Today we’d like to introduce you to Ally Edwards
Hi Ally, 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 grew up in Winder, Georgia and always knew that I belonged in a big city and that I was destined for more than what a small town could give me. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life, so when I got the opportunity to move to Orlando when I was 18, I took it! So for the first year I lived here I was in the Disney College Program, life-guarding my life away at the resorts. I met this girl that was obsessed with drag queens and finally let her bring me to a show at one of the big night clubs in Orlando. And that very night going to my first show I too became obsessed with the art form. I was going out 3-4 nights a week to various venues and shows, spending all my money just to go and watch. I would even go by myself most of the time! I was always recording videos on my phone and posting them to my story on Instagram, and it wasn’t until maybe 6 months of continuously doing that until one of the performers had came up to me and said that I was actually kind of good at it! They had suggested that I start taking it seriously and maybe something will come out of it. So I made my little official Instagram with the help of my best friend and just posted whatever I wanted. And all of that work and money I had spent going to shows and making sure to tip every single person started to pay off. I’ve worked with a national pageant from Miss Grand International, done several audition tapes for a particular reality drag show, and worked with many different brands and events. I’ve even gotten the opportunity to work with several performers from RuPaul’s Drag Race! I’ve been trying to branch out over the last year or so, as I don’t want to only work with solely drag, but I would say it’s definitely my niche.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ll get a little bit personal on this one. This past year specifically has been the hardest year professionally and personally for me. In August I was in a horrible car accident that has left me with lifelong injuries to my shoulders and hands that are really hard to manage while doing what I do. Then exactly a month after my accident my little brother and father were also in an accident where my father unfortunately passed. My dad was who inspired me and taught me how to work hard for things I am passionate about. And while he didn’t agree with me moving eight hours away from him, he never doubted me and knew I was working towards something bigger. And then in December my grandma passed. So I can say that with so much going on, there have been moments where it’s been tempting to just quit. It’s been exhausting just to get my camera out at times, but I know that if my father were here, he would hate to see me give up and so I use the hope that he had for me as motivation to keep growing and push to get where I want to be. Pain can sometimes be the best inspiration.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a videographer in Central Florida specializing in drag performances. I am probably most known for going to drag shows and putting together montages of the whole show with all of the different performers. I am most proud of honestly just the way my work has evolved. Since we live in the day and age of the internet, it’s very easy to go onto my Instagram and scroll all the way down to my first projects. I used to just record clips of people performing and edit their mixes over it, and I think it’s very cool to see how my talent progresses over time. I think what sets me apart from others is the way and style I edit videos. While I do edit some videos with a random song and just make it look pretty, I am usually recording someone performing and editing it to kind of mimic a music video with an Instagram style. Would I say I am the best videographer to ever grace the planet? Definitely not, but where’s the fun in that? I am confident in my uniqueness and vision.
What are your plans for the future?
I am planning on growing more with a big change in August of this year. I cannot disclose what that is just yet, but just know it’s big! I want to one day hire on another person to go to events with me and help record at different angles and I’ll be at some big events this coming year as well! Honestly though at this moment, I am more so practicing on branching out with photography and investing in more equipment to give my clients an even better experience!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allyfilmzz/profilecard/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1XxWukdwb1/
Image Credits
Featured in images : Carmen Carrera (@carmen_carrera), Kendyll Michaels (@kendyllmichaels), Dominink (@thedominink), Sin Silva (@sin.silva)
