Alexis Nelson Alexis Nelson

Bring on 2025

Happy Winter and here is to 2025!

Snowy farm on a snow road

Hello Everyone!


Happy Winter and here is to 2025!  I don't know about you, but I love Winter.  I LOVE the cold. I love snow.  I even like ice. As long as I don't have to drive in it and it doesn't inconvenience me with frozen pipes and power outages. But I love winter.  Being cozy inside with a warm beverage by a fire place while the snow falls.  The peaceful quite of a snowy scene and getting bundled up in all your cozy gear to go outside. That is what I love.  Maybe an unpopular opinion but I don't care.  I love winter and right now am in my element. What is your favorite season? 

A Plan without a Goal is just a Dream - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

With a new year comes new dreams and new goals.  I have been really into goal setting lately.  I have always had goals, I am sure we all have but I have never really known how to make them happen. I think I kind of had.  I would set a goal and work toward it, but I never really wrote anything down. No SMART goals, no outlining of how I am going to achieve these goals.  I just said, work hard. But work hard at what? Work hard at hustling and telling everyone about them? Or actually work?  Let's say my goal for the month of January is to make One Million dollars.  Ok, cool, how will I do that? Play the lottery? Tell everyone I want one million dollars by the end of the month? No. First, is this a  SMART goal? Is it realistic and achievable by the end of January? While I am go big or go home shoot for the stars type of person. That this point, my one million dollar goal in one month is not realistic. So I pick a more realistic number. Once I have that number how I will I achieve it? I could get more clients. Offer more services at different price points. Then I go further down my outline writing further steps to achieve my goal as well as timeline. In retrospect this sounds pretty easy, but I myself had to really sit down in a quite place with the proper headspace to work this out. Over several notebooks. (Is anyone else as obsessed with notebooks as I am?) Goal setting for me is a work in progress and never set in stone. A goal that may serve me now may not serve me later. I may want to amend my goal to more or less. Longer or shorter, or add or subtract tasks? But the important thing is with goals is to constantly be thinking about them. To be reaching toward them. And remember SMART -

Specific

Measurable

Relevant

Timebound

As long as you have these 5 things worked out in your goal outline, you are on the right track and unstoppable.

Beaver Street Goods

Effortless Photography for your Business

Overtime, I have added several offerings to my Product and Brand Photography services. From quarterly and monthly contract services, mini-sessions, and more. But I am always so thrilled to talk about my OG services. The one that got it started and still my most popular. One-on-One Product and Branding Photography Services.

Whether you are a product based business that needs stunning photos of your product for social media and your website or a service based business that needs team headshots, action shots of your team at work and even event photos for promo and website. I am here to help. Product or brand, I am love helping you show your business in the absolute best light with the your company, brand and products soul in mind.

As a product based business, you know how important exceptional product photography is for sales. As a product photographer, I do stylized shoots with or without props showing the vibe and personality of your product and company and the love you put into it. I am also very familiar with the requirements of third party e-commerce sites such as Amazon, Shopify and Etsy to create clean white background shoots in the exact parameters required by these sites. These pictures are also perfect for wholesale sheets and accounts.

I will even arrange to pick up and drop off your products for your convenience so you can spend time doing other more important things.

“Alexis is an absolute professional and wonderfully kind person. She handled my jewelry with care and the pictures she took really showcased my work beautifully. I would highly recommend Alexis if you’re looking to save yourself the time and frustration of product photos. You’ll be very pleased with the results!”

Female business owner standing in her bookshop

The Lore Creative General Store, Norman, OK

As a service-based business, you are the face of your brand. Professional, high-quality photos of you, your team, and your workspace are essential to showcase your expertise, build trust, and effectively communicate your brand and services to your clients. First, I love taking headshots but will not pose you in a generic “power” pose. I will pose you for YOU. Approachable, trustworthy, competent and confident; and you will feel comfortable and have fun while doing it. Trust me, I know how awkward taking headshots can be and my goal is to help you have fun and love the results.

I specialize in capturing dynamic action shots of you and your team in action, showcasing collaboration and expertise. I also love photographing your workspace to reflect the unique atmosphere and vibe you want clients to experience when working with you. These images help tell your brand’s story and create a strong connection with your audience. I will also come to your events? Have an event you want highlighted on social or other marketing, I will be there with my camera taking pictures and making sure your event and your company shine.

