Meet Alexis Jacobs | Photographer & Author

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

Hi Alexis, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Once I believed work-life balance was this divine equilibrium achieved when you’ve reached adulthood, like a rite of passage that declared you officially had your life together. When my photography business was in its prototype phase, I had much more time set aside for life than work because I was in my junior year of high school; I didn’t have as many clients as I do now, and I was focused on college and scholarship applications. Once I entered my freshman year of college, I had more leeway and committed more time to building my portfolio and developing my photography skills. As my clientele and brand grew, the more my work-life balance ratio fluctuated. Sometimes I would be incredibly busy with my business and other times I would be loaded with school responsibilities. The more time goes on the more I realize that work-life balance is always changing, just as life does. It’s up to me to maintain a healthy dose of life and business, as well as listen to my mind, body, and spirit when they’re in need of rest.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I specialize in portrait, creative, and landscape photography. Combined with my passion for speculative fiction writing, I love creating a space for black and brown individuals to be shown in a positive light, whether that be in real or fantasy environments. As an imaginative young child, escaping from reality was my favorite pastime. I fell in love with the cinematography of movies and the elaborate and magical universes of books. As a photographer, my goal is to evoke the nostalgia of childhood dreams and make those concepts come to life through my art. As a Black woman, my goal is to diversify the current representation of African Americans and people of color in the media and redefine the visual narrative, whether that be through headshots or abstract concepts. The moments that make me the proudest are when people see my work and experience happiness, inspiration, and visibility.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I were taking my best friend around the city to my favorite spots (with an unlimited budget), the first stop would probably be Little Five Points. It’s where I got my start as a photographer and a colorful, artsy area that has all kinds of intriguing shops and an expressive atmosphere. Then we’d hop next door to Barnes & Noble, one of my favorite places on earth as an avid reader to buy Starbucks and lose myself in the fantasy, science fiction, and art and fashion sections. Other days we’d stroll through Piedmont Park and go shopping through Cumberland and Lenox Mall, then stop for a quick lunch in Midtown. For excitement, we’d visit Six Flags or ride the SkyView Atlanta Ferris Wheel in Centennial Olympic Park and spend the day being tourists. To end the trip on a high note, we’d visit the High Museum and become art connoisseurs, and have a five-course dinner at APT 4B in the evening, a lively Caribbean restaurant with delicious food and drinks.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t have a photography business if it weren’t for my parents investing in me. They bought me my first camera, helped me purchase additional equipment, and continue to support my craft through social media and word of mouth. My extended family and the City of South Fulton community are also emphatic supporters of my business. I also owe a huge thank you to my close friends, my first muses. From my days as an amateur until now, they’ve encouraged me to pursue greater heights and are always down to model if I need them.

And speaking of models, I want to dedicate a huge thank you to my little sister, who’s let me use her as a model countless times and is the subject of some of my most popular creations thus far. Without her, my portfolio wouldn’t be what it is today.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I want to thank my loving and supportive boyfriend. Not only has he been a muse on several occasions, but I often consult with him about executive decisions for my business. He’s my pair of fresh eyes before sharing new photos with the world and an enormous help when curating Instagram posts and designing packages for clients.

Website: butterbeanshots.com

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

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