Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexa Ray.
Hi Alexa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Alexa Ocean Ray and I am a wedding and portrait photographer based out of South Padre Island, Texas. I travel for this too! So, I’ve photographed weddings and families all around Texas.
Since the age of 12, I have had a fascination with creating visual content. It started with making short music videos for YouTube and then playing with disposable cameras. I remember being the only one in my friend group with this interest, and we weren’t offered any media courses in middle school, so to this day, I have no clue how I got into it to start with. Now, I cherish all of the photos that have been passed down to me from my parents, and everything that I recorded when I was younger! Almost nothing feels more valuable to me than the boxes of old photos of all of my parent’s adventures together. These photos teleport me into another time and help me cherish the memories like I was there. Now all I want to do is share this magic of photography with others.
While earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Film at the University of Texas at Austin, I was required to learn the basics of photography in some of my Freshman courses. After falling in love with the process, I began teaching myself different editing and lighting techniques. I ended up graduating with two degrees, one in film production and the other in Sociology! This worked out great for my photography career because I gained an understanding of the technical aspects of composing an image as well as a deeper insight into creating a comfortable and interactive space for my clients.
As the daughter of a fishing captain, I was born and raised by the water, yet I rediscover the beauty of my surroundings every day through the eyes of my clients. It is the people I photograph who remind me how special it is to hear the waves crash against the shore, to feel the sand under our feet, and to be able to capture these blissful memories. I am not looking for that “perfect” image where everyone is smiling at the camera and where every hair is in place. I am forever searching for the shot that makes me feel something and hopeful makes my client feel something.
My ideal clients are those who feel excited to let go of any preconceived notions about what a portrait photo should look like. Straying away from current trends, we focus on classic styling and creating an open, comfortable space for expressing emotion and having fun while still striving for that lovely piece of artwork you’d want to display and keep forever. My utmost goal is to capture unposed and sincere moments among families and couples so that they can look back and savor those authentic memories.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I know it sounds a little weird and cheesy, but I think all of my hard work and over-thinking early in my life really smoothed a path out for me. It’s still been a maze to navigate, a puzzle to decipher, but I sincerely believe in my heart that this is what I was meant to do.
For example, in high school, I focused deeply on academics and being the best student I could be. I gave up a lot of the social aspects of my younger years because I was so enthralled with the future, my future. Then, I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, I just knew that I wanted to go to college and that some people and organizations gave out free money to college-bound individuals who showed dedication and potential. Personally, I wish I had gone to a few more parties and kissed a few more boys, but I guess it ended up being worth it. Upon graduation, I earned a full-ride scholarship to any public university in the country of my choosing.
A few months after I graduated high school, my mother passed away suddenly. I had tried so hard to be the best person I could be and I had finally achieved my goal and now the person I wanted to make the proudest was no longer here. That made for a bumpy first few years of college… a lot of feeling completely lost and purposeless.
A lot of self-doubts and anticipating the worst. I had completely lost trust in the universe, leading me to make a million backup plans for all of the failures and unknowns I anticipated for myself. It was not fun having so much anxiety, but I spent so much time and effort creating a Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, that when I was ready, I was able to go for starting my own business without holding back.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My name is Alexa Ocean Ray and I am a wedding and portrait photographer based out of South Padre Island, TX.
With me, stylized portraiture and documentation come together to capture the beauty that is your life. My utmost goal is to capture unposed and sincere moments among families and couples so that you can look back and savor authentic memories. Straying away from current trends, we focus on classic styling and creating an open, comfortable space for expressing emotion and having fun while still striving for that lovely piece of artwork you’d want to display and keep forever.
All of my favorite photos ever are those that I’ve captured in between poses. So, this has really pushed me to aim for a very casual and documentary approach to portrait photography. I work with my clients to plan location and styling before the shoot, but the hardest part is getting families and couples to let go of expectations like staring at the camera and smiling. I’ve learned that the potential chaos that is love and family is so much more interesting to look back on than the stoic, posed, photographs.
Photography really is a special kind of dance when working with energetic toddlers, shy teenagers, or grumpy dads. My proudest moments are when individuals who never really enjoyed family photos before, feel comfortable enough to live in the moment for a little bit without worrying about the camera during our session.
The spontaneity that comes with capturing real people having real experiences, let alone the unknowns of weather and natural light, is what continues to challenge me and excite me. Sure, we may pick a pretty place to hang out and I may have sent over a few wardrobe suggestions, but other than that, it’s all about you being you and celebrating your life and love!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am available for hire for photographing anything from weddings to editorials.
I also make time for at least one creative collaboration every few months. These curated photoshoots really help me explore a theme I’m interested in, try out a new piece of equipment, or learn a new lighting/movement technique! With that said, I am always looking for fun new locations, stylists, hair and make-up artists, models, etc., to build a photo shoot with!
Support on social media and kind reviews on these platforms really make all the difference for me and my small business! The best way to contact me is through email! alexa@aorphoto.co.
Contact Info:
- Email: alexa@aorphoto.co
- Website: aorphoto.co
- Instagram: @aorphotoco
- Facebook: facebook.com/aorphotoco
Image Credits
Photos of Alexa Ray by Iliasis Muniz Photography and AOR Photo Co.