“Alexis is highly professional and great to work with. She photographed my shop Trove Arts and Crafts and paid great detail to our space. I was not planning to be photographed so I didn't look my best and she still captured me so well. I'm going to hire her for events and product photography in the future for sure!”

If any of this sounds like something you need for your business in 2025 let click the link below to schedule your free consultation.

Tips & Tricks

Each month I will send you some helpful tips and tricks. Not only for your business but for your life. This one however, is a two-fer. It applies both to business and personal.

First - Be Authentic! Be you. Don’t apologize for you are or for any shortcoming. You were put on this world as you for a reason. Embrace it and love it! For so long I tried to fit the mold of how I thought others wanted or needed to see me. Now I no longer care. Its freeing. I am me! Unapologetically me. It is freeing and I have never been happier. I show up as who I am, like me or not. Living an authentic life, I have much more genuine relationships, both in my personal and professional life. Authenticity won’t happen overnight, but with each baby step, you will feel happier and more free.

That’s all for now. I will see you next month! Happy January!

-Alexis




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How to Take Product Pictures with your Phone

You made your product with love and put it in gorgeous hand designed packaging.  You know you have the best product in its category, and everyone will love it.  You just need to sell it.  That starts with photographing your product.  Whether you put in on your own personal website, Etsy, Amazon Handmade or other online sellers or post on social media. Your pictures need to pop.  Online shopping is hard, customers cannot pick up and hold your product, try it out, smell it, etc.  So, they rely on your pictures and description to determine if they want to buy. Your product pictures are the first and most important selling point.

You need clean clear pictures, with little to no background or distraction from your product. The lighting should be bright and with minimal shadow, especially on the product itself.  If you have wording on your labels, i.e. name, description, etc., that should also be clear and visible.  This may sound easy, but it will take some practice, as well as time to set it up correctly.

Photography Surface:  Choose a clean non-reflective (preferably white) surface such as a table or even floor (please make sure it is clean and swept) You can also purchase a lightbox.  Lightboxes are quite affordable, come in several sizes, collapse for easy storage and are portable.  I like this one and use it whenever my studio has be mobile. 12x12 Portable Studio Lightbox.  Or this backdrop for a less mobile solution but perfect for larger items and comes with several different color backdrops incase you want to switch it up and play. . Photography Backdrop Small

My product photography studio with backdrop set up in a room in my house.

Background: As with your surface, you want a clean background, preferably white.  Why white for the surface and background? Simple, it is clean, non-distracting and draws the eye to the product.   Also, if you are putting your products on Etsy or Amazon Handmade, they both prefer (Amazon Handmade especially) a clean white surface and background.  If you need to hang a flat white sheet for a backdrop, this will work also, just be sure there are no wrinkles.

Lighting: Natural light may sound easiest and more convenient, but it is not always your friend. Depending on where you are in your space, time of day, etc., natural light can change quickly during your shoot.  If you want to use natural light, it is free after all, make sure you are next to a sunny window, for bright but indirect light.  If the natural light is not ideal or available (nighttime, cloudy day) Supplementing or even substituting the natural light with other light sources such as a lamp.  You can also use a ring light if you have one. Be sure to angle the light source to decrease any shadow or glare on or around the product.  If your product has glass, metal or has a clear plastic packaging, glare is not your friend and may take several tries of lighting angles to ensure no or minimal glare. Especially on any wording of your packaging.  A note on packaging, you may consider removing it if your main draw is inside, such as earring in a box.  It is the actual product your customers want to see, not necessarily the packaging, as pretty as it may be.

Holding your phone: Of course, you can hold your phone with your hands and move around and back and forth to get the best angles and pictures.  That is the best part! And I personally love this about my job as a photographer.  To get to move, zoom in, zoom out, and just have fun while I am shooting.  However, you may want to also consider a tripod.  Especially if you are doing overhead shots, video or just unsure of how steady your hands are.  I like this one, it even comes with the above-mentioned ring light.  Overhead Camera Mount with 10” Selfie Ring Light and Phone Holder. This is also a perfect tool for video and mounts securely to any surface. 

