We recently had the chance to connect with Avery Lockridge and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Avery, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
The most surprising thing I’ve learned about my customers is just how deeply supportive and generous they are. I’m continually amazed by the level of trust they place in me, both in my creative process and in the way I guide them through their sessions. They value not only the final images, but also the way I make them feel throughout the experience. Their kindness shows up in so many ways: thoughtful recommendations, uplifting words, returning year after year, and even the way they tip. I never take any of it for granted. Their generosity, trust, and genuine encouragement has been one of the biggest and most meaningful surprises in my business.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Avery Lockridge, I was raised in a very small town in Texas, and I’ve spent the last 17 years teaching a variety of subjects in public education, working with students from grades 6 through 12. In 2018 When my daughter was born, I knew I wanted to capture every milestone, so I picked up a camera and started photographing her. I had always been interested in photography, but I had never taken formal classes or learned the technical side, so I taught myself from scratch.
In 2020, I went through a divorce, and I knew I wanted to eventually build something that could support my daughter and me. But with her being only 18 months old at the time, and with me still working on rebuilding my confidence, while also teaching full time and learning how to be a single mom, I wasn’t ready to start a business yet. Instead, I spent that period learning, watching YouTube tutorials, practicing with different lenses, and slowly developing both my skills and my belief in myself.
By 2023, everything aligned. My daughter was older, my confidence had grown, and I finally felt ready to serve clients in a real, meaningful way. I started taking sessions, and through referrals, word of mouth, and the kindness of the families who trusted me, my business began to bloom.
I’m forever grateful for every single person who has supported this journey, and I’m excited to see where it continues to grow.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment that truly shaped how I see the world was becoming a mother. Everything shifted instantly. Things that once felt important no longer mattered, and the things I used to enjoy didn’t bring me the same fulfillment. It was as if I stepped into a new, evolved version of myself, one with deeper purpose, deeper awareness, and a completely different way of moving through life.
Motherhood made me want to become the best possible role model for my daughter. It made me appreciate my own parents in a new way, realizing just how much love, sacrifice, and effort it takes to raise a child well. Being a good parent is the hardest thing you’ll ever do, but also the most meaningful.
Now, every decision I make carries more weight, because I’m guiding a beautiful soul through this world. I want to provide her with strength, stability, and a sense of wonder. I want to show her what resilience looks like, what kindness looks like, what following your passions looks like.
I love her more than anything, and truly everything I do is for her.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. In fact, there was a season when I truly believed my photography journey was over before it ever really began.
After photographing my brother’s wedding, an experience that felt stressful and overwhelming instead of inspiring, I put my camera away and didn’t touch it for an entire year. At the same time, I was navigating a divorce, working full time, learning how to be a single mom, and trying to stay afloat during the heaviness of the pandemic of 2020. Life felt like too much. I didn’t have the energy, the confidence, or even the desire to keep pursuing photography. I told myself I wasn’t cut out for it and decided I was done.
Then one day, a friend recommended me to a local photographer who needed help shooting a large set of baseball portraits. I hadn’t touched my camera in over twelve months, and here’s the honest truth: I barely knew how to use it. I had no formal training, no classes, no background in photography. But something in me said, just try. So I dusted off my camera and said yes.
That day changed everything.
Once I started shooting, I felt joy again. Real joy. The kind that lights up something inside you. It sparked a passion I didn’t even know I still had.
After that, I made a decision: if I was going to give photography a real chance, I had to learn it from the ground up. So I spent an entire summer teaching myself hours and hours on YouTube learning how to use my camera, how to edit, how to pose clients, and even how to run a business. I didn’t have clue what I was doing; I just had determination and a dream that refused to die.
That season of self-teaching became the foundation of the business I have today.
Looking back, I’m grateful for the pause, the struggle, and the moment I thought I was done, because coming back to photography, completely self-taught and fueled by passion, is what made this journey so meaningful. It reminded me that sometimes giving up isn’t the end… it’s the reset you need before your real beginning.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies I see in the photography industry is the belief that the market is “too saturated,” and that there’s no room for anyone new. I hear it all the time: don’t bother starting a photography business because there are already too many photographers.
But that simply isn’t true.
Yes, there are a lot of photographers. But there is only one you. Your eye, your style, your personality, your experience, your way of connecting with people, those things cannot be duplicated. When you genuinely care about your craft, your clients, and the experience you’re providing, people feel that.
Success in photography is not about being the only option; it’s about being the right option for the people who resonate with you.
When you show up consistently, deliver beautiful work, and treat your clients well, your business grows naturally. Most of my growth has been through word of mouth. When people trust you and love their experience, they tell their friends, their coworkers, their family, your name spreads long before you ever have to.
So yes, the industry has plenty of photographers. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful too. There’s room for talented, passionate people who are willing to grow, serve, and show up as themselves.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m outdoors, soaking in all the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer with my daughter and our two spirited little chihuahuas. There’s something healing about being outside rollerblading, paddle boarding, biking, hiking, pretty much anything that lets me move my body and be surrounded by big trees, fresh air, water, and wide-open space.
Nature has always been my grounding place. It quiets my mind, softens my heart, and reminds me to breathe. It’s also the reason I love being an outdoor photographer. I get to combine two things that bring me joy; creating art and being in nature. When I’m out there with my camera, capturing people in beautiful natural light, I feel aligned, fulfilled, and truly happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://averylockridgephotography23.mypixieset.com/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwK_me5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp6zX_gYfRv_UMG5BieCAp19pCMAczcXz-DApvK2UxiSr6RFahR9qvCT8wI51_aem_ZEZt7dvm8eq-BK6kpZ3XDg
- Instagram: Avery_Lockridge_Photography
- Facebook: Avery Lockridge Photography
- Other: https://linktr.ee/allbyavery
Image Credits
All photos were taken and edited by me Avery Lockridge.
