“It’s hard for people to understand the amount of work that goes into making a photo great,” says Alee’a Cherry. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cherry made the conscious decision to not turn photography into a fulltime business. But not for the reason you may think.
“I enjoy having a steady income while also having the flexibility to take clients when I can,” she shares, adding, “It’s a balance I enjoy right now.”
Cherry started photographing professionally in 2019 and was able to discover and develop her style three years later. Although photography is only a part-time business, Cherry still has her share of challenges.
Here’s more of our conversation with Create Fund winner and Shutterstock contributor Alee’a Cherry.
Shutterstock: Why did you stick with photography?
Alee’a Cherry: Photography is such a beautiful art form. There’s always a new technique to learn, a new challenge to conquer, and an infinite amount of ways you can capture the same moment.
Also, being able to capture other’s milestone moments or history is an honor I’ll always be grateful for.
SSTK: What would you say is your style of photography, and why do you choose this?
Cherry: I have two different styles—bright, airy, and natural, or bold and edgy. I usually save my bold style for my editorial work because I love the moodiness of the color grading.
As for my general work (events, products), I enjoy bright and natural colors because I believe the way something is presented naturally is the best way to capture it—with just a few tiny tweaks.
SSTK: How do you balance your main job with being a photographer who is learning the ropes of monetizing it?
Cherry: I enjoy having a steady income while also having the flexibility to take clients when I can. It’s a balance I enjoy right now, but that may change in the future.
As for my day job, I work at a marketing agency, and I love it! I have a hybrid schedule so I have a lot of flexibility with my time. I work with amazing people who are hard-working, so I don’t come home feeling drained.
This healthy balance allows me to have the time and energy to pour into photography as I choose.
SSTK: Can you go into detail about why you don’t want it to be a full-time business?
Cherry: Absolutely! While I love photography, I don’t aspire for it to be my only source of income—at least not right now. I enjoy having the comfort of stability with my day job, which allows me to focus on my passion for photography rather than the business aspect.
Who knows, I may change my mind someday!
SSTK: What are the things or events you will never get tired of photographing?
Cherry: I’ll never get tired of photographing nature. Nature is my number one inspiration because it’s everywhere, and there’s always something to capture, whether it’s a stunning flower or a spider web entangled in a tree that’s inconspicuous.
I also love editorial photography with minimal preparation because I like to work with what I have. It poses the challenge of being resourceful and turning something simple into something extravagant through a creative eye.
My favorite part of editorial photography is telling stories using the model’s expressions, a chosen location, and their body movements. There are no expectations and no limits—just creativity and collaboration.
SSTK: Love that! What would you say are the most challenging parts of shooting outside, and how do you go about these challenges?
Cherry: The most challenging aspect of shooting outside is training your eye to find the stories that live within nature. When I shoot outside, most of the time, I’m observing everything in detail—the way the grass dances in the wind, how branches are intricately intersected, where spider webs are embedded, how bodies of water flow, etc.
Although all nature is beautiful, it can be tricky to find those “wow” moments that translate a beautiful image and story. Also, you’re at the mercy of nature’s timing.
For example, you may see a beautiful flower perched perfectly, but then the wind makes the petals fold in an undesired way. You can’t control what nature wants to do, which can be frustrating if you think you have the perfect moment.
To combat these challenges, patience is something I’ve definitely practiced! I also like to keep some of those “imperfect” images so I can find the beauty in post-editing.
SSTK: What is it that you love the most and maybe hate the most about photography?
Cherry: I love this question! I love seeing the world in a different way. As a photographer, you pay attention to the tiniest details—composition, colors, textures, patterns, etc.—and it’s such a unique way to view the world.
For example, I can walk in nature and be in awe of beautiful flowers, but the things that catch my eye are the shapes of trees that form a pocket of openness against the contrast of the sky. Those moments allow you to be in the moment and truly appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature.
As for what I dislike about photography, I’d say I feel like people in general don’t always value photographers, especially in this digital age where iPhones are trying hard to mimic professional equipment.
It’s hard for people to understand the amount of work that goes into making a photo great when they only see you for a session or believe they can capture moments like you do because their phones have 12 megapixels.
Because of that, I’ve received the popular comments like, “You’re too expensive” or “I can just use my phone.” That is so frustrating as an artist because we know how much time we invest in our craft.
SSTK: How do you handle these types of comments?
Cherry: I’ve learned to not take those comments to heart. It just means I’m not the right photographer for that person, and that’s 100% okay.
On the flip side, I do educate clients who have those comments by letting them know they’re not just paying for the time they’re with me. There are hours of editing, retouching, research, equipment, and subscription costs that are factored into my pricing. I share that information with the hopes that they’ll have a better understanding of the backend work that goes into photography.
When I was early on in the professional photography world, I also contemplated decreasing my prices, but I’m glad that’s not the case anymore. With seven years of experience, I’ve grown to understand my value and to know that the right clients will come my way, no matter the price because they appreciate my work.
SSTK: What do you think we can do to better educate people about the realities and complexities of photography as an art and a business?
Cherry: I think it’s important to have strong photography communities that pour into young photographers. Sometimes young photographers can skew the threshold for pricing and offerings because they’re new to the industry and want to get exposure and practice.
But, that can negatively affect professionals because the lower expectations for price and higher expectations for deliverables can deter clients from paying those who have higher prices.
Having communities that are more transparent around the business of photography can definitely help improve that. I’m aware there are photography communities that do provide guidance, but it doesn’t hurt to have more!
Additionally, I believe there should be more investments in supporting talented photographers of all levels through community programs, funding, galleries, mentorships, etc. In my opinion, I see a lot of opportunities for other artistic disciplines compared to photography.
SSTK: Lastly, how has the Create Fund impacted you as a photographer and a visual artist?
Cherry: The Create Fund helped me get over my imposter syndrome and helped me build confidence in my work.
For my grant, I focused on more commercial and lifestyle photography, which is much different than my love for editorial photography. Those opportunities pushed me to be more professional with my preparation, lighting situations, ability to maneuver in small spaces, and how to tell a story in an effective and natural way.
I’ll forever be grateful for The Create Fund and the opportunities and exposure I received from being a grant recipient. Thank you for giving us minorities the space to be seen and heard. It’s greatly appreciated.
License this cover image via Alee’a Ulsh-Cherry.
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