Staging:  Now that you have your surface, backdrop and lighting taken care of and your phone ready. You need to place your product for staging.  If you are going to sell your product on Etsy or Amazon, you will not need to use props. Just  your products so as to not distract from the item for sale.  (I will have a separate post on taking product pictures for Third Party sellers such as Etsy and Amazon later).

Product with plain white background

I recommend taking two sets of pictures for your product. One set with just your product, no pretty props or frills for your portfolio or any wholesale you may want to do, and one set staged with props to further draw the imagination of your customer.

Props are so much fun and you most likely already have them laying around so no need to spend extra money.  For example, if you have maybe a lavender scented candle, maybe some sprigs of lavender at the base of the candle.  If you are selling this candle to help your customers sleep, maybe a sleep mask.  Your imagination is the limit.  Just be sure to not distract from your product. Do not cover any labels or verbiage on your product and try to keep the props to 1 to 2 small props.  i.e. 1 sprig of lavender, and a neutral-colored sleep mask behind the candle. (((Insert examples)))

Product with props

Editing: Congratulations! You have now finished taking beautiful pictures of your products! Now as you flip through them on your phone you may love them but notice they are not exactly Instagram ready. (They usually never are) Its always best to edit.  You may want to crop or increase or decrease lighting (exposure).  Most Android and iPhones already have excellent photo editing software installed but if you but if you want a little extra editing, some great free apps are Snapseed and Lensa if you want some AI powered editing. Adobe Lightroom is also a great app however it is a subscription and geared more toward professionals. However, it is very easy to learn. Just be sure your phots are saved as a JPEG as this is the easiest format to share and post photos. I have an Android phone, you can easily edit by selecting the photo and clicking on the pen icon on the bottom.

Photo editing screen on Android phone

Once you have your photos edited to your liking it is time to save and upload.  Please Please Please for your own good, do NOT just save them to your picture gallery on your phone.  Please make sure they are saved to a cloud and, maybe a space where you can access them from your PC.  This is crucial as your pictures are your money.  If they are just saved on your phone and you lose your phone, you lose your pictures.  So please save them to a cloud where you can access on multiple devices.  This also helps, as I have found uploading pictures to platforms such as Etsy and Amazon Handmade is so much easier on a PC. 

Also, on a non-photography note, while you are uploading to online selling platforms or social media, make sure you add clear and concise descriptions.  Your picture may clearly show a candle or earrings but people like to read just a little bit what they are looking at.  Also, many platforms require Alternative Text for the visually impaired.  These descriptions will also help your algorithm when people search for a product.

Now that you have your product pictures, saved enjoy posting to social media, Etsy, Amazon and let the sales roll in!

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MARCH FORWARD!

Hello Everyone!

Here we are in MARCH! Winter is winding down and spring is upon us.

Hello Everyone!

Here we are in MARCH! Winter is winding down and spring is upon us.  I may not have posted in awhile but I have been hard at work.  I am sure you have all seen the changes to my website and around.

First, I have completely revamped my website.  I have moved all my fine art prints back to EtsyAlexisNPhotography.com however is still very much up and running.  You can go there 24/7 to book your Product Photography or Portrait photo sessions.  I am super pumped that I have that up and running.  I absolutely love helping small businesses by taking pictures of their products and even business itself.  It is so much fun to work with the makers/business owners on what makes their company and product unique and highlighting it in the photos I take.  Listening to their goals for their photo shoots and their business and then seeing the look on their faces with the finished photos just makes my day.

As someone who herself hates to have her picture taken, I have made it my mission to make my portrait and brand clients feel both comfortable and confident in front of the camera and let their true selves come out.  I like to see my clients have fun in front of the camera with fun poses, locations and even props.

I you are interested in either of these services, let me know or visit my website to ask any questions or book. 

Of course, if it is my fine art photography you are looking for, I have one more show scheduled for March, the Norman Wine and Craft Festival at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds on Saturday March 9 from 9am to 5pm.  I hope to see you all there.

