Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Carlino.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Carlino’s Photography is celebrating 15 years this summer! I left my 4th-grade classroom position to stay at home with our first born and learned very quickly that I knew nothing about how to operate the camera, diagnose lighting, or composition. Although I am largely self-taught, I have completed my CPP (Certified Professional Photographer) license with Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and I have received my Craftsman Degree from PPA for teaching/speaking. I teach lighting and posing around the world.
My Texas-based business handles everything from weddings and portraits to real estate and sports/schools volume photography. We have a full-time studio in Richmond where 4 ladies help me run the daily business tasks.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
A huge step in identifying my style happened about 8 years ago when I finally learned how to use off-camera lighting. It’s another tool in the bag for when you need to work in locations where it’s too bright, too dark, cloudy, or multi-colored. Until I learned flash, I struggled often with keeping my skies blue and not being able to create anything worth selling at night or when it rained.
Balancing my personal and business life when baby #2 came along meant that I stepped back from the business for a while. It’s hard to take a break and still be relevant in this industry.
Please tell us about Carlino’s Photography.
Carlino’s is known for dramatic lighting and bold colors. We go on location to fun and memorable places that the client connects to. We do have a studio but folks know us for things like being able to produce imagery in the rain, using smoke and colored gels at night, and spinning fire.
We do not offer “shoot and burn” services to our clients. We prefer to create an experience where they are not smiling at the camera all the time and we deliver those moments fully edited in printed products such as books, wall art, cards, etc.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have invested in flash gear and learned it from the start. You don’t always have to use it; but when you do, it separates you from the ambient light only shooters that cannot create that style.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1905 Dowling Dr., Richmond, TX 77469
- Website: www.carlinosphotography.com
- Phone: 832-595-0590
- Email: studio@carlinosweb.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Carlinosphotography
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
