or ignore me, and I would get discouraged and not want to keep going. I had to check myself and tell myself if I gave up now, then when I began again, I’ll start from the beginning again. So I began to read and practice shooting with my camera. Then I noticed when I would get on social media and see others’ work. I began to compare my work to others and speak negatively at times, saying things like “I’ll never get there” or my work will never look as good as his or hers. Or I’d take photos, and when I’d upload them to the computer to view them, they’d be all blurry. A time came when I became so frustrated I gave up and put the camera down for about two years, but I would still be drawn to photos and reading about cameras and settings and lighting. So I decided to give it another try. In 2013, I picked my camera back up and told myself that if I got frustrated again, I would use a different approach. Instead of getting in my feelings and putting the camera down, I’d only put it down for a shorter period to work on staying out of my feelings, and I needed more time to read and learn. When I felt I was ready to begin again, I’d be done reading so much that I was displaying even better images than when I had first put the camera down the first time. But I didn’t give up. This helped me understand that I would have good days and bad, ups and downs, but it challenged me to Press in harder and remain optimistic through any challenges that would arise.
Thanks for sharing that. You could tell us more about your work.
The type of work I prefer to do is photograph clients who are in the fashion industry or on a fashion journey. I love taking photos of young children who aspire to rip runways and models. In the past 5 out of 8 years of this journey, I’ve been drawn more to fashion photo shoots. Sometimes, people will ask about my service outside of what I prefer, and I’m willing to accept or reject the offer if I need to be more experienced in that specific area of work. A few areas I specialize in are kids’ photography, portraits, and fashion photography. I’m known for my portraits work and fashion photos. I’m most proud of not giving up and looking dear in the face because fear keeps us from reaching success, whether we believe it or not. What sets me apart from others is I’m not here for the love of money. Still, I love doing what I love (photography), creating memories for others, and having fun while making an income and building a legacy for the next generation.
What quality or characteristic is most important to your success?
Some characteristics that are most important to my success are: Stay Consistent, always remaining positive, being kind, being confident, courageous, patient with myself, having fun, and enjoying what I do. And when things are going as planned, or you imagine, remain optimistic!
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Cameraman: Akia Williams @tameless_photography
Wardrobe: Akia Williams
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