ALSO, I am now in TWO stores in the OKC Metro area. Handspun Co-op at the Farmers Public Market at 311 S. Klein Suites B, C, D and The Oracle Vintage and Arts. Located at 733 N. Moore Ave in Moore, OK.  And The Oracle’s Grand Opening is this THIS Saturday, March 9. So stop on by.  Both Handspun and The Oracle have an amazing collection of vintage (The Oracle), food (Handspun) and art (both) vendors to take care of all your shopping needs and desires.  

As always, you can always stay tuned to this blog or my Instagram and Facebook for news on upcoming shows. But  if you just can’t make it to a show or the above mentions stores, you can visit my Etsy store 24/7 for all your favorites.  I would love to see you there and just love when I get orders. 😊

Well, that is all for me today.  I will be back next month with more news and some fun tidbits. One of my goals this year is to also try and teach something.

See you soon.

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IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME…

Hello! And Happy December! I love December! Its my favorite month. Christmas is my favorite holiday and my favorite time of year.

Hello! And Happy December! I love December! Its my favorite month. Christmas is my favorite holiday and my favorite time of year.  

There is also soo much going this month. So much in fact, this blog is being released on December 4! My birthday is also in December (hence my favorite month), its also the anniversary of my photography business. While I started printing and selling my prints about 3 years ago, it was December 7th of 2022 that I decided to take a leap of faith and concentrate on this business full time. It has been the craziest year! It is a brand new business so I won’t bore you with the mundane typical aspects of it, but it has been so fun to jump into this adventure. I have learned so much about myself, not to mention business, photography, etc. But most of all, I have enjoyed meeting all of you. Whether it be at art shows, online or just around town. Your interest and support mean the world to me and keep me going. You are the greatest gift!

With Christmas comes Christmas shopping! I don’t know about you, but I am my favorite person to shop for. So weather you are shopping for yourself or someone else, you cannot go wrong with photography. Its timeless, beautiful and you can find a print, greeting card or wood mount for any style or occasion.  I will be at four markets in the beginning of the month. All listed above.  Two markets, Makers at the Market and the Norman 2nd Friday Art Walk I have done before and love!  Art walks are so much fun and around Christmas time, they get so much more festive! So dawn your favorite handknits and warmies and grab a hot cocoa and I will see you there!  On Saturday December 2nd, I will be at the Yukon Czech Christmas Market for the first time. I am so excited about this one. All the traditional Christmas fun from Old World Europe to Oklahoma, Santa, hot cocoa so many artisans. It is going to be a fun day in Yukon guarantied to get you into the Christmas spirit.  I will also be in Chickasha on Saturday December 9 for the Chickasha Wine & Craft Festival. This is put on by the same wonderful people who hosted the Guthrie Wine & Craft Festival so you know there will be amazing wine, food and Christmas shopping in a great location if you happen to live in the area or just want to explore a new corner of Oklahoma.  

If you have already completed your Christmas shopping for everyone on your list, All the these above events are the perfect place to treat yourself to the special gift and day you deserve. And as always, when you buy local, not just from me, but from any of the wonderful artisans at these markets you are making their holidays bright and merry as well. Its a win win. Also, if you happen to be downtown by the Farmers Public Market at 311 S. Klein in OKC, you will find some of my prints at the newly opened Handspun Co-op. You will find foodie treats, handmade goods and works my local artists, including yourself. The perfect gift for you or someone you love.

As always, if you cannot make it to any of my pop-ups or events, you can shop my website, www.AlexisNPhotography.com 24/7 for the perfect gift. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook at AlexisNPhoto to stay up to date on all the news and events.

That’s all I really have for today.  I plan on taking it easy for the second half of December and resting for the New Year.  I hope you also stay safe, warm and happy this holiday season and I hope to see you soon. 

Happy Holidays!!

-Alexis

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My Why

Why I Do What I Do

What made me want to be a photographer? Why do gravitate to photography as a medium? I get asked these two questions all the time.

What made me want to be a photographer? Why do gravitate to photography as a medium? I get asked these two questions all the time.

I think I have always been a photographer; I remember when I was little, I had a Fisher Price camera. It was real, it used film and took real pictures.  I carried that thing around everywhere.  I have always had a camera.  Not necessarily a fancy camera but a camera none-the-less. My mother took photography in college and knows her way around the camera and how to focus and find a good shot getting the angle and color right.  Maybe this is where I got that from. From watching her.  She and my aunt are also artists, my aunt is a painter. I think art runs in my blood. I studied design, marketing and art history in college but of course took the safe route and entered the corporate world after graduation.

In my late thirties I realized I had an abundance of pictures on my computer from my travels and I should do something about them.  Looking at them, I realized they were good. They weren’t just generic pictures of famous landmarks or signs, they were the mood of the place itself, nature, trees, the colors and detail of the buildings.  If the photo was of a famous landmark, they were of an angle that one would not expect.  I love to travel but growing up in a touristy city, I hate the tourist spots.  I may go and spend 5 minutes just to say I have been there, but I like the out of the way places, the soul of the place.  The detail.  My computer was filled with these as well as flowers, trees, and leaves from hikes with my husband. I love the macro details in the veins, how the sun shines through, and depth and variations of color in nature.  I had photos of architectural décor of the rooftops of the city. In the ocean, I focused on the foam and motion of the waves and color variations of the setting sun.  These pictures could not just sit and rot on a hard drive for all eternity. 

So, I decided to print a few and open an Etsy Shop. Maybe attend a few art and vendor fairs.  That went ok, I didn’t make a ton of money, but I had fun, and it was exciting selling my pieces and having them admired by others.  Then Covid hit.  I took a pause on my Etsy and art fairs, mostly because art fairs were not happening due to the pandemic.  I had also just got a new corporate job and was excited about it. Fast forward 2 years and I decided that the world and I had recovered enough.  I would start doing art and vendor fairs again.  The bug bit me hard!  I remembered how much I loved taking photos, editing those photos, and sharing my work with everyone.  That was the summer of 2022.  Aside from starting shows again, it was a rough year personally, and from May through December I realized through a series of tragedies that life is short! So, in December of 2022, I did it. I took a leap of faith. Quit my corporate job and decided to focus on my photography full time.  I enjoy every second of it!  There are ups and downs just like in life.  One would think it is frightening but I don’t have time to be scared.  I’m too excited to be scared.  I am sharing my art with the world. I am a businesswoman selling my art as well as my services and expertise as a Product Photographer. (I knew all those visual marketing and art classes would pay off someday). I no longer have my Etsy store as I have built my own website. If you are reading this, you are probably on it. If not, AlexisNPhotography.com

So, here is my why. It happened by chance but that is how the best things happen.

-Alexis

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Halloween/November Edition

Hello! Here we are, in November. the holidays are now upon us. While was a few days ago, I fell it deserves its time and I just cant bear taking down my Halloween decorations just yet even though I am already seeing Christmas commercials. I do love Christmas, its my favorite time of year, but lets not forget about Novembers holiday,

Happy Halloween!!!

Hello! Here we are, in November. the holidays are now upon us. While was a few days ago, I fell it deserves its time and I just cant bear taking down my Halloween decorations just yet even though I am already seeing Christmas commercials. I do love Christmas, its my favorite time of year, but lets not forget about Novembers holiday, THANKSGIVING! YUM! While I do absolutely love Thanksgiving, I am allowing Christmas to bombard us in all its sparkly and commercial glory, (while my Halloween decorations remain up for just a few days more). But remember, we still have turkey and stuffing to eat.

November Events

That being said, my November is a bit more quiet than October was with only 2 events.

Next weekend, 11/4, I will be in Sallisaw, OK for their first ever Red Autumn Art Festival. We will be at the fair grounds and artists from all over the country will be there showing off their talent. I am so excited to be a part of this show and the first one as well. I hope you are able to make the trip to see me.

I will also be at the Norman 2nd Friday Art Walk on Friday 11/10. I know I said I would be there last month and backed out at the last minute. Logistically with setting up early for the next days shows, etc. It just did not seem feasible. I am only human after all. But I am excited to be here on the 10th. Don’t forget, the holidays are upon us and its the perfect time to start your Christmas shopping.

I hope to see you at any of these events but if you are not able to make it, you can always visit my website at www.alexisNPhotography.com to pick up your favorite print, greeting cards or wood mounted piece.

Remember, you can also keep up with where I am at on my Facebook and Instagram pages.

November Events

New Product!

New product has arrived on my website just in time for the holidays. These are from a year ago on a trip I took with my Mom to Northwest Arkansas and Natural Falls State Park in Northeast Oklahoma, as well as some from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Below is a quick collage and where you can find them. All are available in 8x10 prints and greeting cards.

That’s all I have for today. Stay cozy as the world settles into autumn.

Talk to you then and Happy Fall!

-Alexis

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Welcome Fall!

Hello! Happy October everyone and welcome fall! I love fall! I can’t say it enough. It is my favorite season. The leaves are changing into beautiful red, orange, gold and yellow colors, there is a cool crispness in the air and yes, PUMPKIN SPICE. Say what you will about pumpkin spice but I proudly proclaim myself a “Basic B” and love pumpkin spice everything!

Hello! Happy October everyone and welcome fall! I love fall! I can’t say it enough. It is my favorite season. The leaves are changing into beautiful red, orange, gold and yellow colors, there is a cool crispness in the air and yes, PUMPKIN SPICE. Say what you will about pumpkin spice but I proudly proclaim myself a “Basic B” and love pumpkin spice everything!

October Events

I have quite a busy month ahead of me and plenty of time to spend in the fall air. My October schedule is below and I am looking forward to each and every one of these events. Some, like the Norman Twilight Market and Spoke Street Market are regular events which I love because the venues are so awesome and organizers work so super hard month after month making these events fun not just for the customers but for us vendors too. For me, it doesn’t feel like going to work, it feels like I am seeing my friends. Which makes me love my job even more.

I will also be in Medicine Park this weekend for the Annual Flute and Art Festival. I have never been to this festival before so I am very much looking forward to it. I however LOVE Medicine Park. it is such a funky little town nestled in the Wichita Mountains in Southwest Oklahoma about 90 minutes south of OKC. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend at least taking a day trip down.

I will also be at the Norman 2nd Friday Art Walk on of course Friday the 13th, then up early on the morning of the 14th for the Christmas Market at the Farm at Wells Christmas Tree Farm and of course up to Guthrie the next weekend for the Guthrie Wine and Art Festival. None of these I have ever done but I am super excited about them. Why not be? Food, shopping and always entertaining. And me, I love seeing and talking to everyone so its just a good day all around.

I hope to see you at any of these events but if you are not able to make it, you can always visit my website at www.AlexisNPhotography.com to pick up your favorite print, greeting cards or wood mounted piece. You can also find out wherever I am by subscribing to my newsletter, and following me on Instagram or Facebook for all the latest.

New Product!

I have several new items that I have already premiered at my recent shows and should have up on the site shortly. But here is just a quick sneak peek. I know I just came back from Arizona and took a ton of pictures, but I have so many pictures, I am working editing prints from a while back. These are from a year ago on a trip I took with my Mom to Northwest Arkansas and Natural Falls State Park in Northeast Oklahoma, aw well as some from Santa Fe, New Mexico. As soon as I get these items up on my site, you my dear subscribers will be the first to know as they are going fast!

Bee Collecting Pollen

That’s all I have for today. I will be back in a bit with more updates and exciting travel and product news.

Talk to you then and Happy Fall!

-Alexis

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September

Hello! Well I don’t know about you, but my September so far has been BUSY! It started off with a vacation and now that I am back I hit the ground running with all things website, shows and my photography.

Hello! Well I don’t know about you, but my September so far has been BUSY! It started off with a vacation and now that I am back I hit the ground running with all things website, shows and my photography.

Where did I go on my vacation you ask? To Las Vegas of course. If you know me, you know I grew up there and my Mom still lives there, so I try to go at least once a year. The whole city to me has the air of any hometown for anyone. You know, the town you grew up in then left and whenever you go back to visit the memories start flooding in. As I am my Mother’s daughter and I got my travel gene from her, whenever we get together, we always plan some type of road trip; this year, it was to Sedona and Canyon de Chelly in Arizona.

Coffee At home

Sedona was amazing and if you have the chance to go, I highly recommend it. It really does have some kind of mystical feel to it. I myself just felt very grounded and still, like I could finally just be still and present. The town is also absolutely gorgeous! Built on and surrounded on all sides by beautiful red rocks, there is not a bad view anywhere. As evidenced by the best view I have ever had from a hotel room.

Best view from a hotel room EVER!

The town itself is not short on things to do, but if you are a hiker, this town is for you. Mom and I hiked a bit up Bell Rock a before heading on a scenic train tour of the valley. This train ride was probably the highlight of the trip for me. It was so fun. You get seats in an air conditioned car complete with snacks and drinks and there is an outdoor observation car with a very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide to tell you all the things you are passing. The weather was so beautiful I think I spend most of the ride outside, learning about the history and surroundings of the area and of course taking a million pictures. A note on the pictures, all the pictures you see in this blog are un-edited and come from my phone, but hopefully provide enough of a preview for what I have coming from my camera ;) .

Train tour through Sedona valley

The next day, Mom and I drove northeast about 2 hours to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. This is in the middle of nowhere but well worth the drive. This canyon is not as large or as popular as its “grand” cousin to the west, but still absolutely breathtaking. There is hiking, but mom and I simply drove around on the North and South Rims and pulled of on all the lookouts to aww and take pictures. One of the best things about this place is that is not as popular so not as many people so you can really listen to nature and take in the beauty.

Spider Rock at Canyon de Chelly

Now that I am back home, its go time. You may or may not have seen/heard that I have added a newsletter sign-up to my website. Inaugural issue of my newsletter to debut shortly, so be sure to sign up so you don’t miss a thing. It will feature a link to this blog as well as news of new products, prints and shows.

Speaking of shows, I have a few shows left for September and I hope to see you there. I have also re-ordered some favorite inventory and some new prints as well.

9/22 - Wheeler Concert Series, Wheeler Ferris Wheel, 7-10pm, Oklahoma City

9/23 - Norman Twilight Market, The Well in Norman, 5-9pm, Norman

9/29 - Spoke Street Night Market, Wheeler District, 5-9pm, Oklahoma City

Talk to you all soon and WELCOME FALL!!!!!!

-Alexis

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You Must Travel A Lot?

I get so many questions when I do my shows. One of the biggest is, “you must travel a lot?” Well, to answer, I guess? I love to travel and would do it waaay more than I already do if I could. I love to see new places and have new experiences. But traveling a lot?

Driving through the Grand Mesa, Colorado

I get so many questions when I do my shows. One of the biggest is, “you must travel a lot?” Well, to answer, I guess? I love to travel and would do it waaay more than I already do if I could. I love to see new places and have new experiences. But traveling a lot? I guess I would say I travel as much as a normal person. My husband likes to travel also, so when we can we at least like to plan little getaways on 3 day weekends and holidays. We were lucky enough in February to go to Hawaii where I got some amazing pictures and an equally amazing time, and we also just got back from Colorado, (blog post on that coming soon). No matter what, even if I am just going 2 hours away, I am always taking my camera, and I must give some credit to my wonderful husband to being my location manager and pointing things out, like a cool tree or a bird or even a bison sunning itself.

I would however be the first to tell you, I have a permanent case of wanderlust. I have even planned my next vacation while on vacation, including looking at hotels while waiting for my flight home. Because I always need to have somewhere to go. Like I said, its the new places, experiences and adventures I am after. I want to see as much as I can and don’t want to be 90 sitting in a nursing home saying I never left my state.

One of the reasons I decided to pursue my photography full time was to give myself the opportunity to travel. When you work a corporate job, you only get 2 weeks of vacation a year (which is not nearly enough) and even then, your going on that fabulous trip is dependent on your bosses approval. While I am now self-employed and get unlimited vacation days, even though I realize I am not getting paid for them, I will happily take it. Working my booty off to make it financially worth while. Plus, the camera is always with me so I am sort of working (but are you really working when you are having fun).

So answer the answer the question above, do I travel alot? Not as much as I would like, but I treasure when I can and love sharing the pictures I take on my travels.

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Its August!

Happy August everyone! Last month of summer. We got through the July heat and now we are on the down slope. Still plenty of time to travel and enjoy summer, but things are beginning to wrap up.

Happy August everyone! Last month of summer. We got through the July heat and now we are on the down slope. Still plenty of time to travel and enjoy summer, but things are beginning to wrap up. School here in Oklahoma starts NEXT WEEK! That’s crazy! and a bit early if you ask me. But the kids have been out since May. Anyway, before I get into a “In my day…” rant. Let’s talk about August and all the fun stuff I have planned. I have 3 pop-ups this month. Light for me, but it is rather hot outside. 2 of them are indoors and another is at night. I also have some other exciting things and projects in the works to keep me busy that I will definitely tell you about later.

As for my shows, if you follow me on Instagram @alexisnphoto, you would have seen the above post of my shows. First is the Pancakes & Booze art show on August 5th from 8pm to midnight at the Farmers Public Market in OKC. I am really excited about this one. It is a traveling show, going to cities all over the country showcasing local artists. Instead of my usual prints that are available for sale on this site, I will have a few larger framed prints displayed and available for sale as well as some matted prints. There is a cover to get in but free pancakes and cash bar, and the promise of great art should be for a great evening. I can’t wait to see you there.

On August 20th I will be doing Delmar Bites. This is such a fun event put on by the greatest people. Local artists and makers all under one air conditioned roof at the Anthem Brewery from 1pm to 4pm. In addition to some serious artistic talent, there will be food trucks and of course beer! I will have all my product set up and will be soaking in the party atmosphere. Come on down for some mid-day A/C and fun.

August 25th I will once again be at the Spoke Street Night Market in the Wheeler District in OKC from 6pm to 9pm. This event is awesome! Every Friday they have a farmers market and on the last Friday of the month they invite local artists and makers to come as well. Since its a night market, it won’t be as hot and there is nothing like summer nights. So soak them up while you still can. You can get your grocery shopping done at the farmers market then wander a few feet to us artists and makers and pick yourself up something special. This is such a cool little neighborhood and a night market just makes it magical.

So that is it for my August events. Like I said before, I have a few things under my hat that I will let you know about all in good time. But I can’t wait to see you at any of or all of the above events. I for one love doing these and I also cannot stress enough the importance of shopping and supporting local artists and makers. We pour our heart and soul into what we do and we love to share it. And it is true, every time you buy something from us, we do a little happy dance.

I will see you all later, stay save and cool in this heat.

-Alexis

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Upcoming Shows!

I still have 2 shows this month if you want to see me in person. If not, everything is available on my site and I will be happy to ship to you!

Hi All,

Just real quick as July is winding down (finally!) Does anyone else feel like July has lasted like a year or is it just me?

Anyway, I still have 2 shows this month if you want to see me in person. If not, everything is available on my site and I will be happy to ship to you!

July 21st

Wheeler Summer Concert Series - Wheeler Ferris Wheel - OKC - 7-10 PM (flyer in this post)

July 28th

Spoke Street Night Market - Wheeler District - OKC - 6-9 PM

I will see you there. Stay tuned to this spot every month for upcoming shows and don’t forget to follow me on social. AlexisNPhoto (Instagram and Facebook)

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Hello!

Why am I here? Why did I start a website for my photography and why am I writing about it?

Hello!

Why am I here? Why did I start a website for my photography and why am I writing about it?

Ok, its not really about writing about my photography, its more a supplement to the photography and maybe a peek in me and my life.

I’m not going to give you the marketing bio that I send to committees when I apply to shows so basically, after deciding that my typical 9-5 corporate job was interfering with my dream and goal of starting a new business, I quit. Just like that (ok, not just like that but I will spare you the details). Now I am here making millions selling my photos. Not quite yet, but some day. I keep myself busy editing an ever growing backlog of photos from my travels, learning how to design and build a website and SEO and applying for and going to local art shows and vendor markets in Oklahoma. I also deliver groceries. Which I like. I like driving and shopping and it is a seriously good workout. So it works.

Since quitting my corporate job, I have never felt happier or worked harder. I feel like I am finally in charge of my life. I am my own boss and I am in charge of how much money I make.

I live in Oklahoma City with my husband and cat. Hubs and I both love to travel and do so whenever we can. Otherwise we are pretty much homebodies when we are not working.

At the moment, I am working on editing new photos in my spare time. I am taking a class on SEO and digital marketing so that sparetime is getting smaller by the minutes.

However, keep an eye on this spot, my intention with this blog is to give insight and background of my travels, photography and the life of an artist/entrepreneur.

Talk to you again soon.

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